Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/10/24
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Luggers, a series (every so often). Last week, the Univ of Virginia hosted a festival of African popular music. I was there, M2 and Nikon in hand, to shoot for the university's music department and myself. Featured artists included Abdoulaye Diabate, from Mali: <http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2810342> On Saturday evening, he performed with the Free Bridge Quintet, the university?s faculty jazz ensemble. Despite comining from distinct performance traditions, at an afternoon rehearsal, the musicians soon discovered musical language: <http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2810343> The rehearsal went so well, that I wondered if the musicians would have anything left for the evening?s concert: <http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2810344> Diabate was on fire: <http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2810346> I needn't have worried about the energy and virtuosity that would be on display that night: <http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2810348> <http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2810356> And (in homage to Roy DeCarava): <http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2810351> Diabate and his band also performed outdoors on Sunday afternoon. Corey Harris opened: <http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2810359> <http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2810363> Followed by Diabate's group. Despite have participated in a workshop, a rehearsal, and a concert on the previous two days, it was another stunning performance: <http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2810371> <http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2810374> The mood was so infectious that even university professors got into the act. <http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2810375> (I suppose that I should mention that Heather is an ethnomusicologist and a fine performer in her own right.) Other featured artists included Thomas Mapfumo, from Zimbabwe. Once a staunch opponent of colonialism and white supremacy in what was then Rhodesia, he is now a critic of Robert Mugabe?s regime: <http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2810337> No longer young, he conserves his energy on stage, the quiet eye of a hurricane of music and dance: <http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2810338> <http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2810340> Kanda Bongo Man, the soukous king from the Congo, was also on hand: <http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2810377> Not only did he get the audience up out of their seats, he got them on stage with the band, as well. <http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2810381> Which gave me a chance to join them with my M2: <http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2810382> A good time, to say the least, was had by all: <http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2810384> The only quiet time that I had over the course of the festival were the few hours that I spent with the Senegalese artist Bara Diakhane, in his makeshift studio: <http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2810330> He was in Charlottesville to create an instillation for the festival. The light in the room, once a blackbox theater, was so awful that it was good: <http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2810333> <http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2810335> Thanks for looking. --John ===== J Mason Charlottesville, Virginia >>New! Democracy of Speed, a Photo Documentary Project: http://www.people.virginia.edu/~ds8s/john-m/john-m.html _______________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Express yourself with Y! Messenger! Free. Download now. http://messenger.yahoo.com