After rave reviews and two sensational, sold out performances at The Fugard Theatre in Cape Town last weekend, South African music icons VUSI MAHLASELA and KAREN ZOID and will again storm the Cape when they team up to perform at the Oude Libertas Theatre in Stellenbosch, for one night only on Sunday 27 November.
A truly remarkable live performer, Karen Zoid has been celebrating her 10th year as a recording artist this year, while Vusi will celebrate his two decades in the industry with an extensive national tour in 2012. Vusi is currently touring the USA as part of the Still Black, Still Proud tour. This is Vusi’s fourth US tour this year, in support of his most recent studio album ‘Say Africa’, which was produced by legendary Bluesman Taj Mahal, and released there in January on the ATO Records label. ATO is co-owned by former South African Dave Matthews, a long-time Vusi fan and supporter, and a superstar in his own right.
Still Black, Still Proud celebrates James Brown’s lasting legacy while exploring the deep relationship between Soul, Funk and contemporary African music. Brown’s legendary band leader Pee Wee Ellis says, “Since the beat came from Africa, we wanted to bring it back by way of combining Funk with some African rhythms.” Since 2008 artists from the U.S. and Africa have come together in a show that The Boston Globe dubbed “a pan-continental funk-soul supergroup” and All About Jazz proclaims simply “explosive.” Discovering the points at which African and American music strike sparks off each other, Pee Wee and a host of stars including Maceo Parker, VUSI MAHLASELA and Cheikh Lo now bring James Brown’s revolutionary music full circle in this rhythm fueled tribute of Afro-funk. As much as the music of Africa influenced Brown’s style, he likewise inspired an entire generation of African artists. Brown’s music was immensely popular, deeply felt and vastly influential in Africa; “Even in the furthest villages, people knew about James Brown!” says Vieux Farka Touré. Since 2008, Still Black, Still Proud has toured the UK, Europe, and North America performing in front of sold-out audiences to rave reviews. Previous guest artists include Fred Wesley, Vieux Farka Touré, Tony Allen, and Angelique Kidjo.
Current Still Black, Still Proud tour dates:
11/16 Chapel Hill, NC
11/18 Great Barrington, MA
11/19 Burlington, VT
11/20 Philadelphia, PA
11/22 St. Paul, MN
Tickets are available now at Computicket
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