Ross Daly, Titi Robin, Qasimov, Transcender and more

[Seb Merrick]

Transcender Festival at Barbican this weekend has a really great line up!!
Well worth getting to for from £10. Anyone?

Faiz Ali Faiz & Titi Robin + Ross Daly's Seyir (Sat)
Alim Qasimov + Homayun Sakhi (Sun)
With free stage before the show too.

Here's a listng I've just sent out also with other shows http://ymlp.com/z0yW9n
Mulatu Astatke& Krar Collective (an Ethiopiques V2 rerun..), Cigdem Aslan, Natacha Atlas and Attab Haddad

[Chris P]

Anyone ?
Faiz Ali Faiz & Titi Robin + Ross Daly's Seyir (Sat)

definitely - potential gig of the year ! + Kadialy Kouyate for free in the foyer too

[kas]

I want to be in London...

As a matter of fact, Titi Robin is coming here too later in the autumn. Without Faiz Ali Faiz unfortunately, but with his trio. Will be going, so I'll be reading any reviews of your London extravaganza.

[Seb Merrick]

Hi Kas, Chris had better write one then..
I saw Titi Robin with a larger group and was impressed.
I'd like to see him with a trio too. I think a small group would suit him well.
Chris - drinks by the freestage? grab me if you see me..
Seb

[Chris P]

I saw Titi Robin with a larger group and was impressed.
I'd like to see him with a trio too. I think a small group would suit him well.

definitely : Titi with a trio is magnifique (+ his daughter singing & dancing in the 2nd half). One of my fave gigs of the last decade.

Hope to maybe see you there Seb. Phil 'Philhellinas' will be there too with his Levantine tunnel vision, meaning that he isn't looking forward to The Titi/Faiz part of the concert (quel horreur). Funny ol' thing music ain't it !

[Peter Culshaw]

http://www.theartsdesk.com/index.php?op ... &Itemid=29

Check my Qasimov encounter on theartsdesk....

[Chris P]

Kadialy followed by Ross Daly followed by Titi Robin & Faiz Ali Faiz. Words fail me I'm afraid Kari, it was all better than my tired words could say - as anticipated a hugely enjoyable & memorable gig.
I wonder which trio Titi will be with in Finland. Ze Luis Nascimento is a stunningingly good percussionist, accordionist Francis Varis is sublime & nimble, & the guimbri/bass ('gumbass') hybrid player who I hadn't seen before Pascal 'Kalou' Stalin was knockout - lovely sound. Hope you can write a report. I don't think there are any better groups on the planet than Titi's. Even Levantine Phil was converted by Titi's playing.

[Ian A.]

Kadialy followed by Ross Daly followed by Titi Robin & Faiz Ali Faiz. Words fail me I'm afraid Kari, it was all better than my tired words could say - as anticipated a hugely enjoyable & memorable gig.

Wasn't it just? Very seconded - an amazing evening of music. So much extraordinary, intense and dense music that I actually didn't mind that neither did an encore as my head was full! Rarely have I seen a concert with so many virtuoso musicians on stage together, all absolutely astounding, all playing to maximum tilt, but all working for the greater good and none seeming like they were competing or overshadowing. There were several moments when I had to remind myself to breath.

[Dominic]

Ze Luis Nascimento is a stunningingly good percussionist, accordionist Francis Varis is sublime & nimble...

Nascimento also plays with Mayra Andrade and is so much better with the limited kit he uses with Robin. And the combination of harmonium & accordion was a touch of genius.

Sunday night was also transcendent. Ken Hunt (who knows about these things) suggested afterwards that Afghan rubab player Homayun Sakhi's long raga-like main piece lacked variation but it sounded pretty good to me. A second, shorter, piece gave his percussionist a chance to entertain, playing two, then three, doira hand drums at the same time.
Alim & Fargana Qasimov's performance at Womad was a highlight for many & Sunday's show was even better, without the inevitable distractions of an early hours festival crowd. Both acts were prefaced by short films, presumably taken from the Smithsonian/Folkways releases in the Music From Central Asia series, which I shall certainly be investigating further.

[kas]

Titi Robin will be bringing Ze Luis Nascimento and Francis Varis also to Helsinki. That sounds like a must then, thanks Seb, Chris and Ian.

There are a few live clips by them on Youtube, and they do sound spellbinding.

Apart from them, there is quite a lively concert season in Helsinki this autumn: Titi Robin, Youssou N'Dour, Khaled (got the ticket already), Viswa Mohan Bhatt & Subhen Chatterjee plus a joint night of Habib Koité, Afel Bocoum and Oliver Mtukudzi...