Boka Halat - Making a song and dance in Doxey
On
Saturday 21st March Doxey was on the receiving end of some
'mutual inspiration'(1) as the group Boka Halat performed and made the
audience perform as well.
Band warms up | 
Boka
Halat
- Doxey | 
Roger Watson |  |  |  |
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(click images for larger version) |
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English
folk singer (and accordionist) Roger Watson & Gambian drummer
Musa Mboob the founders of the group were joined by German Saxophonist
Thomas Christen, Gambian guitarist Ousman Beyai and English fiddler Tom
Fairbairn in creating music that was both unusual and strangely
familiar. Folk songs from Britain and elsewhere were given the beat of
African drums (and more than a bit of jazz) to create a sound that it
was difficult not to dance to.
In the first half of the
evening the group played and sang a range of songs and music from
around the world. After a short refreshment break staid Doxey residents
did not need much persuasion to perform traditional English barn dances
to a decidedly global sound with Roger acting as caller and Master of
Ceremonies. The music was then given a more Doxey Sound as the band was
joined by a number of local performers on drums, guitars, saxaphones
and flutes who had participated in the workshop that the group had run
during the afternoon before the show.
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 Musa Mboob
Tom Fairbairn |
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Jane tells where
the exits are ! |  |
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Doxey Drums |
Thomas Christen |  |
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At
the end of the evening we all went home tired and happy, the only
regret being that the turnout had not been larger. Thanks must be given
to Jane Essex and to 'Live and Local'(2) who arranged the evening.
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Ousman Beyai
with Henry |
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1)
"The Boka Halat technique is not ‘multiculturalism’. The name means
‘mutual inspiration’ in Musa’s native Wolof language. The technique is
INTERcultural: to see what a group of diverse musicians, living in the
same area, can create which none of them could arrive at on their own"
www.bokahalat.co.uk
(2)"
Live & Local is a network of mainly voluntary organisations across
the East and West Midlands and parts of South East England who,
supported by a professional team, promote top class professional arts
performances in small and friendly venues such as village halls and
community centres"
www.liveandlocal.org.uk
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Chanteuse - 28th February
This
was an excellent performance by the all female chamber choir directed
by Sue Breeton. Their songs ranged from 'My Fair Lady' to the Psalms. A
mavellous evening.
If you missed them in Doxey you can see them at in St Mary's on Wed 20th May.
"Chanteuse are a Midlands based
female
Chamber Choir. They were formed in 2008 by local professional
singer/pianist and former Director of Music at Stafford Grammar
School, Sue Brereton.
They have performed at many venues
throughout
the area, most notably Lichfield Cathedral, where they wowed the
audience with the depth of feeling in their performance and received
much praise. Their repertoire covers all styles and conventions from
purely classical to modern, sacred and secular." (Stafford Music Festival) |
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