Jump to content
Jambands.ca

AFRO-FUNK IN HAMILTON TONIGHT!


kc

Recommended Posts

Friday night is Afro Funk night at Pepper Jack's

Featuring: Toronto's Mr. Something Something,

Guest Selector, Ron Eazy will be spinning his far out tropical funk and afrobeat 45's and 33's.

Early birds can check out Jamie Oakes and Paul Intson for free from 5 to 8pm today.

A little something for the body. A little something for the mind.

Mr. Something Something represents two years of composing, performing, risk-taking, improving and ultimately mobilizing the original vision of founding members Larry Graves [drums/percussion] and John MacLean [saxophone/voice]. 20 years of playing, studying and traveling passed before these two childhood friends settled on the unbeatable dance rhythms of Nigeria, Senegal, Mali and Ghana as the most natural gathering place for the elements that would ultimately make up the Mr. Something Something sound.

Western instruments and concepts of improvisation are explored and layered over what used to be called afrobeat; but the term strains to contain the innovations happening in the rhythm section at every show. It also fails to express in fiery-enough terms the contributions of notable and electrifying vocalist/performance artist Johan Ivar. Breaks and basslines are designed to induce and sustain a state of ecstatic dancing. The horn section strikes with power and uplifts with melody. And above it all, acting as a lightning rod for the combined energies of a Mr. Something Something event, is the lyric statement of the case for change and consciousness. And dance.

Mr. Something Something’s self-titled debut album was released in July 2004 to critical acclaim. VIEW Magazine called it a “great debut from a solid band” and in EXCLAIM David Dacks wrote “these guys rank with any Afrobeat in the world today.” This self-promoted album was also very well received by campus and community radio across the country, a fact which was confirmed by the National Campus and Community Radio Report in November 2004 when the album climbed high on two of the !Earshot Specialty Charts, reaching number four on the jazz chart and number six on the ‘International’ ditto. Not bad, considering that the majority of tracks on the album exceeds nine minutes!

2004 was an incredible year for Mr. Something Something. Over eleven months, this Toronto collective traveled five provinces, playing 75 shows to enthusiastic crowds, including fundraisers and festivals such as The Beaches International Jazz Festival, The Distillery Jazz Festival and The Car-Free Kensington Street Festival. This Toronto-based collective is currently working on a second album, which will be released in conjunction with the band’s Western Canada Tour in the summer of 2005.

www.mrsomethingsomething.com

www.pepperjackcafe.com

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...