Come for the Joy, Stay for the Rhythm as the SC Master Chorale Sings the Songs of Africa

Sure, you can just “listen” to this concert but we bet you won’t be able to. You’re gonna wanna tap your feet, smile a lot, drum your fingers on your leg, hum along, maybe even clap your hands.
Get ready for major musical fun from British composer Alexander L’Estrange. This incorrigible former choir boy with a jazz musician’s heart has written an ebullient cantata that weaves together a clutch of songs from all over Africa and invites all of us to “Zimbe Africa” — Sing Africa!
In addition to the wickedly talented Chorale accompanist Ann Moore on piano, two guest artists will be joining the Chorale and our youth choirs on stage. You may not have met Oliver C. Brown but you’ve heard him — a lot! His early percussion work was most famously with KC and the Sunshine Band.  In the studio, Oliver has recorded with Al Jarreau, Fleetwood Mac, Leo Sayer and Nancy Wilson. Artistic Director Allan Petker met Oliver on a gig where both of them were playing and ever since, Allan has been looking for a way to work together again.
Musician George Makinto is a true child of the world.  Born to a German father and Liberian mother, his musical training ranged from the classics of Western European music to the traditional and modern music of African countries.  It will be his effervescent flute playing and drumming you’ll hear in this concert. Brother Makinto performed with Miriam Makeba for Pope John Paul II in the Vatican on Christmas, 1995 — having arranged the orchestral score the previous evening!  (As of this writing, we’re still looking for a bass player to round out the band — we promise it will be someone talented and fun.)
Our children and youth choirs keep growing and they will fill the first half of the concert with their own African songs, among them the gentle “Thula Klizeo,” a song about homesickness and comfort written by Joseph Shabalala of Ladysmith Black Mambazo. You’ll remember this talented men’s group that was all over Paul Simon’s super hit album “Graceland.”
The concert is set for Sunday, June 5th at 4:00 p.m. You’ll hear big themes and little themes, from a Ghanian playground song about a hawk to a lullaby for mothers of imprisoned sons from the Xhosa people of eastern South Africa. These songs are melodic and easily learned, arising from a generations-deep tradition of musical storytelling, sharing those characteristics with folk traditions the world over. We will be singing of wedding celebrations and cultural oppression, of yearnings toward Heaven and a drinking song from Zimbabwe.  This music is life in all its abundant troubles and blessings — come share the stories! — Kimberly Ayers
The Santa Clarita Master Chorale performs at the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center at College of the Canyons, 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road.  Tickets are available at www.scmasterchoral.org / call 661-362-5304 Info 661-254-8886