Antibalas is the spirit of Afrobeat reincarnated as a
hard-hitting collective of musicians in New York City. The group carries
on the soul of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, founder of the unique Afrobeat
sound, which unites highlife, jazz, funk, and traditional African
elements with unabashed political messages. Antibalas-which means
"anti-bullets" or "bullet-proof"-shoots out monstrous horns and bass
layered over polyrhythmic beats coupled with furious lyrics inciting
insurrection in English, Yoruba, and Spanish.
ANTIBALAS + Ariya Astrobeat Arkestra - Wed, 14/11/2012
Islington Assembly Hall
Islington Town Hall, Upper Street N1 2UD London, UK
Antibalas formed in 1998 from members of Desco Records' Soul
Providers and the Daktaris. They were quickly joined by like-minded New
York musicians active in the worlds of jazz, rock, improvised music, and
traditional drumming from Cuba and Brazil. The union of Latinos,
whites, African Americans, Africans, and Asian Americans is based in
Brooklyn, NYC.
With fifteen band members, Antibalas-which is run as a collective-cannot easily be described in a traditional biography. The group's players come from such diverse professional, cultural, and personal backgrounds that only a spray of bullets can shed light on the foundation of this musical insurrection.
With fifteen band members, Antibalas-which is run as a collective-cannot easily be described in a traditional biography. The group's players come from such diverse professional, cultural, and personal backgrounds that only a spray of bullets can shed light on the foundation of this musical insurrection.
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