Grand Performances presents Buika, a singer of Equatorial Guinean heritage with a husky, sensual voice, and Perla Batalla, known for her Mexican Mestiza sounds, in an evening of diverse, powerful music.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
8:00 PM - 9:30 PM
Grand Performances
California Plaza
300-350 South Grand Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Buika is a Spanish singer of Equatorial Guinean heritage. Jazz, bolero, flamenco, funk – all of these genres are fluidly woven together, then layered with her husky, sensual voice, and an electric stage presence. Perla Batalla fuses traditional Mexican mestiza sounds with an eclectic mix of bluesy ballads, alternative folk and her rich, beautiful voice.
Parking/Directions/Transportation Options: For parking info, directions, transportation options to the California Plaza, visit http://grandperformances.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/venue.directions.
Complete schedule of Grand Performances, most with clips of the artists: visit www.grandperformances.org
About the Venue:
Grand Performances was partially conceived by the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency as part of an 11.2 acre multi-use site at California Plaza located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. Since its inception in 1987, Grand Performances has evolved into a fusion of a traditional performing arts presenter, a typical multi-discipline festival and a free municipal outdoor summer concert series.
The performances listed are part of the outdoor summer concert series. For more venue info, visit http://grandperformances.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/venue.welcome.
A few of the many Grand Performances that might be of interest:
Justo Almario’s Afro-Colombian Ensemble - July 17 2009, 12:00 PM
Native Colombian and Los Angeles resident, Justo Almario brings his Colombian, Afro-Cuban, jazz-funk fusion ensemble for a tasty noon-time treat.
Watcha Clan & Cucu Diamantes - July 17 2009, 8:00 PM
Cucu Diamantes, firecracker co-founder of New York-based Grammy-nominated Latin fusion band Yerba Buena steps out with her own solo ensemble. Marseilles, France-based Watcha Clan’s, drum 'n' bass and reggae rhythmic templates form the backbone of their sound. Mix in Balkan Gypsy brass, Ashkenazi/Sephardic flavors, and the group’s multi-lingual lyrics and what emerges is a thick, trance-like stew of body moving music.
Albita - July 18 2009, 8:00 PM
Grammy-winning Cuban-American singer, producer and composer Albita is "…the reincarnation of a 1930's European chanteuse, a Berlin Cabaret singer transfused with Latin blood." So says Los Angeles Times writer Mike Clary. It will be standing room only for this event because your feet will command you to dance! And, a Grand Performances fundraiser takes place earlier this evening. Preferred seating will be for fundraiser attendees.
Musicology 302: Paul Robeson- Humanity's Voice with Paul Von Blum – UCLA Professor Paul Von Blum !! - July 23 2009, 8:00 PM
UCLA Lecturer Paul Von Blum sheds light on Renaissance man Robeson giving voice to theatre, opera and spirituals as well as to civic and human rights causes while addressing the rising demand for much of Africa's liberations from colonial control.
Curumin & Novalima - July 25 2009, 8:00 PM
Japanese-Brazilian Luciano Nakata Albuquerque - front-man for Curumin - happily mixes breezy ballads, 70s Brazilian pop, and off-kilter soul, with reggae, greasy spoon funk and hip hop. Traditional Afro-Peruvian marinera folkloric rhythms meets hip hop beats, funk, salsa and dub in Novalima’s progressive, innovative sound. Get ready to dive into Latin America’s 21st century sound.
Lo Cor de la Plana - July 31 2009, 12:00 PM
The all-male French acapella group Lo Cor de la Plana is unlike any other band touring today. The music is sung in a disappearing language called Occitan. The voices are sometimes augmented with hand drums and tambourines with vocal melodies related to Arabic music, Gregorian chants, and percussive call-and-response hintings from Africa.
Lo Cor de la Plana & Fishtank Ensemble - July 31 2009, 8:00 PM
Lo Cor de la Plana (see above) is joined by Fishtank Ensemble at 8 PM.
Mentiritas, La Santa Cecilia & Mr. Vallenato - August 1 2009, 7:00 PM
Take a Los Angeles journey through Latin America with the tongue-in-cheek, dance-party cumbia, ska, R&B, banda sounds of Mentiritas, and the forceful vocal styling of La Santa Cecilia’s La Marisoul as she sings a smorgasbord of classic and contemporary pan-Latin songs.
And there are many more events listed on the website!
Cost : Free admission; check parking info for rates, options
Grand Performances213-687-2159
www.grandperformances.org
Sponsor(s): Grand Performances. Information about non-ASC events is posted for informational purposes and does not necessarily reflect opinions of or endorsements by African Studies personnel.