ASHLEY MAHER Diva takes to Pier
SM PIER — African pop music icon Salif Keita, the so-called “Golden Voice of Africa,” takes to the stage tonight for this week’s installment of the Twilight Dance Series of free concerts.
Keita’s combination of Western influences and his own innovations with traditional African rhythms, instruments and his unique vocals — seemingly both harsh and smooth — should provide concert-goers with an eclectic musical experience.
Global diva Ashley Maher will open tonight’s show with her brand of high-energy world music.
Keita has charmed audiences from New York to Paris with his unmistakable sound. Born in Mali, the performer’s albino skin was considered “bad luck”and he was shunned by his family and community alike. By 1967, however, he was playing in clubs with one of his brothers, and by 1973, had joined a fairly popular band known as Les Ambassadeurs.
As his reputation extended beyond Mali’s borders, he was awarded the National Order of Guinea by President Ahmed Sekou Toure. In return, Keita composed the hauntingly beautiful “Mandjou,” telling the history of the Mali people and praising Sekou Toure.
After leaving Mali in the mid- 1970s due to the sporadic political unrest there, Keita settled in Paris in 1984. He continues to live there and tours worldwide. His music blends the traditional music of his Malian childhood with West African, Cuban, Spanish and Portuguese influences and traditional African instruments such as the kora, balafon and djembe.
Opening tonight’s show is Maher, who follows in the footsteps of pioneers like Peter Gabriel and Paul Simon, with a sound compared to Joni Mitchell-meets-Youssou ’N Dour. Maher, who has recorded four albums, is heralded for stellar songwriting, an extraordinary voice and world grooves.
Tonight’s concert, which is presented by Amoeba Music, begins at 7:30 p.m. on the West Parking Deck. Admission is free.
Attendees can win a bike or an Amoeba gift certificate. Bike Attack on Main Street is raffling off a beach cruiser every week to benefit Heal the Bay and Amoeba Records will give away a $100 gift certificate each night to one lucky fan who signs up for the mailing list at their booth.
The Santa Monica Pier is located at the intersection of Colorado and Ocean avenues in Santa Monica. The Pier strongly recommends walking, biking and using mass transit to get to the concerts, as parking near the Pier is limited. Parking is available in beach parking lots located at 2030 Barnard Way and 1550 PCH, both accessible off Ocean Avenue south of the Pier. The 2030 lot is a short walk up the beach path from the Pier.
For more information about the concerts, visit www.twilightdance.org or call the Santa Monica Pier information line at (310) 458-8900.
Next week’s concert will feature Chilean super-group Inti-Illimani.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 10, 2006. Read the original PDF.