MEDIA CONTACT: Judy Moore at 847-491-4819 or jkm229@northwestern.edu

November 3, 2004

World Music Concerts on Tap

EVANSTON, Ill. --- Northwestern University audiences will feel as though they traveled the globe this November during several world music concerts. One program will feature traditional music from Zimbabwe and two concerts -- one for adults and the other for children -- will focus on Afro-Cuban jazz. All three events will be held on the Evanston campus.

The “Mbira Masters of Zimbabwe” concert at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10, at Regenstein Recital Hall, 60 Arts Circle Drive, will showcase two masters of the mbira, an ancient African instrument. Cosmas Magaya is an internationally renowned mbira master and teacher. Beauler Dyoko is known as the “Queen of the Mbira” because she broke down gender barriers to become Zimbabwe’s first female professional mbira player and vocalist. Northwestern School of Music faculty member and percussionist Paul Berliner, author of the book “The Soul of Mbira,” will join Magaya and Dyoko for an evening of traditional and religious African music. Single tickets are $8.50 for the general public, $7 for senior citizens and Northwestern faculty members, and $4 for students.

At 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, the unique sounds of timba -- a high-energy Cuban salsa with elements of jazz, funk and pop -- will echo throughout Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, 50 Arts Circle Drive, when the Miami-based septet Tiempo Libre takes the stage. Since its inception in 2001, Tiempo Libre, a group of musically gifted Cuban immigrants has been combining Latin jazz with the Cuban and Afro-Cuban music of members’ childhoods to form a modern yet traditional style. As a result, Tiempo Libre -- Spanish for “free time” -- has become one of the hottest ensembles on the Latin jazz scene.

The group’s lead singer is Joaquin “El Kid de la Salsa” Diaz. Tiempo Libre’s six other conservatory-trained musicians play an eclectic mix of instruments. Tiempo Libre has performed throughout the United States and Asia, and has accompanied Latin superstars Arturo Sandoval, legendary salsa singer Celia Cruz and Ruby Perez. Single tickets for the Tiempo Libre evening performance are $14 for the general public and $9 for students.

Tiempo Libre will also present a 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 13 Kids Fare, “Bienvenidos a Latin America” concert at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall for children aged 3 to 8 and their families. Kids Fare Concert tickets are $5 for the general public, $4 for senior citizens and Northwestern faculty and staff; and $3 for students.

To order tickets or for more information, call the Pick-Staiger Ticket Office at (847) 491-5441.