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Chicago Tribune, Concert Preview >>

-by Howard Reich

Globalization may have its economic pluses and minuses, but culturally speaking, it appears to be a boon to anyone who values musical discovery.

The point will ring out clearly starting this weekend in Millennium Park, where the "Music Without Borders" series will open at the Pritzker Pavilion. At twice the size of last year's lineup, the six-concert series will bring little-known but thoroughly fascinating ensembles to the city's prime summertime listening space.

Organized by the city's Department of Cultural Affairs and Millennium Park, the free shows begin at 6:30 p.m. near Michigan Avenue and Randolph Drive; 312-742-1168 or www.millenniumpark.org.

June 24: Enzo Avitabile & Bottari: Cultures converge in the work of saxophonist-bandleader Avitabile, an Italian improviser who has linked American jazz idioms with the buoyant percussion of the age-old bottari, or "barrel beaters." The result -- as heard on his 1994 release, "Save the World" -- is a music that can be enjoyed for its danceable backbeats or studied more closely for its sinuous instrumental lines and chantlike vocal riffs. The music-making in this Chicago debut should be even more viscerally exciting in person, since no recording possibly could capture the thunder of the bottari.

June 27: Carlinhos Brown; Andy Palacio & The Garifuna Collective: Utterly accessible and thoroughly hummable, the music of Brazilian troubadour Brown aims to reach as wide an audience as possible, and succeeds. He has become practically ubiquitous in Brazil and beyond, thanks to the undeniable craft and sweet lyricism of this work. Essentially, Brown applies the distinct rhythmic lilt of music from his native Bahia to populist song forms. Belizean singer (and official Cultural Ambassador) Palacio rounds out this double-bill. He has made it his life's work to nurture the ancient the language and music of the Garifuna people, who derive from the Caribbean and West Africa.

June 28: Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, with guest DJ Rich Medina: Singer-saxophonist Kuti -- a fantastically charismatic performer -- champions the incantatory, African-inspired protest music of his father, Fela Kuti. Rich in chanted vocal lines and braying brass responses, the music of Kuti & Egypt 80 juxtaposes vocal fervor with a relentlessly driving instrumental accompaniment.

July 12: Toumani Diabate's Symmetric Orchestra, with Vieux Farka Toure: Among the most virtuosic music on the "Music Without Borders" season, Diabate's Symmetric Orchestra articulates the cultural traditions of Mali with remarkable instrumental prowess and vocal ardor. Diabate's kora playing alone is worth savoring, and with the Malian singer-guitarist Vieux Farka Toure (son of the iconic Ali Farka Toure) sharing the spotlight, this should be an historic night. All the more, since the band will be expanded to include several ace Chicago jazz musicians: cornetist Josh Berman, trombonist Jeb Bishop, saxophonist Aaron Getsug and saxophonist Nate LePine.

July 23: SambaSunda: Nothing on the "Music Without Borders" season will sound more exotic to Chicago ears than SambaSunda, a stunning, genre-defying Indonesian orchestra that draws upon an enormous battery of instruments, influences and cultural sources. African percussion and European violins, bamboo flutes and Balinese gongs, Sundanese barrel drums and Latin American timbales produce an alluring, other-worldly sound. The unusual tunings, vocal declamations and gloriously strange harmonies prove riveting on SambaSunda's CD "Rahwana's Cry" -- one hardly can imagine how they'll sound live.

July 29: Gerardo Nunez Flamenco Ensemble, featuring Simon Shaheen and Nishat Khan: Flamenco music has been gaining popularity here, thanks to the annual Chicago Flamenco Festival and other events. This time, flamenco takes a global twist, as the brilliant guitarist Nunez collaborates with gifted Arabic oud player Shaheen and the Indian sitar master Nishat Khan. At least three musical cultures will intertwine. 06/20/07 >> go there
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