Yes, Brassafrik’s trip is being organised right now! On 29 February, the band will travel to Ghana for two weeks to work with the singer King Ayisoba and muscians of Windafrique. They will also collaborate with Africana, a percussion and dance school that has been founded by Babs Jobo, percussionist and ‘partner in crime’ of Stefaan Blancke for the compositions of Brassafrik. The result of the hard work will be a tour of the artists in 2013 (April –May- June). We will keep you posted!
This week, the Brassafrik band members have proved that they are a lot more than just excellent musicians. They have a great capacity to work with children! At this particular moment, they reside in Durham, for the Durham International Brass Festival. During the day the band plays at schools and at night they play in local venues. If it would depend on the children, they would stay a whole lot longer…
This summer, Brassafrik will travel to England to play on the Durham International Brass Festival. From 4 tot 8 July, they will perform several school concerts during the day as well as concert at the Festival during the night. You can fin more info as well as audio of Brassafrik on this website and www.myspace.com/brassafrik1.
Last weekend, the ‘Brassafrikans’ travelled to the Basque country (Amorebieta) to participate in the Haizetara Festival, a street music international contest. Together with 8 other participating brassbands, the musicians gave the best of themselves. The public obviously appreciated their moves and grooves as it voted for BRASSAFRIK as the winner of the prize of the public! Photos are available via www.haizetara.com. Via this link you can check out the atmosphere... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gqo7C-73xA&feature=player_embedded
Below you will find some online press reviews:
http://www.rifraf.be/e-zine/online-ezine-nl.pdf
http://www.mixedworldmusic.com/recensies.php?id=99
http://www.tropicalidad.be/pivot/entry.php?id=923
http://www.brusselnieuws.be/artikels/cultuur/brassafrik-afrika-met-een-f...
http://www.foyer.be/spip.php?page=article&id_article=8341&lang=nl&id_rub...
Also 'Exit Plus World' (Radio 1), 'FM World' and 'De Vlaamse Steenweg' (FM Brussel), 'Djiboutik' (Radio Panik), considered that this brand new MET-X album deserved to be in their radio show. And they are defenitely right!
Haizetara is an international contest of street bands whose 4th festival will take place in the streets of Amorebieta–Etxano (Basque Country) the weekend of 25th, 26th and 27th June 2010.
BRASSAFRIK is one of the 8 selected bands! To be continued...
More info: http://www.haizetara.com/web/2009/english/seleccionadas_eng.htm
In April, the very first album of Brassafrik will be released. On this occasion the band will play 2 concerts with a massive line-up of 13 musicians and African dancer!
Places to be:
28/04 - 20.30h - Beursschouwburg (Brussels) - FREE
14/05 - 20.30h - Zuiderpershuis + Afroparty (Antwerp) - 10€/12€ (reservations: http://www.zuiderpershuis.be/events.php?id=864&parent=3&cat_id=1)
Be there!
During the month of April, the percussion and brassgrooves of Brassafrik will be omnipresent! The group will proudly present its first album and this - we promise- shall be heard!
During the next weeks, the grooves of Brassafrik and Bagadski will be eternalised ! The musicians will be entering a professional recording studio to make a demotape. This will put a spell on many ears without any doubt. Next summer, even more people will dance on the music of these 2 groups!
To be continued...
Babs, our Ghanese percussionist, co-composer and co-initiator of Brassafrik is currently giving a workshop in Accra, Ghana. He is also going to visit his family. We wish him all the best!
Besides that, MET-X is planning to invite four percussionists from Ghana for a new projet next year. We will keep you posted on that one...
www.myspace.com/brassafrik1
Here you can find the latest updates about concerts, some more images and of course... more music!
With concerts at 'La Fête des Rives de la Haute Deèle' in Rijsel, 'Bazaar Antwerpen-Noord' in Antwerp and 'Global Fiesta' in Mechelen, the band has well started! We would like to thank all the organizers, friends and collaborators who helped us to make it all possible. A special thanks goes out to all fourteen musicians for their time, energy and engagement. The working atmosphere during the past period was very pleasant and tastes like more!
BRASSAFRIK, a MET-X project of Babs Jobo (talking drum) and Stefaan Blancke (trombone) represents the musical exchange between Africa and the rest of the world. In this band, musicians turn the African rhythms into poly-layered patterns with an exceptional groove. The surprising timing of the extrovert horn section refers to traditional African question-and-answer designs as well as to pounding afrobeat, highlife and European brass tunes.
Ever since they met on the scene of the Belgian Afrobeat Association and Wawadadakwa, Babs and Stefaan were hatching a plot to start up a project that would create an energetic clash between percussion and brass. The ultimate recipe for this steaming melting pot: compositions of both musicians carrying the traces of their musical paths. When MET-X Moving Music provided a solid foundation for production, the duo set up a massive band. BRASSAFRIK was born and keen to be heard.
West African rhythms flow seamlessly together with the tight pulses of the brass riffs that set alight this impressive crowd. Armed with copper, leather and wood, BRASSAFRIK organically progresses while hitting the scenes of many festivals and street celebrations. When on top of that the band adds a solid pinch of African dance to the whole on the pretext of ‘Move your ass and the rest will follow’, there is just no escape to this whirling party!
Brassafrik released its first album in April 2010 on the MET-X label ‘A-Shams’. In very little time, the band built up a solid live reputation. In 2010, they won the audience prize of the festival of international street music ‘Haizetara’ in the Spanish Basque country. Brassafrik is also planning to perform beyond the EU: in 2012 the musicians will travel to Ghana for a new project. But until then, they will continue to tear the roof off with their massive sound!
http://www.myspace.com/brassafrik1
Booking Agency: Giraffe Booking
http://www.girafferecords.be/giraffe/bookings
Babs Jobo tama, djembe, lead vocals
Bode Owa doun doun, backing vocals
Lezin Mpoutou djembe, lolo, likembe, conga’s, backing vocals
Adama Kanouté doun solo, ngoni, backing vocals
Stefaan Blancke trombone
Berlinde Deman/Pieter Nevejans tuba
Luc Mishalle saxophone tenor et soprano
Ludovic Jeanmart saxophone alto et soprano
Dirk Timmermans trumpet
Mbalia Toure / Aminata Toure dance
Lot Vandekeybus tuba tenor
Zulema Hechevarria Blanco bells, shekere, backing vocals
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