CALARTS GROUP BRINGS A WORLD OF MUSICAL STYLE TO RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY SONGS AT CHANDLER.Byline: Sharon Cotal Staff Writer Alan Eder and Friends, a traditional West African West Africa A region of western Africa between the Sahara Desert and the Gulf of Guinea. It was largely controlled by colonial powers until the 20th century. West African adj. & n. drumming ensemble and reggae band at California Institute of the Arts California Institute of the Arts known as CalArts U.S. private institution of higher learning in Valencia. Created in 1961 through the merger of two other art institutes, it was the first in the U.S. , will perform at 5:45 p.m. Friday during the 40th annual Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County Holiday Celebration at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion is one of the halls in the Los Angeles Music Center (which is one of the three largest performing arts centers in the United States). The Music Center's other halls include the Mark Taper Forum, Ahmanson Theatre, and Walt Disney Concert Hall. . Their performance is part of a six-hour marathon concert, which is free and will be broadcast live from 3 to 9 p.m. on KCET KCET Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo (Japan) KCET Kamaraj College of Engineering and Technology (Channel 28). Alan Eder and Friends is composed of more than 20 current and former CalArts teachers and students from all over the world who represent many races and religions. Eder, a CalArts alumnus ALUMNUS, civil law. A child which one has nursed; a foster child. Dig. 40, 2, 14. and staff member, created the ensemble in 1996 after traveling in West Africa West Africa A region of western Africa between the Sahara Desert and the Gulf of Guinea. It was largely controlled by colonial powers until the 20th century. West African adj. & n. on a Fulbright scholarship. ``I've studied West African music and Caribbean reggae for 20 years. Singing the traditional Passover songs at my own family Seder, I started hearing the African drumbeats in my head, and the group just kind of developed from there,'' Eder said. The group has just released ``Reggae Chanukah,'' its follow-up album to ``Reggae Passover,'' and will be performing arrangements from the new album at the Holiday Celebration. The performance consists of new and reinvented traditional songs blending ska, reggae, samba, Hebrew folk and liturgical music with spoken word and rock in an upbeat and spiritual style in celebration of Hanukkah. The group has performed other holiday concerts this year, but is looking forward to performing at the prestigious Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. ``We will be performing for a live audience, plus the event will be televised, making it the largest audience we've ever performed for,'' Eder said. Selections from ``Reggae Chanukah'' which will be featured in the performance are ``Afa Medley,'' music and dance inspired by the Ewe people of West Africa and ``Gota Medley,'' traditional Hanukkah songs arranged for West African drummers and dancers. ``To our delight, our music has been very well received in African and reggae circles,'' Eder said. ``It has a universal message both philosophically and musically.'' CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO Alan Eder and Friends - composed of more than 20 current and former CalArts teachers and students - will perform songs from their latest album, ``Reggae Chanukah,'' at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. |
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