Artist description Antibalas...musical insurrection Antibalas...they call themselves afrobeat. Hmmm...an "afrobeat" group from New York. A group of expatriate Africans using too many synthesizers? Perhaps a bunch of white American jazzer "world music" enthusiasts wearing silly kente cloth vests and hats? Not in the least! Antibalas (Spanish for "Bulletproof" literally "Anti-bullets") is the next generation of afrobeat in the spirit of the Black President, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. This fourteen piece band hits hard with the left and the right--monstrous horns and bass layered over funky polyrhythmic beats and breaks coupled with furious lyrics challenging and attacking the dehumanizing capitalist system and inciting insurrection in English, Yoruba, and Spanish. The Antibalas experience, in the words of loyal followers, is a religious one. Watch out and move!

Music Style Afrobeat, afro-funk

Musical Influences Fela Kuti, Mulatu Astatqe, James Brown, Wallias Band, Matata

Similar Artists Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Daktaris

Artist History Antibalas...musical insurrection Antibalas...they call themselves afrobeat. Hmmm...an "afrobeat" group from New York. A group of expatriate Africans using too many synthesizers? Perhaps a bunch of white American jazzer "world music" enthusiasts wearing silly kente cloth vests and hats? Not in the least! Antibalas (Spanish for "Bulletproof" literally "Anti-bullets") is the next generation of afrobeat in the spirit of the Black President, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. This fourteen piece band hits hard with the left and the right--monstrous horns and bass layered over funky polyrhythmic beats and breaks coupled with furious lyrics challenging and attacking the dehumanizing capitalist system and inciting insurrection in English, Yoruba, and Spanish. Antibalas formed in May 1998 of members of Desco Records' Soul Providers and Daktaris. This union of Latinos, whites, Afro-Americans, Africans and Asian-Americans resides in New York, spread out over Brooklyn, Harlem, and the Bronx. They perform weekly at Africalia, the nation's only live afrobeat party, and at other clubs and political events in the city. Antibalas has spread music overseas to England where they performed at London's Jazz Café, on BBC Radio, and in other cities. The Antibalas experience, in the words of loyal followers, is a religious one. Watch out and move!

Group Members Martin C-Perna-baritone saxFernando Velez-congaDuke Amayo conga, shekereAmadou Diallo-bass, guitarLuke Omali-guitarGiancarlo Luiggi-sticksVictor Santiago Rodriguez-organJordan Omafaye-trumpetDon Bonus-trombonePhil Harmonic-drumsAnda Szilagyi-trumpetMichael Herbst- alto, tenor saxophoneDylan Fusillo-sticks, percussion

Instruments conga, saxophone, trumpet, guitars, drums, bass, organ, trombone, sticks

Albums Uprising 45 rpm (Afrosound Records), Ouelele: 12 more African Rhythms compilation (Comet Records)

Press Reviews Village Voice 1/27/99 "...But the evening's award for authenticity and swing went to headlinersConjunto Antibalas (Anti-Bullet Band), a 10-piece soul arkestraboasting three ex-members of King Chango. Fueled by funky Felagrooves, bugaloo beats, and a passion for the plight of thepueblo, Conjunto Antibalas sent everyone home knowing who they are and what they like to dance to. Introducing a song called "We Want Food but They Give Us Poison," leader-saxophonist–community activist Martin Antibalasproclaimed that "All that junk food in the barrios is part of aplan to kill poor people." This time, everybody screamed. "— Ed Morales

Additional Info http://africalia.homepage.com

Location Brooklyn, NY - USA

Copyright notice. All material on MP3.com is protected by copyright law and by international treaties. You may download this material and make reasonable number of copies of this material only for your own personal use. You may not otherwise reproduce, distribute, publicly perform, publicly display, or create derivative works of this material, unless authorized by the appropriate copyright owner(s).