July 26–August 1, 2019 Brooklyn Paper • www.BrooklynPaper.com • (718) 260-2500 AWP 9
Where culture
is king
He’s a jolly good Fela: Singer Duain Richmond and a troupe of eight other dancers will sing the music of
Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti in “Fela: the Concert,” at the Ford Amphitheater on July 26.
Fall for Fela!
Free Coney Island concert
celebrates Afrobeat pioneer
A free concert in Coney Island
will celebrate the music of Fela Kuti,
the Nigerian artist who fused funk and
jazz with African rhythms to create Afrobeat.
“Fela! the Concert,” at the Ford Amphitheater
on July 26, showcases songs
from the biographical Broadway musical
“Fela!,” and has played continuously
since that show closed in 2010, said its
musical director.
“It’s kind of incredible that it still
lives,” said Greg Gonzalez, who also
plays drums in the band. “I feel great
about it. For me, it’s been an amazing
experience.”
It features a 10-piece band, along
with nine performers who both sing and
dance, all working together to create
MUSIC
an incredible show, said the Williamsburg
drummer.
“This band has a lot of really talented
NYC singers and dancers, and I want to
display all their talents,” he said. “We’ve
got a lot of talented musicians, and it’s
going to be damn good show.”
And the dancing is not limited to the
stage — the performers will teach the
audience some African dance moves
during the show.
“We give the audience a quick dance
lesson on shaking your booty,” said
Gonzalez.
The free concert is part of the city’s
Summerstage series, which brings music
to parks across the five boroughs. “Fela!
the Concert” has toured the world, including
a stop at Kuti’s home country
of Nigeria, where they were warmly received,
but the Coney Island concert will
mark the first time the show has played
in New York City. Gonzalez said that
the band members are excited to play
their hometown.
“Playing Summerstage is definitely
a big deal for those of us who are from
here,” he said. “We’re psyched, all of our
friends are coming out, and we’re going
to bring some people on stage.”
Concert-goers who want more of the
Fela Kuti’s music can find similar sounds
throughout Kings County, said Gonzalez.
There are plenty of local bands
that play Afrobeat, including Brooklyn
acts Antibalas and Underground System,
he said.
“There’s a bunch of little bands, and a
lot of jazz musicians playing Afrobeat,”
said Gonzalez. “Definitely in Brooklyn
it’s still alive.”
The unique music style pioneered by
Kuti has also evolved into new forms
around the world, he added.
“It’s kind of morphed into this new
style they call Afrobeats — with an ‘s’
— which is pop music with an African
and Caribbean sound,” said Gonzalez.
“It’s become a part of the African
Diaspora.”
2020
By Bill Roundy
Brooklyn Paper
They got the ’beat!
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“Fela! the Concert” at Ford Amphitheater
(3052 W. 21st St. at the
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com).
July 26 at 8 p.m. Free.
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