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The Newest Musical Experience from Rasheed Ali |
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"Tristeza e Beleza na Cidade Negra" by Rasheed Ali “Sadness & Beauty in the Black City” [Tristeza e Beleza na Cidade Negra] is a musical portrait of my two-month stay in Salvador da Bahia, Brasil in the fall of 2003. I received an Artist-in-Residency Grant from the Sacatar Foundation that allowed me to create and record this new work in Brasil. The Place: Salvador Da Bahia is located in the northeast. Salvador is a city that is rich in history & culture. Outside of Africa, it is the city with the largest population of people of African descent! A treasure trove of African culture, Bahia was one of the pivotal centers of the 450-year European slave trade. It was the colonial capitol of Brasil. The Music: I was not trying to make “Brasilian Music”, I tried to experience life in Bahia. I “translated” my daily experiences into music. All of the music was composed and recorded in Brasil. The lyrics were written upon my return to California. In the Americas there is a blend of African ancestry [Yoruba, Ashanti, Bantu, Fulani, Mandinka, Wolof, etc.] and European colonial influences. As an Afro-Caribbean musician, I have always exploited the African Traditions that unite the music and culture of the African Diaspora. My artistic life has been devoted to creating a musical blend that transcends the language barriers that separate Africans in the Americas. For this reason, the motto for my musical approach has been; “One Tribe, Many Voices”. The Lyrics: All of the Portuguese lyrics are my own. They reflect the thoughts from my daily journal in Brasil. I dedicated my life to learning the language of Brasil [Portuguese] because I especially wanted to communicate with my Afro-Brasilian brothers and sisters. Since I am a native Spanish speaker, it was easier to learn the intricacies of Portuguese. After a short time I found myself thinking in Portuguese as well! This allowed me to experience Brasil in a deeply profound way. |
