Quarta-feira 25 Jul 2007, 9h:00
The picturesque hillside town of Veruccio on the outskirts of Rimini in Italy is the setting for an annual one week open air music festival which has gained a reputation for an eclectic programme of artists and styles from around the world. This year's highlights include a night of cutting edge electronica with Robert Lippok, Jan Jelinik and Alva Nota , the voguish lounge meets punk of Nouvelle Vague and acclaimed British folkie Seth Lakeman. Also on the bill at midnight tonight, are the New York based Brazilian party band Forro In The Dark who I ended up not seeing so I'm not sure what I missed (although I wasn't too bowled over by their KCRW performance on Morning Becomes Eclectic).
Seeing Malian singer Rokia Traoré and her band produce a concert performance of the highest quality was a big enough treat for one evening.
I'd read glowing reports of her without hearing any of her three albums so I arrived expecting something good but without any major preconceptions. I went away completely won over by what by any standards was an exceptional show happily clutching a copy of her latest cd Bowmboï.
Her songs are a balance of delicately melodic acoustic ballads and rousing dance beats, often these two elements combine in the same song. On her official website, she describes the themes of her song writing as including reflections on the plight of women and children in African society.
The music is one of vibrant modernity but clearly rooted in traditional styles of West Africa. Her songs are mostly in her native Bamana language. Two thirds of the way through she politely asks us in French if we'd care to get out of the seats and dance. We didn't need asking twice and , with the overly formal atmosphere broken, the mood of the final half hour is a liberating celebration.
Rokia Traoré looks fantastic, has an amazing voice and is a wonderful dancer, all of which amply demonstrates why, at the age of 33,she is making serious waves as one of the Africa's hottest new talents breaking down musical and cultural barriers with effortless grace and considerable style.
If she's coming any where near a town near you, do not miss her
