New York, NY. (Top40 Charts/ Shore Fire Media) - The Appalachian mountains may not seem a likely source of African-rooted music, but 'funky, hard hitting' (Global Rhythm) Toubab Krewe, of Asheville, North Carolina, blends West African rhythms with rock, creating a sound all its own and earning a devoted following at performances from Bonnaroo to the legendary Festival of the Desert in Essakane, Mali.
What the Village Voice calls the 'futuristic, psychedelic, neo-griot frenzy" of Toubab Krewe's shows has now been captured on their second album, 'Live at the Orange Peel' (Upstream Records, ADA Distribution 1/06/09).
The instrumental quintet's five members, childhood friends and long-term musical collaborators who joined up in 2005, have spent extended periods studying with musical luminaries in Mali, Ivory Coast, and Guinea and learning traditional instruments such as the kora (a 21-string harp) and the kamel ngoni (a lute). Their music also brings in the worlds of surf and zydeco in 'a Dick Dale moves-to-Timbuktu experiment' (Boston Herald).
The new album, produced by Grammy winner Steven Heller and recorded in the group's hometown December 30-31, 2007, features eight previously unreleased tracks, including collaborations with legendary spoken-word artist Umar Bin Hassan of The Last Poets and fiddler Rayna Gellert.
Toubab Krewe's tour begins in Denver, Colorado December 30th; the record release show will be at New York's S.O.B.'s on January 8th. It's not quite as extensive as Toubab Krewe's journey from Buncombe (Asheville's county) to Mali's Badala (the subject of the first video from the release), but there'll be just as many opportunities for frenzied dancing.
Toubab Krewe is:
Teal Brown - Drums
Drew Heller - Guitar
Justin Perkins - Kamel Ngoni, Kora, Guitar
David Pransky - Bass
Luke Quaranta - Percussion
Toubab Krewe - 'Live At The Orange Peel'
Track Listing:
1. Autorail
2. Lamine's Tune
3. Roy Forester
4. Kaira
5. 51 Ft Ladder
6. Maliba
7. Moose
8. Buncombe To Badala
"Buncombe to Badala" video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I35ZEGsubdE
"Buncombe t2 Badala" tour dates:
Dec 30 - Denver, CO - Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom (New Year's Revival w/ Panjea & Kyle Hollingsworth)
Dec 31 - Denver, CO - Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom (New Year's Revival w/ Panjea & Kyle Hollingsworth)
Jan 08 - New York, NY - S.O.B.'s ('Live At The Orange Peel' Record Release Show w/ Jar-e)
Jan 17 - Athens, GA - Georgia Theatre
Jan 20 - Vienna, VA - Jammin Java
Jan 21 - Charlottesville, VA - Gravity Lounge
Jan 23 - Virginia Beach, VA - Jewish Mother
Jan 24 - Richmond, VA - Capital Ale House Downtown Music Hall
Feb 6 - Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
Feb 7 - Charlotte, NC - Neighborhood Theatre
Feb 14 - Atlanta, GA - Smiths Old Bar
Toubab Krewe on the web:
www.toubabkrewe.com
www.myspace.com/toubabkrewe
www.ilike.com/artist/Toubab+Krewe
https://www.vimeo.com/user891020
