Musique et Espectáculo - a new world music supergroup performing together live for the first time with spectacular pyrotechnics finale!
Live in the UK for the first time – an amazing fusion of rousing Rai rhythms, beautiful jazz flute melodies and world music beats guaranteed to get crowds dancing!
Top flute player and master vocal gymnast Keith Waithe (and his band The Macusi Players) are collaborating with renowned Rai master Abdelkader Saadoun to create a new 10-piece supergroup and a thrilling mix of sounds and styles, as Algeria meets Guyana.
There will be a spectacular finale to the hour-long free concert in each city with a stunning kinetic fire sculpture by The World Famous in Leicester and Nottingham, and an exclusive percussive pyrotechnics performance by Les Commandos Percu in Derby.
Abdelkader Saadoun and Keith Waithe and the Macusi Players have been brought together for their first ever performances, worldwide, by Three Cities Create and Connect. The group will fuse Albdelkader Saadoun’s Algerian Rai vocals, wind and percussion, with Guyanese Keith Waithe’s jazz flute and unique vocal style, plus the Macusi Players’ world music fusion of jazz, latin beats and even rock guitar sounds.
On stage will be a ten piece collaboration consisting of:
• Flute and vocal gymnastics (Keith Waithe)
• Lead guitar (Mo Nazan)
• Bass (Eustace Williams)
• Ghanaian drums (Kora) and vocals (Jo Jo Yates)
• Caribbean drums and percussion (Darryl Lee Que)
• North African guitar and vocals (Albdelkader Saadoun)
• Keyboard (Steve Lodder)
• Drums (Pack Hilder)
• Darbuka/North African Percussion
• Trumpet (Andy Melon)
Rai is a fast growing phenomenon in North African music that is taking the world music scene by storm. Originating from Algeria, the music combines vocals, flute and derbouka, a traditional Middle Eastern percussion instrument. Lyrics that accompanied the music were expressions of ideas and thoughts, hence the Arabic name Ra'i which means opinion. Today’s Rai music combines fast and heavy danceable rhythms from both western and Arab musical instruments, typically including the guitar, bass and trumpet.
Abdelkader Saadoun was born in Khemis Miliana in Algeria, close to Wahran, the birth place of Rai. He has performed at major festivals in the UK, including on the WOMAD main stage, at the Barbican's Mediterranean Music Festival, and the World Peace Music Awards in Bali.
Keith Waithe and The Macusi Players bring a delicate and delectable sound and international musical styles - exploring an original fusion of jazz and classical, African, Caribbean, Asian and western influences. Keith is an award-winning flautist, composer, teacher and expert proponent of vocal gymnastics.