Los Angeles, CA - July 7 -- L’Esprit d’Afrique, L.A.’s Premier Pan-African Performance Ensemble, is pleased to announce the release of their first studio-produced album, which features world-renowned musical legend “El Maestro” Lazaro Galarraga.
L’Esprit d’Afrique’s feature album, “The Spirit of Africa” (English translation of the group’s name), is a fusion of contemporary and traditional African-based music from Cuba, Brazil, Guinea, Zimbabwe, Puerto Rico, and America including Cuban and traditional West African drumming, samba, rumba, salsa, Afrobeat, bossa nova, and spoken word. Known for the enlivening and unifying effect their performances have on their audiences, L’Esprit d’Afrique’s first album remains true to the collective spirit that inspired its eleven members to begin production in March 2010.
Founder and Director, Emeka Simmons, explains the album’s origins and intent, “On this album, we wanted to recreate the sound and feel that you get at our live shows. We put together our strongest original and traditional pieces to create an album that takes you on a journey, not dictated by history but by what lives in our hearts and feeds our spirits as artists and performers.”
Available online soon at L’Esprit d’Afrique’s official website www.FeelTheSpiritOfAfrica.com and due for release at their upcoming performance at Zanzibar in Santa Monica, CA on Thursday, July 18th, this album pays homage to the group’s musical ancestors through the rebirth of traditional songs and the inspiration of new ones like “Crossroads,” for which Lazaro Galarraga lends his voice. L’Esprit d’Afrique will showcase their unmatched sound and style at Zanzibar’s “Afro Funké,” (Cary Sullivan, Rocky Dawuni, DJ Jeremy Sole, and DJ Glenn Red). CDs and shirts designed by ARCHEFFECT Design will be available for purchase.
L’Esprit d’Afrique started building support in Los Angeles by doing shows at “Afrobeat No Go Die” with DJ Nnamdi Moweta (Radio Afrodicia [KPFK]) and continued with their one-year residency at Zanzibar’s “OM” (DJ Itai Shapiro, DJ Aaron Byrd [KCRW], and DJ Adrian Govind). Their vast compilation of credits, collaborations, and connections attest to the group’s undeniable integrity as a multi-talented collective and their shared desire to inspire and uplift with every performance. L’Esprit d’Afrique members have shared the stage with legendary performers Herbie Hancock, Van Hunt, Junior Gong Marley, and Maya Angelou, and have studied with Yoruba Andabo, Los Muñequitos de Matanzas, Grupo AfroCuba de Matanzas, Conjunto Folklόrico Nacional de Cuba, and Les Ballet Africains. DJ Mando Fever (Tumbé) describes the group’s “eclectic” style as “a mix of traditional Afro-Cuban with Brazilian roots, a funky African folk backdrop, and vocals that bring in the spirits.”
Lazaro Galarraga, an original member of the distinguished Conjunto Folklόrico Nacional de Cuba, has recorded and performed with masters Cachao, Chucho Valdés, Andy Garcia, and Plácido Domingo. Maestro Galarraga shares his amazing talent on L’Esprit d’Afrique’s first album and on stage at various L’Esprit d’Afrique events, including the one taking place on Thursday, July 18th at Zanzibar in honor of L’Esprit d’Afrique’s album release.
About L’Esprit d’Afrique: L’Esprit d’Afrique is a collective of multi-talented artists from around the world whose goal is to create work that celebrates the lasting root and fruits of the African Diaspora. Forming Los Angeles’ Premier Pan-African Performance Art Ensemble, L’Esprit d’Afrique uses music, song, poetry, dance, and drumming to express the common thread between the traditional and contemporary arts of the U.S., Haiti, Africa, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Brazil. L’Esprit d’Afrique performances are designed to inspire and uplift audiences through the celebration of their passion, the enlivening spirit (L’Esprit) that passes straight to the heart of every audience member.
Contact: Robert Wilmore Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.FeelTheSpiritOfAfrica.com
