Ask the average person to pinpoint the birthplace of American jazz and they’ll probably say “New Orleans.”
But since the Big Easy didn’t just drop from the sky, where does jazz originate?
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Many music scholars and historians believe that the musical traditions from which jazz emerged in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s have their roots in West Africa.
“Understanding our history is always an important tool for growth,” says trumpet player Etienne Charles. “They say ‘Without history, life is a mystery.’ And I think it’s the same with music.”
On Friday, April 29, and Sunday, May 1 , The Dranoff 2 Piano Foundation will present “West African Beats.” The two performances will feature top Caribbean, African and American artists exploring their Black African musical heritage in performances at the Black Archives Historic Lyric Theater in Overtown.
Among them are Charles and the Creole Soul band as well as world-renowned musician Weedie Braimah. The Ghana-born, St. Louis-raised Braimah is a master of the djembe, a wooden goblet drum said to have been invented in the 12th Century by the Mandinka tribe in what is now Mali, in West Africa.
Before each concert, Charles, who’s also a University of Miami music professor, will give a multimedia presentation on the historical passage of West African music into the foundation of American Jazz. Part of Friday’s talk will also cover the West African influence on Caribbean music.
