Ex-centric Sound at the Pier

By Tomm Carroll
Music Critic

July 29 -- Ex-centric Sound System brings its eccentric and eclectic electronica -- laced with African beats, world funk and bassy dub grooves -- to its Twilight Dance Series headlining date, while Delta Nove, the Long Beach-based band that melds funk, jazz, samba, rock and Afro-beat, opens the evening.

Perhaps the only Israeli/Ghanaian world music, ambient, trip-hop, African dub ensemble in the business, Ex-Centric Sound System was founded by band leader Yossi Fine, the respected bassist and sampler who has toured, played and recorded with such artists as Stanley Jordan, Lou Reed, Ruben Blades, David Bowie, Naughty By Nature and Gil Evans.

Fine, who was born in Paris to a West Indian singer and an Israeli guitarist, has long been fascinated by the shared origins of African, Latin, Caribbean and African-American music.

"I've always wanted to mix traditional styles with the most contemporary sounds and environments, has said in an interview. “I wanted to create a musical language that everyone can relate to, and through that, experience the magic of Africa together with the powerful grooves of today."

Grounded by dubby bass lines and enriched by authentic African instrumentation and chant, the Sound System’s music reflects the common thread of Black music – whether from Africa or the Caribbean, England or Jamaica, New York or L.A. Other members include Nana Dadzie (Ghana), flute/kalimba/traditional drums/balafon/bullhorn/vocals and dance, Adevo Savour (Accra/Ghana), traditional percussion/flutes and dance, and Michael Avgil (Morocco/Israel), trap drums.