What we do

Roots of Afro Urbanity Vol.2 -dance to the music-

  • Organization : AFRO URBANITY
  • Section : Artistic and creative activity in Tokyo
  • Type of Grant Program : Single
  • Art Forms : Music

Outline

This is a collaborative performance project with guest appearances by people such as the creative electric Afro-Cuban jazz band AFRO URBANITY, Cuban dancer Balodia Rodríguez Boza who spent many years as a principal dancer with Conjunto Folklórico Nacional de Cuba, and IZPON, who continues to be active not only as a percussionist but also as a DJ and music creator.
A theater was used as the performance venue. With a 360-degree viewing style in which the audience surrounds the musicians, the idea was to enable the audience to enjoy energetic and dynamic dance and music from all angles.
It proved to be an experimental event that saw the addition of talented young wind instrument players to music that fused traditional Cuban dance, traditional musical instruments (Bata Drum and conga), and the latest electronic instruments, creating something new that also respected various musical roots.

Profile

AFRO URBANITY
A seven-piece group working in a style that combines original songs with elaborate and highly experimental arrangements that fuse Afro Cuban music – a form of music culture originating in Cuba – and contain elements of pop, jazz, funk, fusion, hip hop, etc., with distinctive and individual vocal work – using an effects unit, for example.
Since its launch in 2017, it has racked up numerous streams of experimental live performances, live video, music videos etc. featuring guest appearances by the likes of the shakuhachi, street dance, a horn section, and a string quartet, and has also released two albums and one LP.

Contact

Michiko Abe
Producer
AFRO URBANITY
info@nsrecordsjapan.com

Venues

DDD AOYAMA CROSS THEATER, Shibuya City, Tokyo