African Guitarists Rile Up Laxson

Tuesday March 29, 2011

From the Orion

African Guitarists Rile Up Laxson
By Leila Rodriguez

Many seats were left vacant Thursday night for the Acoustic Africa concert at Laxson Auditorium.

Instead, audience members found themselves in the aisles swaying to the thriving percussions and rhythmic guitar of Habib Koite and Afel Bocoum, both from Mali, and Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi from Zimbabwe. The famous African guitar players ventured from their homelands for the second installation of the Acoustic Africa tour.

Their smiles and guitars enchanted Chico in a foreign tongue with a message of happiness, hope and taking naps. Their illuminating presence on stage carried into their playful nature. Watching the relationship between the three performers and the band was charming.

Separately, the three performers have established notable musical careers reflected throughout the world, though on this tour they collaborated, blending styles and culture. Mtukudzi’s husky yet smooth voice carried over his guitar in a booming manner.

Song styles varied with each musician. Some gradually progressed into a tune slowly adding instrument by instrument until all were loudly present. Some even sounded like an endless jam session until Mtukudzi, Koite or Bocoum’s voice belted out the lyrics. It was easy to get lost in a song.

“It’s good when we play,” Koité said. “We feel very close.”

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