Sunday, July 5, 2009

Global Grooves at the Kimmel Center-Samba Mapangala & Virunga


As part of its Global Grooves series, The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts will present Samba Mapangala and Virunga, on Thursday, July 9, 2009 at 7:30 in the Perelman Theatre. I plan to attend and do a review, but I encourage you to go and hear this amazing band. Listen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wZAOd-YXoU

Samba Mapangala and his band Virunga are one of the major bands to come out from Central and East Africa in the last 25 years. Beloved throughout East Africa for his incredible voice, Samba has created an infectious pairing of the best Congolese rumba and soukous with an earthier Kenyan style. Samba sings in both Lingala and Swahili and his live performances are hot.

According to Philly Culture, “…Samba's incendiary live show features complex, interlocking guitar lines, rapid-fire bass and light, fast-paced percussion with horn or sax overlays. The songs begin with Samba's catchy melodic lines, evolving through beautiful vocal harmonies and brilliant guitar and horn solos. Samba's sound is unique among African vocalists and remains legendary to this day.”

Samba Mapangala and Virunga
Thursday, July 9, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.
Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
Perleman Theatre
260 S. Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
http://www.kimmelcenter.org/events/summer-dance09.php
Tickets: 215-893-1999

Visitor Services: 215-670-2327 Monday - Friday, 9am-5pm


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