Toubab Krewe, Rubblebucket
Fri. 03/25 | 9:30PM @ Martyrs (map)
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- Some music cannot be found on a map or within iTunes categories. Some music is sooriginal it seems snatched from the great, invisible substrata that runs below all humanactivity, a sound aching to be born without a flag or fixed allegiance – free, questing,overflowing with immediate, tangible life. This is the music of Toubab Krewe, thevibrant Asheville, NC-based instrumental powerhouse that creates a sonic Pangaea thatlustily swirls together rock, African traditions, jam sensibilities, international folk strainsand more. While nearly impossible to put into any box, it takes only a few moments torealize in a very palpable way that one is face-to-face with a true original who recognizesno borders in a march towards a muscular, original, globally switched-on sound.Formed in 2005, Toubab Krewe has tenaciously honed their craft through relentlesstouring and a fierce dedication to carving out something they can truly call their own.The fruits of this hard work can be heard on their scintillating new long-player, TK2,being released September 7, 2010 on Nat Geo Music. What Justin Perkins (Kora,Kamelngoni, guitar, percussion), Teal Brown (drums, congas), Drew Heller (guitar,piano, fiddle), David Pransky (bass, guitar), and Luke Quaranta (Djembe, percussion)have wrought on TK2 reflects the many miles and musical journeys that have transpiredsince their studio debut."It's five years later since our last studio album, and we've been doing almost nothing butplaying together," says Drew Heller. "We've had a lot of time to further our musicalrelationships. I feel like this album was recorded at a really perfect time. The last trackon the new album is an improvisation that was the very first sounds captured, and otherthings came out of that initial rush."This process of recording in the spirit and sifting for gold afterwards mirrors the BeastieBoys approach during the creative peak that produced Check Your Head and The InSound From Way Out! Toubab Krewe exhibits a similar take-no-prisoners singularity intheir work.This is a band that actively draws inspiration from whatever source floats into theirpurview, something they've exhibited in their half decade of heavy gigging, includingregular appearances at major U.S. festivals like Bonnaroo, High Sierra, Rothbury andWakarusa, and abroad at such legendary gatherings as Festival In The Desert in Mali.Their globe-hopping propensity has made them an emerging headliner at theirhometown's famous Orange Peel and a familiar face as similar venues throughout thecountry. Whether on their own or collaborating with luminaries like the Last Poets' UmarBin Hassan or Uncle Earl's Rayna Gellert, Toubab Krewe has already earned theattention and respect of a broad musical community.Toubab carries echoes of African greats like Ali Farka Toure, Orchestra Baobab and SalifKeita, no doubt picked up during the group's many visits to the Mother Continent tostudy and live in Guinea, Ivory Coast and Mali. What differentiates Toubab Krewe fromother Statesiders inspired by African music is how they innovate on what they've learned,not simply recreating tradition but carving out a new trail that honors the Africanoriginators they admire by making something alive and contemporary that moves the lineforward, something that's easy to pick up on with TK2."We had a month and a half in the studio, and we were able to relax and play, almost asmudging process getting the energy in the right place," says Heller. "The time we had torecord this album was conducive to not worrying about anything and just having fun,playing and getting into the creative process."From the ragtime piano tinged opener "Mariama" to the percussion fueled, slide guitarglide of "Gine Fare" to the subtle, inviting African echoes of "Konkoba" to the hypnotic,psychedelic slow burn of "Holy Grail," TK2 reveals Toubab Krewe to be rare innovatorsin a modern age often too ready to settle for more of what's been. Toubab Krewe ishappily an exception to this rule, and those willing to take the journey with them are infor one hell of a cool, exciting ride.
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stephbeat on Toubab Krewe, Rubblebucket @ Martyrs
about 1 year agoTraditional rhythms give way to improvised jams as Toubab Krewe translates inspirations from West Africa and beyond into a sound that is truly their own. Before the set, bassist David Pransky took a minute to share... click to see interview and more at Bright Beat blog.do312.com
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