Thursday 30th November 07:30 PM
Sainkho Namtchylak is a cutting-edge experimental singer known for her Khöömei (Tuvan throat-singing). Born in a secluded village in southern Tuva, after leaving her homeland she lived in Moscow, Vienna and Berlin, absorbing a wide variety of influences while maintaining a solid bond with her culture. She has an exceptional voice, spanning seven octaves and proficient in overtone singing. Her explorative nature lead her to forbidden male-dominated styles and, transcending categories, her music enmeshes avant-jazz, electronica, modern composition and Tuvan influences.
Tanya Tagaq, the groundbreaking Inuk throat-singer who collaborated with Björk and the Kronos Quartet, has brought an ancient Inuit vocal game to the heights of the experimental music scene. Often, Tagaq’s voice is the only instrument, communicating the emotion of the piece through a stunning array of sounds: aggressive grunts and growls, frantic gasping rhythms and ecstatic, high-pitched wails. What she produces is a far cry from traditional throat-singing, which is neither an emotional art form nor the work of a solo artist.
Janita Salomé is a Portuguese throat-singer who has dedicated his career to promoting the typical singing of his native Alentejo, Cante, and exploring its connections to traditional Arabian music, taking into account the Arab’s presence in that region of southern Portugal during the medieval age.
Dokaka is a Japanese beatboxer who performs music solely by multitracking his own voice. His recordings include interpretations of works by the Rolling Stones, Slayer and Miles Davis, among others. He largely records covers of heavy metal, prog, jazz and videogame theme music, but has written and recorded original songs as well. Dokaka appears on Björk's Medúlla and the soundtrack to the video game We Love Katamari.
Shlomo, a talented multi-percussionist since childhood, has transferred all the rhythmic energy to his vocal cords becoming one of Britain’s finest human beatboxers. Initially championed by Killa Kela, he has over the past few years shot to fame having supported hip-hop heroes such as Grandmaster Flash, Wu Tang’s The Gza, and Guru of Gangstarr/Public Enemy. He has also collaborated on Björk's acclaimed CD Medúlla.
Maria João is the first lady of Portuguese jazz. A regular presence of jazz festivals worldwide, she “mesmerizes the audience with her usually astonishing display of cathedral-choir purity, free-improv leapings and swervings, geisha wheedlings, asthmatics heavings, Tania Maria-like Latin-scat and spooky theatricals.” (John Fordham, The Guardian)
Américo Rodrigues is a Portuguese sound poet, actor, producer and programmer of cultural events, who has done experimental work with his voice since 1979. A poet with several books and object-poems published, he has developed a continuous work of vocal improvisation for theatre, music, poetry, dance and performance. Besides the voice, he has used toys, whistles, metallic silos, air horns and plastic trumpets.
“Tanya Tagaq is like Edith Piaf or something, totally emotional” (Björk)
“With her shaved head and seven-octave range, Sainkho Namtchylak would stand out on any stage. Add her particular mix of Tuvan throat-singing and avant-garde improvisation, and she becomes an unforgettable figure.” (All Music Guide)
“Japanese beatboxer Dokaka has never met a genre he didn't like. His accapella covers of everyone from Miles Davis to Slayer have become a worldwide phenomenon.” (Wired)
Atlantic Waves 2006 brings to a triumphant close the UK celebrations of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation’s 50th anniversary. A rather special programme, even for London, it is packed with the innovative international collaborations that have come to make this exploratory music festival so successful. Highlights this year are the contrasting genres of African and Experimental. There are plenty of world and UK premieres and brilliant partnerships with other UK promoters: Como No!, Serious, London Jazz Festival in association with BBC Radio 3, Heatwave 2006, KCPA and [no.signal].
As ever, Atlantic Waves encourages diversity and excellence. It presents a breathtaking variety of music, ranging from world throat singing to human beatboxing, fado to experimental, contemporary classical to pure improvisation. Apart from the large Portuguese contingent, the festival features artists from the UK, Germany, Denmark, Canada, USA, Brazil, Cape Verde, Angola, Madagascar, Tuva, South Korea, Japan and Australia. With an extraordinary mix of new music on offer between 2nd and 30th November, Atlantic Waves 2006 brings an unmissable line-up of artists and genres.
The festival takes place in London's most prestigious venues, including the Royal Albert Hall, South Bank Centre, Barbican, Union Chapel, The Spitz and St Giles Cripplegate.
Tickets: £15.00
Doors Open: 7.00pm
