Cal Performances presents The Nile Project
2015-02-19
Zellerbach Hall Auditorium
U.C. Berkeley, Bancroft Way at Telegraph Ave, Berkeley, CA
8:00 PM, Thursday, February 19, 2015

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[8:09 PM lights down, announcements]

1. [8:11 PM] ? (Sophie Nzayisenga: inanga solo)
2. [8:21 PM] ?
3. [8:27 PM] ?
4. [8:33 PM] ?
5. [8:41 PM] ?
6. [8:47 PM] ?
7. [8:52 PM] ?
8. [9:04 PM] ?
   [set ends 9:11 PM]

[9:32 PM lights down, announcements from Mina Girgis]

1. [9:36 PM] ?
2. [9:42 PM] ?
3. [9:49 PM] ?
4. [9:57 PM] ?
5. [10:09 PM] ?
6. [10:17 PM] ?
7. [10:28 PM] ?
8. [10:34 PM] ?
9. [10:46 PM] ?
10. [10:55 PM] ?
    [set ends 10:57 PM]

• Alsarah: vox, frame drum;
• Mohamed Abouzekry: oud;
• Michael Bazibu: endongo, endingidi, adungu, percussion, vox;
• Hani Bedair: daff, riqq, percussion;
• Nader El Shaer: kawala, ney;
• Dina El Wedidi: vox, frame drum;
• Meklit Hadero: vox, frame drum;
• Miles Jay: bass, percussion, music director;
• Jorga Mesfin: tenor saxophone;
• Jackline Kasiva Mutua: percussion, vox;
• Sophie Nzayisenga: inanga, vox, frame drum;
• Steven Sogo: ikembe, umiduri, bass, vox, dance;
• Selamnesh Zemene: vox, frame drum.

Tonight's show was fun and interesting, but also quite different from what I had expected. Given the premise of the show: to gather musicians related by living in countries that are touched by the Nile, who can come together and create a show despite the differences in both their daily language and musical tradition, I was expecting a show that emphasized the solo virtuosity of the performers first, and the blending of styles second. But having seen and digested the event, I think it's fair to argue that I had misordered those priorities – in practice, this seemed to be a show about synthesis, served by the virtuoso skills of the participants.

Which isn't to say that they didn't take solos now and then. For one, every time an exotic instrument was introduced, it got a solo turn. And surprisingly, there were many exotic instruments I'd never seen. Sure, the shapes and types were familiar – zither, lyre, drums, et cetera – but in name and detail, they were more novel than familiar. No dramatic discoveries to report on that front, but cool to realize the expression of human ingenuity offers such a deep well of surprises. Returning to the issue of the solos, the oud player was flat out amazing! I would love to hear him do a solo or small group recital in a more intimate venue than the relatively cavernous space encompassed by Zellerbach.

To their credit, the performers largely refrained from engaging in the trivial “get on up” woo-woo party-inducing patter. They still managed to get quite a party going by the end of the night, though it was a struggle to get the audience up on their feet to dance – hard to get the grey hairs up on their feet sometimes! I was happy to dance, and happy to see others streaming down the side aisles to press into the stage. Always good to let the band know that they've done well and we appreciate their effort!

Back to the previous event! ☸ Up to the 2015 yearbox! ☸ Up to the 2015 event list! ☸ On to the next event!