Fela!, the Broadway musical about a prominent Nigerian musician created by a prominent U.S. choreographer, arrived at Sidney Harman Hall this week. Arts Desk theater critic Bob Mondello will have review next week. I’m just here to report that the dancing is, well, awesome.
The touring production is more than simply an evening’s entertainment, thanks to glorious [...]

Steve Reid, a New York-based drummer who moved through several forms of African-American music while rarely straying from the cutting edge, died this morning in New York at 66 years old. The cause of death has not been reported.
Reid's professional career began at 16 as the house drummer of Harlem's Apollo Theater, with his [...]

This is just one of my favorite Fela clips. Thought I'd share.

Remember Chopteeth? BPB reviewed 'em back in October during the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival. They cook. They dance. The Korgans are fat. The horn section is beastly. And the protest ("Struggle") generally takes a backseat to the party ("Upendo").
Their LP is called "Afrofunk Big Band." It's great. [...]