Markus James & The Wassonrai ~ Friday, December 28, 2012 ~ 7:00 p.m. Doors / 8:00 p.m. Music ~ $18.00 Members / $20.00 Non Members
Markus James & The Wassonrai ~ from “Hellhound On My Trail”
The Miners Foundry is pleased to present Markus James & The Wassonrai on Friday, December 28, 2012. For many years, Markus James has been traveling in Mali and recording unique, Blues-influenced music with traditional Wassoulou and Sonrai musicians. This has led to excellent critical acclaim for the recordings, film , and live performances which have evolved from these true cross-cultural collaborations. Touring with The Wassonrai, Markus James takes the Blues back to its African roots – don’t miss this amazing show! Doors open at 7:00 p.m. with music beginning at 8:00 p.m. Food will be available for purchase, along with a no-host bar. Tickets are $18.00 for Miners Foundry Members and $20.00 for Non Members. Tickets are available online, in person, or by phone at the Nevada City Box Office, or at Briar Patch.
Call the Nevada City Box Office at (530) 265-5462 or check your email to receive your Member Code.
“Profound world blues passage… extremely distinctive pieces, driven by a seductive rhythmic circularity that’s a keystone of Malian traditional tunes and Delta blues.” BILLBOARD MAGAZINE
For many years, Markus James has been traveling in Mali and recording unique, Blues-influenced music with traditional Wassoulou and Sonrai musicians. This has led to excellent critical acclaim for the recordings, film, and live performances which have evolved from these true cross-cultural collaborations. In the US, Markus performs with Malian artists playing Kameme n’goni, the 8-stringed hunter’s harp of the Wassoulou people, kurubu and njarka violin of the Sonrai people, as well as calabash and Bolon, the 3-stringed gourd bass.
The music features vocals which alternate between Bambara, Sonrai, and English.
His collaborations in Timbuktu with Hamma Sankare (Calabash player on Ali Farka Toure’s tours and albums), Hassi Sare (master of the one-stringed Njarka violin), and Solo Sidibe (who plays the Kamele N’Goni, the hunter’s harp of the Wassoulou people) are the subject of the documentary film “Timbuktoubab”. This group has performed at the Festival In The Desert in 2003 and 2004, as well as in Timbuktu and other towns and villages in Northern Mali. In the US, Markus tours with The Wassonrai, featuring Wassoulou musician Mamadou Sidibe, and Amadou Camara. They have performed on numerous radio shows, including PRI / BBC’s “The World”.
