This is a serious live jam session! One of my favorites, Ethiopian singer Ejigayehu “GiGi” Shibawbaw is not only a solo artist, she is like Phil Collins or Sting, for she is also part of a group known as Tabla Beat Science.
The video below is a live show with the GiGi and the band. Whilst GiGi was once labeled the best obscure artist of 2001 by NY Times music critic, as we enter 2011 she is much less obscure, thanks to Palm Pictures which has released much of her material and YouTube which has made it more accessible.
This 10 year old boy, in the video below, is from South Africa. He sings while playing an acoustic 6 string guitar which he treats as if it is a bass guitar. He plays and sings in a deliberate and precise way, showing that he understands R&B music as if he were a seasoned pro, nails the vocals with a sweet soul that would make Sam Cooke and Michael Jackson proud.
Since this was first posted to this network in December 2010, we finally learned the identity of the boy singing in the above video after he began gaining more notoriety. His name is Vicus Visser. Whilst his Facebook and Twitter page has not been updated lately and does not seem to be active, try his Facebook at Facebook.com/vicusjonathan.visser and a innactive band account at Twitter.com/v4muzik
Came across an inspired up and coming singer/songwriter named Tiffany Christopher. This video is a bit toned down, compared to her energy in front of a lively crowd. Will keep digging for videos that capture the thing she does. If you hear she is performing live, you'll be happy you went.
Few words are needed to describe Nneka and her music. Authentic, passionate, soulful. In this minimalist recording that is well done by madmoiZelle.tv, Nneka performs her song entitled "Come with Me". Enjoy!
You may have already seen her on The Late Show with David Letterman and she has been in thousands of places between here and there, even playing for heads of state and President Obama. But in this big bad world, artists who travel that wide can still remain too far under the radar. This is just one more little venue for this inspired and gifted jazz bassist and vocalist.
Esperanza Spalding is a breath of fresh air. As a bassist myself, I appreciate any upright players who can sing and play upright at the same time. Esperanza is as sweet and beautiful as she is articulate with her vocals and jazz stylings, as you will see in this local CBS TV interview and performance on a show called The Second Cup Café. Enjoy!
