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Antibalas | 09.21.01 | Luxx | Williamsburg, Brooklyn
“Everybody say Yeah Yeah. We must move on, keep our spirits up. This is the time to heal.”
This is the message of Antibalas, the powerful social and musical force of the Brooklyn neighborhoods. Always supplying consciousness, providing a haven for those in need of some soul and energy. Always maintaining the air of positivity and awareness, teaching and guiding and sweating out the troubles of the world on the stage and on the dance floor. “Get on the floor and shake the devil off your ass.”
Beginning a Friday night residence at the brand-spankin’ new - straight outta Dolomite’s basement Club Luxx in Williamsburg, the 14-piece afrobeat orchestra spread thoughts and feelings of our world’s moment onto the people in the house, beginning the healing process through the infectious dance and rhythm honoring the tradition of The Black President Fela Anikulapo Kuti. To begin the night, a little history lesson on the foundations of hip-hop provided by the house DJs of the evening dropping original cuts used by Eric B & Rakim, Cypress and UMC’s along with the mounds of obscure funk 45s that hit it on the floor. Before taking the stage, the 14 members of Antibalas engaged in a group meditation and breathing session to unite all the souls on one plane. People began filing in from the streets as if the powers of Antibalas emanated throughout the streets of Brooklyn and into the hearts of passers-by.
Speaking before their first number, Martin C. Perna, baritone player, co-band director and worldly scholar spoke of the events of last week and how things like this should be opening our mind’s eye. He told how we should start the healing process tonight. Opening with Fela’s “Trouble Sleep,” quite an a propos selection. Amayo tore through Fela’s verses as the call and response began. Following with “Si Sepuera,” an original selection once again falling onto the audience participation with Amayo leading. The hard funk was enveloping and both a nasty extended trombone solo and ill conga break fully awakened the fever in the room. “Y’nash” (“Your Ass”) was next as Amayo once again owned the attention of the people with call and response. He spoke of the time to heal and how we must be keeping our spirits up in this time. Soulful trumpet and alto soloing complimented the steady rhythms. The final tune of the set, “Paz,” another original, told of hopes for a permanent autonomous zone. Martin spoke on the desperation of people resulting in desperate measures and how the dollar can bring about fast change for people, both of which beget violence. You do not find these topics spoken about on CNN.
Setbreak continued with our little history lesson on the founding fathers of the funk. It was so raw that no one stopped moving from the moment the band ended and the DJ began again. Taking the stage for round 2, Martin cast off the cabaret laws as something that should not be allowed in any country he would want to live in. Opening with “The K-Lay” Amayo once again lit up the stage and got things shaking on the floor.
Fela’s “Colonial Mentality” spoke volumes on the troubles of the day, looking at the gap in logistics of Washington politicians where no diversity of thought is included in their precepts. Martin’s soloing cried for the lost souls. Unable to get the titles of the next two selections, but as always in the Antibalas tradition the steady grooves flowed through all the bodies in the room, players and seekers. Intense horns and the deep, deep grooves put it on the floor and got the room soaking. “Talkative” invoked a serious exchange between guitar and tenor players and brought huge smiles to the faces of the band members. Martin’s electric soloing cried out for the lost as he did once before as the passion was felt in all in hearts in the room. The final and most intense song of the evening is a song from Martin’s early Afrobeat project, Daktaris.
Translated “It’s All a Big Hustle” this tune hit it hard, dropping into some tight JB thang, comping Fred Wesley trombone licks like it was Fred himself. Humbly, the band thanked all who joined them for the evening and told of a free benefit for the Williamsburg Firefighters on North 10th St. on the 22nd in the home of Williamsburg. Applying their energies to the greater good helping those in need and teaching those unaware as the Antibalas tradition continues to be strong in times of suffering and chaos.
We should all follow in the words of Martin and Amayo and the feelings of Antibalas and take the opportunity to heal ourselves through art and music by gathering together and sharing in the beauty and tranquility. These times will help to find solutions to these problems that have been consuming our lives. It will give us a chance to take steps back from the “horrible magnet” of television to gain a better perspective so we may think with clear minds and bodies. Soak yourself in the splendor and grace of music and art, whether it be going to a show or listening at home, alone or with friends and family. You may find out more about yourself and the world around you and may make for a steadier consciousness in these times of anxiety and confusion. Be Alive.
Robert Krevolin
JamBase | NYC
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