Between September 12 and October 12, 2008, the Pan African Space Station was “articulating musically, in techno-tender tones of post-millennial curiosity the Africa Centre’s programmatic theme of entangled nations…and to engage up close with the web of grooving soundwaves that binds Africans across the continent”. This “revolution” included a series of live shows and radio & internet streaming of, afro-jazz and funk. It was an incredible experience. In our previous post, we mentioned the Cindy Blackman Quartet. We went to two others shows, at different venues, as a part of the Space Station.
One show was Bibi Tanga at Assembly. We have mentioned the Assembly before, it’s a great place. The Bibi Tanga show was an awesome show. Opening for them was the Blk Jks. They were tremendous. They have an experimental rock-jazz sound, and were awesome performers
Once the Blk Jks finished, Bibi Tanga and his band took the stage. They blew it up. They had a more classic jazz sound, with great beats and old-school groove. The musicians were top-notch and the crowd LOVED it. The place was packed, and everyone was dancing.
The next night, we went to the Mowbray Town Hall, for the final concert of the Station, Anthony Joseph. The Mowbray Town Hall was a venue that clearly had been used for different things, both speaking and music engagements. When we walked in, the crowd was hushed, listening to soft experimental jazz. It was a small, old -fashioned auditorium-type building, with everyone seating on the ground in the main room, or on the balcony. Shortly after we arrived, there was a break, and then Anthony Joseph and his band (the Spasm Band) started. He seemed to know the weight of his time slot, as he was the final performance of the Pan African Space Station. He spoke briefly of that, and the greatness of the event. Then he started playing. He was not from Africa, but his culture and heritage, which was a big part of his music, was influenced by many of the same things as the other modern African music we had been listening to as a part of the Station. His music incorporated rock and old rhythm and blues chords. The formerly quiet crowd rose to it’s feet, and danced along. It was a lot of fun.
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- Blk Jks guitarist
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- Bibi Tanga at the Assembly
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- Anthony Joseph at the Mowbray Town Hall
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- Anthony Joseph and the Spasm Band
The Pan African Space Station was a great event. It was a showcase of the great sounds being created across the continent, and around the world. In addition it was a well organized event. There were shuttle buses to each venue, and streaming radio to let all those who could not attend in person, join the movement. Congratulations to the performers and the organizers on great events, and thank you for a memorable experience.
Stumble It!
