Napalma is a fresh musical mutation born out of interaction between Brazilian and African musicians

RELATED LINKS: Arts Alive Arts Alive is about expanding horizons and improving quality of life for residents of Johannesburg. The diversity of the programme brings new experiences for new audiences, and gives exposure to new artists. Read more Jazz wind blows through Zoo Lake It's almost September, which means it's almost Arts Alive time. And this year there are some stellar performers lined up for the Jazz at the Lake concert. Read more Indian flavour adds extra spice This year Arts Alive brings a familiar, yet interesting taste to its popular bill of entertainment - the sights and sounds of India. Read more Stardom beckons at Moshito lekgotla The music industry is to gather at the fourth annual Moshito Music Conference and Exhibition to discuss the industry and scout for new talent. Read more

Afro-Cuban jazz star Omar Sosa opens the Arts Alive Festival at the Johannesburg City Hall on 31 August

Cuba's Sosa kicks off Arts Alive Arts Alive has a fantastic line-up, and September is chock-full of things to do, making Jozi the only place to spend spring. August 23, 2007 By Ndaba Dlamini AFRO-CUBAN jazz star Omar Sosa will open this year's Arts Alive Festival at the Johannesburg City Hall on 31 August, while across town a different kind of music kicks off the Newtown leg of the annual month-long extravaganza. Arts Alive, hosted by the City of Johannesburg, features local and international artists and takes place in September. It is one of the most popular arts, theatre, dance and music festivals in the country. The flute is intrinsic to the blend that is Napalma Sosa, whose performances have been described as an extraordinary example of state-of-the-art world jazz, is a leading ambassador of the invigorating new jazz sound coming out of Cuba. It draws on a wide range of musical traditions, from Latin to jazz standards to European classical music. An original and free-flowing artist, Sosa's music encompasses cha-cha grooves and Monkish phrases, Yoruba chants, hip-hop beats and rhapsodic melodies. The award-winning composer and pianist shares the stage with South Africa's Miagi (Music is a Great Investment) Orchestra, which perform the music of South Africa's Chris McGregor and the Blue Notes. The Grand Opening show at the City Hall starts at 7pm and tickets are R150 each. Tickets are available at Computicket or at the door. Over at Newtown's Bassline, Napalma, a fresh musical mutation born out of interaction between Brazilian and African musicians, will set the stage alight. Napalma comprises of two fiery Brazilian percussionists, a singer from Mozambique and a producer/instrumentalist from South Africa. Frederic Galliano, one of the leading figures on the French electro scene, is also performing on the night. Born in Grenoble, France in 1969, Galliano discovered electronic music at rave parties in the late 1980s. In February 1998, he visited Africa for the first time, and began producing sub-Saharan artists. Napalma and Galliano will share the stage with Czech Republic Afrodrop, Pat Heart, and South Africa's very own Kid Fonque to produce a rare combination of musical minds and cultures at Bassline. The Bassline show starts at 8.30pm and tickets are R50 each. Tickets are available at Computicket and at the door. Permission to use web site material Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as: Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website (www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency (www.joburg.org.za)"; If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original article on this website; The name of the article's author is acknowledged; The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill in this brief online form). Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 Print this Page E-mail this article to a friend Help using Joburg.org.za