GENTING INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL BRINGS IN THE COLOURFUL GANGBE BRASS BAND
New Orleans is the place where people consider jazz to have originated from. And so it did. But jazz was an amalgamation of different styles, and the strongest factor was the African rhythms and call-and-response type of melodies and the immense freedom of expression that came from the black slaves that had been brought to America.
Benin lies in North West Africa – bordered by Togo, Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Niger. This is the area where a great number of slaves were amassed and sent to America. A lot of them settled in the New Orleans area after being freed and their music contributions were the essence to New Orleans jazz. And a big part of the New Orleans tradition is in the Mardi Gras celebrations with brass marching bands.
So it is almost like penetrating into the roots of the roots of jazz to listen to a powerful brass band from Benin that fuses their traditional idioms with exuberant horn blowing of New Orleans.
This is the GANGBE BRASS BAND – an eight member group that formed in 1994 and has shot to international fame in a very short time.
Traditional rhythms meld with jazz harmonies.
These boys stride on to the stage in their colourful costumes – boubous and tarbooshoes – and within minutes, they have their audience in a frenzy.
They play trumpet, trombone, saxophones, drums, percussion and a home-made tuba that has to be seen to be believed.
Soulful songs alternate with explosive drumming. Loud brass fanfares that compromise nothing in the production of beautifully rounded tones. The orchestration is ultra sophisticated but the emotion is raw and gripping.
Vodun or voodoo is the official religion of Benin. They even have a National Vodun Day on January the 10th. This originated in Benin and was taken to the Caribbean, Brazil and eventually parts of North America.
These polyrhythmic voodoo rhythms are what you will hear when the Gangbe Brass band are performing. It is unbelievably energetic and anchors the band’s shows.
The Genting International Jazz Festival debuts in 2007 with a big line-up of jazz bands from all over the world.
On the days leading up to the 8th and 9th of June, musicians will be flying in from Africa, China, America, Wales, New Zealand, Italy, the Caribbean, and more.
There are also two Malaysian bands who will start the shows on both evenings.
Tickets for a one day Adult pass is priced at RM100 while a 2-day pass is available at RM150.
They can be bought online at www.genting.com.my or call 03-2718 1118 from April onwards.
The website will also have information on packages that have been tailored for the event.
The Genting International Jazz Festival is one of a part of Genting’s series of Performing Arts and events.
Gangbe means the sound of metal. These amiable boys who are so gentle off-stage explode with exuberant energy the minute the spotlights go on.
