Last year, I was in Zimbabwe performing at an amazing festival, HIFA, in Harare. On a perfect night, filled with the good energy from a great show, I ventured out to hear an act that I was told would be great. Hearing an energetic, young woman with an amazing band, Netsayi and Black Pressure, ended up being the most captivating experience of my entire festival circuit. The blend of street cred, ( she’s toured with K’naan and Lady Smith Black Mambazo) mixed with her knowledge and desire to reconnect with music from Zimbabwe (she recently relocated back to Zim after many years in London) creates a performer with much to offer and with many layers to discover.

I’m also thrilled that one of my favorite performers, Helga Davis, will be soloing on her own set with the incomparable performers including clarinetist David Krakauer and cellist Jeffrey Zeigler (who has a new project coming soon…). They will debut a new trio, then Helga will join Netsayi on Sara Regina.

Here’s a taste of the different themes of the evening:

Sara Regina

(Netsayi and Black Pressure)

Call: Sara Regina! Sara kumagobo x 4
Stay Regina, stay at the field

Response: Sara Regina! Sara kumagobo x 4
Stay Regina, stay at the field

Call Ndakuti sara ehe / Ndakuti sara Regina
I said, Stay! Stay at the field

Response: Sara Kumagobo
Stay at the field

Call: mai hwe ona mai ona nhamo yemagobo! x 2
Hell! its a hard life at the field!

Response: nhamo yemagobo! nhamo yemagobo
a hard life at the field.

From Netsayi, on the meaning of her song:

“the field” is a piece of land that has been marked for planting a crop on it and has ben semi-prepared – in the most rudimentary way – but still needs a lot of work before its ready for planting a crop on it. It is typically full of tree stumps that need to be dug out, thorny bushes, maybe even rubble and broken glass… old cans (if its in an urban area) all sorts of junk… It’s like if you found a dumping site or a tip or a disused car yard in the middle of Queens and said, “right! I’m going to turn this into an urban organic greenhouse….” You’d have to start off by digging up the tarmac, clearing all the drink cans and bottles, possibly raze the shell of an old building or two that before you even started to lay the foundations for your greenhouse. The point is that you’d stay focussed on the difficult/boring part of the job because you have a broader vision in mind that keeps you motivated.”

Listen to one of her classics

Off the newly minted album by the same name, Glaub explores all aspects of belief and is the first solo album for Jeffrey Zeigler, written for him by the astounding Mexican composer, Felipe Perez Santiago.

Please join us for this force of nature concert! It will be a truly unique experience, and you won’t want to miss it.

Yours,
Paola

PS. Don’t forget to get your tickets!