Black Heritage
Berlin, Berlin, Germany | INDIE
Music
Press
This is the type of CD that all of the "psuedo hip white folks" @ places like the VillageVoice who are constantly writing about all of this music they like that originates from the "motherland" would like if they ever heard it. MFA Kera/Mike Russell is a funk band from Africa, now residing in Berlin Germany that has a true sense of what 1970's American funkmusic was all about. And I'm not just talking about the James Brown inspired grooves, I mean
from a political/cultural sense as well. The title of the album Afro Soul (Black Heritage) is no joke and tells you what you need to know about the world perspective and view of the artist. In MFA Kera's biography it says: "In the meantime she formed the "Black Heritage Orchestra" working with US Jazzman Mike Russell, telling the story of black music in music (from Ethnic-African music through Blues, Afro-beat, Salsa, Gospel, Reggae, Jazz, Funk and Rap)." There are no apologies to political correctness here. My favorite song on this CD is the song "soulfood". Check out MFA Kera/Mike Russell online at their website
http://www.black-heritage.de
(even their url is no joke) - Bob Davis (Soul-Patrol)
Discography
The latest CD- BLACK HERITAGE (feat.Mfa Kera & Mike Russell )"Afro Soul" , is available on: Be1 Two/Fenn(Germany) for most of Europe & Japan, "Qualiton" for the USA and CDBABY.com/blackheritage & Amazon-music.com for the world. Currently the CD is getting airplay in Europe & just started in the US. MP3s are available on http://www.mp3tunes.com/BlackHeritage It's a website selling MP3 files, which needs no special software and works on any computer.
This new release featuring tracks with guest-artists such as OLODUM, Brasil or master Kora player MESSIN SISSOKHO, Senegal, or a remix of the Black heritage theme with late EDDIE HARRIS is a MUST!
Photos
Bio
BLACK HERITAGE was formed in Berlin Germany in the early 1990s. The orchestra constantly performs in the U.S or Europe and elswhere.and shares mostly its time between Germany and the US.
The music offers an exciting mix of African rooted original compositions, in genres from throughout the African Diaspora -- Afro Beats to Blues, Reggae, Brazilian, Afro Cuban, Arabic, Soul and Jazz, and Rap to Gospel. The arrangements, the lyrics and the compositions are solid, highly dynamic, and speak directly to the soul, inviting one to dance and travel. The originality, versatility and flexibility of the music lets BLACK HERITAGE fit well into Jazz, R&B, and World music venues and festivals.
Of Creole extraction,exceptional vocalist and composer MFA KERA was born in Madagascar and grew up in Senegal."Imagine Sarah Vaughan, Grace Jones, Shirley Bassey & Ima Sumac mixed into one African singer, then you'll get an idea of the depth of the talent of MFA KERA . One must see her live performance to definitely appreciate her energy and Charisma."
After moving to Paris, she began her professional career singing the blues and gospel, linking with Memphis Slim and working with such luminaries as Mickey Baker, John Lee Hooker and Milt Buckner.She performs a tribute to Mahalia Jackson in the film "the Adventure of Jazz".
She made numerous recordings by RCA & various labels and toured all over Europe..
In the mid 80ties, starting project with Waziz Diop She has been developing a style she called herself "Ethno techno Pan african rock music" or "heavy Wood music" and spent some time in Los Angeles working with musicians from Africa USA and Asia.
In the early 90ies She formed BLACK HERITAGE along with US jazzman MIKE RUSSELL in Berlin.She also produced the musical journey "Odeylo" , the story of 'Ma Africa in music , text & dance with Black heritage music repertoire..
While in South Africa with Black Heritage, she recorded with AIRTO MOREA and the South African All-stars. She composes, writes, produces, paints and also holds workshops voice & singing workshops ("how to breathe, sound &sing") worldwide.She also produced her own radio show & just created the "Universal Gospel Voices" Ensemble, "performing the Good News".
Keyboardist REINHARD KATEMANN was born in Germany in 1953. He studied classical piano, horn, trombone and tuba, and was eventually asked to lead the school chorus. . His interest in African music dates from an early age , no surprise he started to perform with Mfa Kera when she settled in Berlin.Of great classical background he is the ideal fellow to join venture with the Black Heritage.He is also the electronic master mind on the mixing board of his recording studio.
Co leader and superb guitarist/singer MIKE RUSSELL(and his 70ties Hagstron best friend guitar!),has been described as a "mixture of George Benson, Al Mac Kay ( Earth Wind & Fire) with the intensity of B.B King" with his own sound".This native Washingtonian, was born in 1952 and studied classical and flamenco guitar at any early age. His professional career started in the ‘60s with soul and blues bands. Song writing and composing were early interests and he did studio work with Columbia Records as a guitarist and composer. Since moving to Berlin in 1989, he has performed with Eddy Harris, Billy Bang and many others. In addition to forming Black Heritage with MFA Kera, he also has his own band Soul-funk-Jazz band performing original compositions and swinging grooves!!!.
-_----------------------------------------------------------------A fEW FESTIVALS with National televisions where BLACK HERITAGE performed:
.Festival international de Nerac-France.
Montreux Jazz Fest.Switzerland
Festival de Musica e Artes Olodum -femadum-Brazil
Leverkusener Jazztage-Germany
Dakar Gore Jazz Fest-Senegal-
Guinness Jazz fest Johannesburg-south Africa
Xian Ancient Culture Art Festival-China
Breda Jazz Fest-Netherland
Papahannock festival-virginia USA.
The kennedy center , Washington D.C Usa, Jazz nad Odra-Wroclaw-Poland etc..etc...
-------------------------------------------------------------------FOR MORE INFOS about the artists, additional music samples visit the web site : WWW.BLACKHERITAGE.DE
..and to check a few MUSIC-DOWNLOADS:
http://cdbaby.com/cd/blackheritage
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