From: Bob Davis (earthjuice_at_prodigy.net)
Date: 2006-01-12 13:51:16
Some of you may recall that I had mentioned last week that this week I would
be meeting with MFA Kera (#5 Funk Release on Soul-Patrol's Best of 2005 -
MFA Kera/Mike Russell - "Afro Soul/Black Heritage").
Well I had lunch with her earlier this week.
She was here in the United States to do some recording with our friend
stank/nasty bassist TM Stevens, so we hooked up.
Talk about being taken to "FUNKschool"....
Actually it was more like meeting a person of vast historical knowlege and
wisdom, so I listened much more than I talked. In fact I had pulled out a
pen and paper to write stuff down, yet by the time our lunch was over, I had
only written down one thing...
- Student: "What Do Africans Think About Black Americans"?
- Teacher: "They Think That You All Have Forgotten About Them..."
I was totally mezmorised with story after story of her encounters with
historical figures such as Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Mickey Baker, etc.
In fact her first manager was bluesman Memphis Slim and her primary singing
influence is Mahalia Jackson.
(see how far OUR music travels???)
She will be back in the spring, performing with her group in Washington, DC
at Blues Alley and I will make it my business to be there for that show! I
need to get down to DC, it's been a while...
Here is a short profile on her...
http://www.black-heritage.de
-----------------------------------------------
Of Creole extraction, MFA Kera was born in Madagascar and grew up in
Senegal. After moving to Paris, she began her professional career singing
the blues and gospel, linking with Memphis Slim and working with such
luminaries as Mickey Baker, John Lee Hooker and Milton Buckner. Ultimately,
she formed the "Black Heritage Orchestra," working with US jazzman Mike
Russell, telling the story of black music in music from ethnic African music
through blues, Afro beat, salsa, gospel, reggae, jazz, funk and rap. The
orchestra constantly performs in the U.S., Europe and abroad (e.g. South
Africa, where she made some recordings with Airto Morera and the South
African Allstars). She composes, writes, produces, paints and also teaches
and holds workshops worldwide.
Reinhard Katemann was born in Germany in 1953. He studied classical piano,
horn, trombone and the tuba, and was eventually asked to lead the school
chorus. Between 1962-72 he was apprenticed as a piano tuner. His interest in
African music dates from an early age and he met MFA Kera when she arrived
in Berlin in 1988. Since then, they have collaborated as the creative heart
of the MFA Kera Ensemble.
Mike Russell, a native Washingtonian, was born in 1952 and studied classical
and flamenco guitar at any early age. His professional career started in the
'60s with soul and blues bands. Song writing and composing was an early
interest and he did some studio work with Columbia Records as guitarist and
composer. Since moving to Berlin in 1989, he has performed with Eddy Harris,
Billy Bang and many others. In addition to forming the Black Heritage
Orchestra with MFA Kera, he formed the Mike Russell band and has performed
on German TV, at the Guinness Festival, and in South Africa, Greece and
America.
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http://www.black-heritage.de
Bob Davis
earthjuice_at_prodigy.net
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