TANNIS SLIMMON - MALIAN MUSIC SHOW (SUN., SEPT. 20)

Hi, folks!

I know it's late to be letting you know this, but there are just 2 more chances [er, only 1 now - DD] to catch our dear Malian friends, Jah and Abdoulaye, before they fly home next week after a summer of festivals and gigs and hanging at our place. It has been a whirlwind of brilliant music and misunderstood French (the latter on my part only!). Thanks to everyone for making them feel welcome in Canada!

...Tannis

The concerts are coming up tomorrow (Saturday, Sept. 19th) in Toronto and Sunday (Sept. 20th) in Guelph, ON, and there will also be a free screening (tomorrow afternoon in Toronto) of the film, 'Road To Baleya', which documents how we met them in Mali in 2004.

Film Screening: Special Free Screening of 'Road to Baleya', the feature music documentary shot in Mali, West Africa, by Bay Weyman on Saturday, September 19, at 2pm at the NFB Theatre, 150 John Street at Richmond in Toronto. Seating is limited, so come early (see below for more about this film). Toronto concert:Then catch Jah Youssouf with The Woodchoppers Association later that day in concert celebrating their new CD at the wonderful Music Gallery, 197 John Street in Toronto at 8 pm. $15 at the door ($10 for Music Gallery members).

From the Music Gallery's website (http://www.musicgallery.org/):

Legendary Malian musician Jah Youssouf — protégé of fellow Malian musical legend Oumou Sangaré — has been thrilling audiences across the Canadian folk festival circuit during this summer of 2009, and the Music Gallery is pleased to host their final tour stop and only Toronto headlining presentation. This summer’s tour is a special collaboration with The Woodchoppers Association in support of their new album "The Woodchoppers Association with Jah Youssouf".

The group is joined by ngoni virtuoso Abdoulaye Koné, also from Mali, and making his first-ever appearances in Canada. Together they deliver a sensual and electrifying orchestral and vocal improvisational performance that takes the big-band high life sound of Fela Kuti, the reggae grooves of Bob Marley, the guitar driven Mali blues of Ali Farke Touré, and the Gnawa magic of Tinariwen, and infuses it with Canadian alt-jazz-rock. Guelph concert details available by request (house concert).This week's Toronto Star article written by John Goddard: http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/article/696252


For more information about the film Road to Baleya, go to http://www.closeupfilms.ca/Films/Road_to_Baleya.php

"Road to Baleya is a vivid documentation... This is a must-see for any music lover, especially anyone already exposed to the wonderful music of this country, made famous by Ry Cooder’s collaborative album Talking Timbuktu, made with legendary Malian music star Ali Farka Toure.” Montreal Hour

www.tannis.ca


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