Last June I visited Cameroon for the first time. My eight-day mission was twofold: Introduce new audiences to Music Time in Africa and other VOA African music programs, and share my brand of American vocal jazz with Cameroonians. Highlights of my performances and workshops were well documented by the Cultural Affairs Office of the U.S. […]
Music Time in Africa Turns 50
Posted May 29th, 2015 at 1:08 pm (UTC-5)
Music Time in Africa: A Narrative Timeline of 50 Years on Air The music radio program “Music Time in Africa” from the English to Africa Service of VOA celebrates its 50th Anniversary of broadcasting African music to Africa this month. A Golden Anniversary of practically any kind is generally a good reason for celebration. But […]
Sounds from Southern Morocco: Festival Taragalte
Posted February 27th, 2015 at 2:54 pm (UTC-5)
In late January, I traveled to the edge of the Sahara Desert in Morocco to participate in an African music festival called Festival Taragalte. It took place in the dunes just outside the dusty oasis town of M’Hamid El Ghizlane or “Town of the Gazelles.” It was the Door of the Sahara or “Porte du Sahara” […]
Music Today in Malawi
Posted December 2nd, 2014 at 12:00 pm (UTC-5)
Comments are closed
I landed in Lilongwe, Malawi on October 9th, 2014. My mission: to learn more about the country’s music. The energy of Lilongwe was entirely different than in Johannesburg or Capetown, South Africa where I had just been the week earlier. Here, things moved at a slower, more relaxed pace. Day and night, joyous voices of […]
The Dust and Sheen of South African Hip Hop
Posted October 22nd, 2014 at 9:47 am (UTC-5)
When I first heard the current hit South African song “Caracara” I knew I wanted to meet this crew. If there’s a winning recipe for feeling good, at least for 3:52 seconds, “Caracara” is it. The lazy, urban tempo, the sexy flow, and simple catchy hook is infectious. One listen drove me straight to Youtube […]
Jazz in Johannesburg
Posted October 5th, 2014 at 4:03 pm (UTC-5)
Comments are closed
I arrived in Jozi late Tuesday afternoon September 30th, stiff and exhausted from the fifteen-hour flight. But after a good night’s sleep and fresh morning coffee, I was ready to discover the music of the city and, oh how I did. By around 9:00 p.m. that evening I was watching these cats pictured above, mesmerized […]
Kenya’s Jabali Africa Performs “Percussion Discussion” and More – Studio 4
Posted August 25th, 2014 at 8:28 pm (UTC-5)
Before I left for Central Africa in May and June, I had the opportunity to invite a local, Washington- area Kenyan band for a music interview here at VOA headquarters. They are called Jabali Africa or The Rock of Africa. Check out this great interview and music, including an amazing instrumental piece aptly titled “Percussion […]
Music Time in Rwanda – Nyundo and Rubavu
Posted July 11th, 2014 at 3:08 pm (UTC-5)
When I first arrived in Rwanda it was already dark. Ben and Mugabo from the U.S. embassy met me at the gate and swiftly checked me into a hotel. After the 16-hour flight from Washington, D.C. it didn’t take long before I was fast asleep. The next morning at dawn’s first light, I re-packed […]
Pantaleon Playing Mvet – Direct from Yaounde
Posted June 25th, 2014 at 7:18 pm (UTC-5)
I recently returned from an exciting music tour in Rwanda and Cameroon. I brought back fantastic music cds and audiovisual field recordings of time spent performing and work-shopping with local artists, students, and broadcast journalists. This short clip features a traditional poet musician from the Eton-speaking region of Cameroon. His name is Pantaleon and he […]
A Concert for Willis
Posted May 22nd, 2014 at 2:44 pm (UTC-5)
On Tuesday April 29th, the sounds of live jazz rang out in the Voice of America auditorium. A concert was held to celebrate a studio dedication in honor of our own legendary Jazz producer and broadcaster Willis Conover. Two groups were featured, the U.S. Navy Band Commodores and yours truly, Heather Maxwell and my trio. The […]
