Volume 10 Issue 7 - April 2005

WoRLD View
BY KAREN AGES
SPRING 1s HERE, and with it comes
a fresh face on the world music
scene. Co-presented by Small
World Music and Music Africa,
Korongo Jam is in town from
Cameroon, part of their first North
American tour. Formed in 1999 by
ticipatory cultural activity," huslead
vocalist Erik Aliana, this band
delivers a mix of funk and Afri-
can folk music informed by the
traditional rhythms of central Cam-
eroon. Instruments used include
kryin (wooden drum played with
sticks), balafon, djembe, nyass
(gourd shaker) and mvet (gourd
guitar), along with modern elec-
tric ones. This promises to be - a
lively evening of dance and mu-
sic, April 7 at the Lula Lounge.
American tour. All proceeds will
go to charities both in Canada and
India. Visit www.ammacanada.ca
for more information on these art­
ists and the foundation.
Not a concert but rather a "par­
band and wife team Alan Gasser
and Becca Whitla present Village
Square, community singing from
around the world, April 14 at Holy
Trinity Church behind the Eaton
Centre. Join in singing music from
a variety of traditions including
North American shapenote music,
Shaker tunes, music from South
Africa, Eastern Europe and more.
April 14 at the Lula Lounge,
Fado fans will enjoy the Fado-
Arabesque Dance Academy Blues ensemble "15". Described
continues its series of Sunday as "pushing the definition of Porevening
"Layali Arabesque," fea- tuguese Fado to new areas", voturing
a different bellydancer each calist Catarina Cardeal and guiweek
accompanied by live tradi- tarist/percussionist Mike Siracutional
Arabic instrumentalists. sa deliver this passionate Portu­
These cabaret style events begin guese genre with a contemporary
at 8pm at Gypsy Co-Op (815
Queen St. West). Arabesque also
presents two larger events this
is a group of high calibre volunmonth:
"Hezz Ya Wezz," featur-
teer musicians who present qualiing
ten bellydancers with live mu-
sic, April 2 at l Gloucester St.,
heard. Their April 23 concert, tiand
"Mamo Kadous Gala Perform-
tied "The Global Beat" will feaance,"
April 30 at Lithuanian
House (1573 Bloor St. West).
Dancers will be accompanied by
the Arabesque Orchestra led by
Dr. George Sawa (qanoon, oude)
with Suleiman Warwar (dumbek),
Bassam Bishara (oude, qanoon,
vocals), George Barbas (dhaholla)
and Sebastion Gatto (duft). Visit
www.arabesquedance.ca for more
details.
April 9, Amma Foundation of
Canada presents Aditya Kalyan-
pur (tabla) and Rahul Sharma (san-
wor) in a concert of Indian classi-
cal music. Residents of India, they
are in Toronto as part of a North
twist.
The Toronto Wind Orchestra
ty concerts of music not often
ture works inspired by music from
around the world. Included are
Hans Werner Henze's "Ragtimes
and Habaneras", the Balinese in­
spired Colin McPhee's "Concerto
for Wind Orchestra" and other
works.
If you were unfortunate, as I
was, to miss Maryem Tollar's
March 31 concert with colleague
Jayne Brown, you have another
chance to hear this wonderfully
versatile singer, April 27 at the
Lula Lounge. Along with Levan
lchkhanian (strings), Rich Brown
(electric bass), Daniel Barnes
(drums), Ernie Tollar (sax &
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flutes) and Yvette Tollar (vocals),
this concert will feature songs from
her CDs, including some with texts
by Maryem's uncle, Montreal poet
Ehab Lotayef, songs from North
Africa, songs sung in Ladino, as
well as a few new ones. .
The Royal Ontario Museum
continues its series of free Friday
evening concerts. April 29 it's
"Raj to Aaj: Celebration of South
Asia," featuring music, dance. and
film from Nepal, India, Bangladesh
and Sri Lanka. Please check
the ROM's website for details.
Toronto's Shevchenko Musical
Ensemble has a couple of concerts
in early May. Their May 1 concert
features Slavic, folk, classical
and Canadian music for choir,
mandolin orchestra and dancers.
May 8, the Ensemble is joined by
the Kaniv Dancers
Cameroon's Korongo Jam
in a comedy
dance review titled "Let's Dance
... Tango," at the Betty Oliphant
Theatre.
If you've been thinking of getting
involved in a world music
ensemble but haven't decided
which, a couple of educational facilities
that offer classes to the general
public will be holding their
end-of-season shows. Worlds of
Music Toronto presents their
workshop participants'recital April
7 at Hart House; and the Royal
Conservatory of Music Community
School holds its World Music
Showcase May 6, at 90 Croatia
St. Both concerts will feature an
array of ensembles representing
traditions from around the globe.
And speaking of education, the
Toronto District School Board
holds its annual Spring Music Concert
May 4 at Massey Hall.
Though this event will likely be
sold out, I mention it here because
the board has in the last few years
begun introducing its pupils to
world music. Featured on the program
will be grade 5 and 6
students
of the Gamelan Club at Leslieville
Public School, under the
direction of Andrew Timar (of the
Evergreen Gamelan and Gamelan
Toronto), with choreography and .
music by Sutrisno Hartana.
There are also a few World
Music concerts in Brampton,
Guelph and Barrie this month;
please see our Beyond the GT A
listings, commencing on page 60.
Karen Ages is a free/,ance oboist who
has also been a member of several
world music ensembles. She can be
reached at 416-323-2232 or
worldmusic@thewholenote. corn.
PHILIP L. -nA VIS
Luthi er
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APRIL 1 - MAY 7 2005