FOR fans of world music, this weekend brings two live shows very worthy of your attention. This Thursday October 20 Niwel Tsumbu will perform tracks from his new album in Dolan’s and the following night Cork duo Bangsambra will bring their worldwide grooves to Foley’s. Since arriving in Ireland from the Congo in 2004, Niwel Tsumbu has developed a reputation as an elegant and fluent guitarist, vocalist and composer.
He has collaborated with the cream of Irish musicians including Liam O’Maonlai and Donal Dineen while continuing to develop his distinctive, vibrant fusion of world, jazz and classical music. His new album S’all Vibration is out now. Talking about the new record Tsumbu says, “I feel this is my best album so far. The instrumentation is completely different from the last two albums as it is electric with only one acoustic song. Overall it is much more upbeat.”
Niwel Tsumbu and his four piece band will perform on Thursday October 20 in Dolan’s
Bangsambra arrived in Cork city from two very diverse parts of the world. They are a musical and cultural meeting of a pair of like-minded souls. Rajinder Singh (India) and Tonynho dos Santos (Brazil) bring together a vibrant fusion of ethnic percussion, looped guitars, Latin jazz funk and Miles Davis-inspired trumpet crossing all frontiers of musical expression with ease.
‘2012’, the duo’s debut album is a melting pot of styles capturing their powerfully rhythmic live show within the walls of a studio. In their adopted city of Cork, Bangsambra bring a fresh dimension to live gigs in the city and, in turn, the love of house music grooves in that city has had an influence on the music of Bangsambra. This is music to dance to and let yourself go.
Bangsambra will perform on Friday October 21 in Foley’s Upstairs venue on Sarsfield St.
