In Nigerian music there are two names: Kuti and King Sunny Ade. The latter has been out of the west for most of this decade since his last album lost distribution when V2 imploded (remember the early 2000s? sigh.) His last album Seven Degrees North is getting a re-release via Blue Moon/Mesa records.
While Fela and Femi have Afrobeat on lock, Ade comes more from the juju tradition. It’s the most popular style in Nigeria and predates Afrobeat quite a bit. For more on this, Afropop Worldwide has a great history.
With legendary forty minute jams and technical proficienty that only comes with a lifetime of playing, these are the kind of summer shows you’ll want to have seen.
06/11/2009, Atlanta, GA, Variety Playhouse
06/12/2009, Manchester, TN, Bonnaroo Music Festival
06/14/2009, Los Angeles, CA, Playboy Jazz Festival
06/16/2009, Solana Beach, CA, Belly Up Tavern
06/18/2009, Santa Barbara, CA, Lobero Theatre
06/19/2009, San Francisco, CA, The Independent
06/20/2009, North Tahoe, CA, Truckee Regional Park
06/21/2009, Boonville, CA, Sierra Nevada World Music Fest
06/23/2009, Edmonton, AB, Francis Winspear Centre
06/24/2009, Calgary, AB, Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
06/26/2009, Vancouver, BC, Vancouver International Jazz Fest
06/27/2009, Victoria, BC, Jazz Fest International
06/29/2009, Seattle, WA, The Triple Door
06/30/2009, Apple Valley, MN, Weesner Amphitheater
07/01/2009, Highland Park, IL, Ravina Festival
07/03/2009, Rothbury, MI, Rothbury Festival
07/04/2009, Toronto, ON, Harbourfront Centre
07/05/2009, Montreal, QC, Festival International De Jazz De Montreal
07/07/2009, South Burlington, VT, Higher Ground,
07/10/2009, Ottawa, ON, Cisco Ottawa Bluefest 2009
07/11/2009, Quebec City, QC, International Summer Fest
07/12/2009, Schenectady, NY, Music Haven
07/14/2009, Camden, NJ, Wiggins Park
07/15/2009, Boston, MA, Museum of Fine Arts
07/17/2009, Washington, DC, 9:30 Club
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