Musicians from Zimbabwe(in Sandbach UK)

Subject: RE: Musicians from Zimbabwe(in Sandbach UK)
From: greg stephens
Date: 28 Aug 04 - 04:37 PM

At the Red Cow, 2PM, Sunday

Subject: RE: Musicians from Zimbabwe(in Sandbach UK)
From: greg stephens
Date: 22 Aug 04 - 06:14 PM

Don and Nash, the leading Zimbabwe singers in Stoke, are running he African song workshop at Nantwich Folk Festival.Thia Sunday, Aug 29, 2PM

Subject: RE: Musicians from Zimbabwe(in Sandbach UK)
From: greg stephens
Date: 09 Feb 04 - 11:42 AM

REFRESH
We're at Sandbach folk club again tomorrow(Tuesday Jan 10). George Hotel, in the middle opposite the crosses. The Boat Band are the official guests, but erratic shift work times permitting we are hoping to bring along a couple of the local Zimbabwean singers as well. Who have to be heard to be believed.

Subject: RE: Musicians from Zimbabwe(in Sandbach UK)
From: Noreen
Date: 16 Sep 03 - 08:28 AM

Have a wonderful evening, sorry I can't make it, greg.

Let us know how it goes, please.

Subject: RE: Musicians from Zimbabwe(in Sandbach UK)
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Sep 03 - 04:24 AM

It's TONIGHT TUESDAY

Subject: RE: Musicians from Zimbabwe(in Sandbach UK)
From: greg stephens
Date: 15 Sep 03 - 08:23 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Musicians from Zimbabwe(in Sandbach UK)
From: greg stephens
Date: 14 Sep 03 - 12:12 PM

On Tuesday (September 16) we (the Boat Band) return to Sandbach Folk Club with Don and Nash from Zimbabwe, two of the musicians mentioned earlier in this thread. So if you want to hear a mixture of cajun and english tunes and songs, with a big dollop of beautiful Shona,Ndebele and Zulu songs, the George Hotel, sandbach, 9PM Tuesday is the place to come. And if you do come,please please introduce yourself.
Greg

Subject: RE: Musicians from Zimbabwe(in Sandbach UK)
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 14 Mar 03 - 07:27 AM

I know that it is a sin to covet they neighbor's goods, Greg, but I think God wouldn't mind if I REALLY envied your singing with the Zimbabwe mates.

Shortly after Paul Simon did Rhythm Of The Saints, he did a rare concert in New York City, with Ladysmith Mambazo and the Brazilian musicians all present (even had Art Garfunkle come out for a surprise experience to do a few songs with him) When Ladysmit came out, wearing white backs and doing a precision African dance step as clean as their harmony, I thought I would have a heart atack from the excitement.

Two years ago, my wife Ruth and I went to Ghana and the Ivory Coast. We didn't have the opportunity to hear any African musicians, but I picked up a lot of African gospel on cassettes... much of it very stunning.

Don't envy, don't envy, don't envy. Well.... maybe a little would be alright.

If you get over here again, Greg, come to Derby and sing with the Gospel Messengers..

Jerry

Subject: RE: Musicians from Zimbabwe(in Sandbach UK)
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 14 Mar 03 - 05:59 AM

It sounds wonderful!! How I wish I could have been there! It's a mighty long commute from New Hampshire, USA!

Subject: RE: Musicians from Zimbabwe(in Sandbach UK)
From: greg stephens
Date: 14 Mar 03 - 05:29 AM

Wll, the gig went tremendously. The boys were very nervous, but sang beautifully. I was nervous too, the lead singer and songwriter couldnt come, so I stood in for him when they sang one of his songs, and I played his guitar part. Trouble is, he's got long black fingers and I've got short pink ones, so I didn't look or sound so cool as he does. But I made a point of not singing along, that would have been too much.
    The lads did a very nicely constructed half-set of five songs, and joined us for five of ours. They did a couple of African "standards"(Sho Sho Loza and the S African national anthem), plus one of Kays original songs, and a couple of stunning gospel pieces in Ndebele. The ensemle band numbers we'd tried were Run Come See. Titanic("it was sad,it was sad", not Celine Dion),I Walk to Joburg, jamaica Farewell, and Long Hot Summer Days. The latter wis a Lomax-cellected chaingang piece, we had an interesting discussion with the lads on how appropriate it was for a mixed race group to sing chain-gang songs. The general opinion was"if it's a good song, we'll sing it". So we did. It was extraordinary doing it with full-on African harmonies.
   So that's it, a milestone passed. The lads will do more gigs I hope, and next we're going to do an outing with Iraqi Kurdish guests.The ensemble playing will be confined to tunes probably. We are attempting t get to grips with each others songs, but the language and musical structure is so mutually alien that that may take a while. The Kurds are up for doing English disco hits and Queen numbers, but the trouble is we arent! We;'ll see what happens.

Subject: RE: Musicians from Zimbabwe(in Sandbach UK)
From: Noreen
Date: 11 Mar 03 - 01:46 PM

I wish them all the luck in the world, greg, and hope you'll come back and tell us all about it!

Subject: RE: Musicians from Zimbabwe(in Sandbach UK)
From: greg stephens
Date: 10 Mar 03 - 06:00 PM

Well, the lads came round to our house tonight for a final practise, and the gig is tomorow. They're going for it. in spite of being without their lead singer. They sounded great. It's a big thing they are doing, I've been doing all sorts of music stuff with refugees in Stoke for nearly three years, but this is the first group that's got itself together with a repertoire to go out and do a gig to an English audience.
   Come to Sandbach if you can, otherwise please wish them luck!

Subject: RE: Musicians from Zimbabwe(in Sandbach UK)
From: Noreen
Date: 09 Mar 03 - 07:06 PM

Sorry greg, I'll not be there this time, but hope all goes well.

Let us know of future events, please.

Subject: RE: Musicians from Zimbabwe(in Sandbach UK)
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Mar 03 - 06:32 PM

Greg, I wish I could come to this after you mentioned it at Chester but I'm working that night. I hope that it goes well, and that you and Kate and the band will attempt more such events, as I think it is such a great idea.
PS Enjoyed your concert at Chester, and your contributions to the singaround - especially Kate's Maori hand song and your 'Jerusalem'.
All the best for Tuesday,
Matthew Edwards

Subject: RE: Musicians from Zimbabwe(in Sandbach UK)
From: greg stephens
Date: 09 Mar 03 - 05:59 PM

Well, the lads are practising. Problems may be arising as Kays the main song-writer may have to drop out on Tuesday, life can be very complicated. But rest assured some of the lads are coming and it will be an occasion to remember. If this goes well we'll bring the Iraqis next time.

Subject: RE: Musicians from Zimbabwe(in Sandbach UK)
From: Noreen
Date: 06 Mar 03 - 03:52 PM

Sounds fun, greg- thought this must be you!

Subject: Musicians from Zimbabwe(in Sandbach UK)
From: greg stephens
Date: 06 Mar 03 - 08:39 AM

Some Mudcatters will I hope recall various postings I have made about the pleasures of working with folk musicians (or "people playing and singing") from an extraordinary variety of counries, in Stoke-on Trent. These get-togethers, for various reasons, are not really open to the general public. As a one-off experiment, my own group, the Boat Band, are playing at Sandbach Folk Club, the George Hotel, on Tuesday, March 11, along with a number of friends from Zimbabwe. We'll be doing some stuff together, and they will be doing some on their own. So if you like things like Ladysmith Black Mambazo, or Black Umfolosi, and fancy hearing some singing in an acoustic,small-scale friendly environment, do please come along.
   For various reasons I wont go into, I cant say who exactly will be there(indeed, I cant absolutely guarantee anyone other than the Boat Band will be there). But I will stick my neck out and predict that if you turn up you'll have an unforgettable experience.
   If this goes OK I intend to repeat the process in a hit-and-run sort of way at various points in the area, with different people. Watch this space. If anybody reads this who feels they have a venue which might care to issue an invite, please PM me.