In the face of cultural misunderstandings that exist today, music has been and still is a link that unites people of different backgrounds, regardless of their geographical separation. Tonight, cultural worlds will collide through music when the World Music Percussion Ensemble performs its spring concert “Afro/Andean Fusion” in Spaulding Auditorium .
Under the direction of master drummer and music professor Hafiz Shabazz, the ensemble will take audiences on a journey to explore sounds of Africa and the Andean region of South America through the rhythm and beats of instruments from these regions — the conga, a thindrum from Cuba; the djembe, a West African goblet drum; the Jun-Jun, a two-headed African bass drum as well as instruments in the xylophone family, including the mbira, an African thumb piano. Some members from the ensemble will also play accompanying instruments such as the saxophone, guitar, flute and trombone.
Shabazz said he collaborated with an associate about organizing a concert with Cuban, African, Andean and Guinean music.
“I was also inspired by the sound of the music and the fact that, culturally, they are related,” Shabazz said. “I thought that would be very good to do this concert and display it for the Dartmouth community.”
Known for its creative improvisation, the ensemble will perform from a set of 12 songs, though the order will be announced live from the stage.
Andrew Nalani ’16, who performs percussions and vocals for the ensemble, said that the organic shape of the concert is both scary and beautiful and goes really well with this particular concert because of the mixing of cultures.
“In past concerts, the order shifts depending on the energy of the room,” Nalani said. “For percussion, the performers release themselves to the experience and help create an openness for the audience.”
When putting together the set list, Shabazz said that he wanted pieces from different forms and cultures that complement one another musically.
“It’s all one big circle,” he said. “It’s a concert that lends itself to bringing people and culture and the music together from different continents or countries.”
Kieran Sim ’17, who plays percussion in the ensemble, said he loves the way in which all of the pieces performed by the ensemble incorporate both the musicians and the audience for a collaborative experience.
“The music just gets into your bones,” Sim said. “It’s a very infectious beat.”
Among the list of songs in the set include Venezuelan musician Hugo Blanco’s “Moliendo Cafe” (1958), rock band Coldplay’s “Clocks” (2002) and Chilean musician Jose Miguel Marques’ “Pampa Lirima” (2001). Afro-Cuban musician Mongo Santamaria’s “Mazacote” (1959) is a personal favorite for Sim and Shabazz, who described the song as a “mellow type of cha-cha.”
“It’s a piece of music that people can dance to all night long,” he said.
The ensemble will also perform a Venezuelan traditional “Montilla,” a Malian recreational dance song “Dansa” and Afro Cuban traditionals “Abakwa,” “Balaphon Interlude” and “Rumba quinto,” a well-known cultural folkloric rhythm and dance.
Nalani said he is looking forward to performing and hearing the rumba because it has a cool groove. He said that he is also excited to provide the accompanying vocals for “Yemaya Assessu.” He said the song is inspired by a chant from the Yoruba people of Nigeria .
“It’s a sacred song that honors water and the flowing of the water as well as its power to renew things,” Nalani said.
For tonight’s concert, members of Viva Quetzal, an Andean-influenced world music ensemble will join the College’s percussion ensemble on stage. The group is comprised of musicians from North and South America and is known for performing lively shows with roots from four cultural groups that influence modern Latin American music — West African, Iberian, American and indigenous people. Some musicians from the percussion ensemble met with the visiting artists to practice this past weekend before the both groups came together for a final dress rehearsal yesterday.
The concert will include a 20-minute section by the percussion ensemble, a 20-minute section by Viva Quetzal and a 30-minute collaborative section by both groups, Shabazz said.
The audience, he said, should look forward to a lively, inspiring and fun-filled experience.
Nalani said he hopes audiences will remain open to this performance because the ensemble will be introducing new forms of music to New England.
“I hope audiences will feel the rhythm, move along and be prepared to get up out of their chairs and dance,” he said.
“Afro/Andean Fusion” will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets range from five to 10 dollars for students and nine to 10 dollars for community members.
