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"Watina" from Watina (Cumbancha)
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"Baba" from Watina (Cumbancha)
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Watina (Cumbancha)
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Concert Review

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Afropop Worldwide, Concert Review >>

GlobalFEST, New York's annual January world music extravaganza, is growing up.  2007 marks the mega-concert's graduation from the stages of Joe's Pub to those of Webster Hall, a considerably larger venue.  Same concept:  three stages, twelve acts, lots of overlap so that only that rare, determined fan can hope to taste them all.  This reviewer/photographer fell well short of that goal, but from what I saw, this year's lineup was particularly strong, showcasing both hybrid, world music exotica like Dengue Fever, a psychedelic, Cambodian, surf pop band from L.A.and solid roots music llike Andy Palacio and the Garifuna Collective of Belize.

Now it was time for the night's capper, Andy Palacio and the Garifuna Collective from Belize.  This group's amalgam of young and old musicians has been in the works for years, and now that it's rolling out (with a brilliant, debut CD, Watina, out in February 2007), it promises to be one of the sensations of African diaspora pop this year.  The Garifuna descend from Africans and Arawak Indians who came together centuries ago along the east coast of Central America.  Their songs combine trance-inducing drumming with folksy vocal harmonies, and there have been a number of wonderful Garifuna CD releases, mostly from Stonetree Records in BelizeBut never has the art of the Garifuna been presented at the level that Andy Palacio, a latter day "punta" rocker, has pulled together in this group.  Two Garifuna drummers form the spiritual and sonic core of the band, and three guitarist weave rich harmonic and melodic textures, all as a base for those great vocal hooks.  The early part of the set featured Palacio and a younger Garifuna singer, Adrian Martinez.  But the stops really came out when Palacio summoned 78-year-old Paul Nabor to the stage.  Nabor had apparently sworn off all Northern Hemisphere touring during winter, "But somehow," mused Palacio, "you've convinced him to come to New York for globalFEST." 

A craggy old man ambling on stage in a loud shirt and a light grey suit, his pinched, deeply lined face framed by a woolen cap worn underneath his cowboy hat, was bound to win a sympathetic reception.  But when Nabor unleashed his sharp, keening voice, and his loose limbed dance moves, graciousness turned to utter glee.  Nabor's leading the group through his signature, sing-along song "Naguya Nei," proved the high point of the night for me.  I'm pleased to report that Afropop Worldwide recorded this set along with an intimate interview and solo performance with Palacio for a future radio program.  The price was missing Lucia Pulido and Palenque of Columbia, as well as Babylon Circus, a French ska band that apparently rocked the house.  For the Garifunas, it was worth it!

 02/02/07
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