The Music of Fela Kuti Traverses the River to Brooklyn Bridge Park
Like a mild perfume in the air, there is a new hint of cold seeping through the late-night air. Before you pull out those heavy coats and wool hats, there is one more free outdoor concert to take advantage of when the Music of Fela Kuti comes to Brooklyn Bridge Park's beautifully designed Pier 1 St. Ann's Warehouse next Monday, October 4.
Fela! music director Aaron Johnson has arranged the performance to create a free concert distinct from the musical, which celebrates the life of Fela Kuti – the creator of Afro-Beat known for being a powerful political force for civil rights in Nigeria. The highly praised Broadway musical received 11 Tony nominations last year, including best musical.
Fela!'s star Sahr Ngaujah – who was nominated for Best Actor – will perform. It is said that the Sierra Leonean's charisma rivals Kuti’s, and his backing band from the Broadway show includes members of the Antibalas Afro-Beat Orchestra, a 12 year old Brooklyn outfit that is heavily influenced by Fela Kuti's Africa 70 band and Eddie Palmieri's Harlem River Drive Orchestra.
The Fela! jams will begin at 6:30PM on October 4. Check out St. Ann's Warehouse for more details.
UPDATE: THIS SHOW HAS MOVED INDOORS TO ST. ANN'S WAREHOUSE DUE TO THE RAIN. SEATING IS LIMITED, SO ARRIVE EARLY!
(Photo of Jordan McLean of Antibalas and Sahr Ngaujah at the FELA! opening night party last July by Jacob Blickenstaff)
