YESHE & KURAI in Concert
Sat 7th Nov 2015
Venue: HOTEL GEARIN
273 Great Western Hwy, Katoomba
Blue Mountains NSW 2780.
The long awaited music debut of long time friends and music journeymen, Yeshe and Kurai, is set to push out the edge of contemporary Zimbabwean Mbira Music.
This exciting new musical project picks up where Garakayi Tirikoti and Thomas Mapfumo left off, taking the old bottles of ceremonial and traditional Mbira Music and filling it with new wine.
Their live debut as a duo will be previewed on an Australian East Coast festival and theatre tour in November 2015. Their debut recording, “Return to Matapi Flats”, will be released worldwide to coincide with their Canadian national tour in February 2016.
Matapi Flats is a ghetto in Mbare, a high density southern suburb of Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare. It was here in the late 1990s that Yeshe Reiners (DE/AU) and Kurai Blessing Mubaiwa (ZIM/CA) met and immersed themselves in Mbira music, in traditional Bira ceremonies and in the live venues of Harare, Africa’s most lively live music scene at that time.
Over the course of a number of years, Yeshe and Kurai lived in Mbare, practising every day at Garakayi’s room, as well as playing music for his wife’s ceremonies. On their debut recording, “Return to Matapi Flats”, Yeshe plays Mbira, Kamele Ngoni, Kickdrum and other percussion. Kurai plays Mbira, Bass Mbira, Bass Ukulele and Shakers. Both Yeshe & Kurai sing and Kurai is also known for his captivating live dancing when the moment on stage demands it.
Hailed by the Sydney Morning Herald as “groundbreaking roots musician” and “sublime *****” by the Montreal Metro, German born Yeshe has explored all corners of the globe in developing a rich tapestry of sound and a vivid collage of musical culture. He embodies the musical nomad, drawing heavily from his African teachings and expressing his music with a sophisticated style and distinctly cosmopolitan flavour.
His music transcends labels and boundaries.
In the early 80s Yeshe met Canada’s most awarded blues artist Harry Manx and the pair have since collaborated and toured together with many different acts around the globe – Manx would have a tremendous and powerful influence on Yeshe’s future musical development, eventually inspiring his solo career.
It was after a tour late in 2003 that, with Harry Manx’s production guidance, they would record Yeshe’s début album entitled ‘World Citizen’ (which charted and won multiple international awards), released through Manx’s Canadian-based label Dog My Cat Records. “Yeshe’s music will never go out of fashion, this kind of music will remain relevant for ages to come,” says Manx.
In 2011, Yeshe released his finest work to date in ‘Roots & Wings’, with the opening track ‘Peace Of Mind’ voted Number One in the World category of the esteemed Billboard World Song Contest.
Since the release of his sophomore solo release, Yeshe has truly come into his own and has been in high demand on the international circuit, most recently collaborating with Australian roots icon Xavier Rudd in Australia, North America and Europe and touring Canada and Australia as a featured guest on Harry Manx World Affairs tour, after co-writing two songs with Manx on his latest release ‘Om Suite Ohm’.
“Yeshe is a triumph of multiculturalism……His voice – imagine Tom Waits crossed with Harry Manx……Were you looking for a snapshot of the wonder of Australian multiculturalism, this band is it” – John Shand, Sydney Morning Herald, Australia
“Truly a ‘citizen of the world’, his music is marked by African influences with a sophisticated style and very cosmopolitan touch” – Festival D’Ete, Quebec City, Canada
“Progressive, evolving and rooted powerfully in the earth, Yeshe continues to push cultural boundaries to find new sounds, new experiences and share simple messages of hope and peace” – Island Folk Fest, Canada
www.facebook.com/YesheOfficial
www.yeshe.com.au
Doors Open 8:30pm.
Kurai Solo Starts 9:00pm.
General Admission. Room configuration is a mix of theatre style, cabaret seating and standing/dancing.
Tickets $18 pre-sale available from:
KATOOMBA MUSIC, 140 Katoomba St, Katoomba, NSW 2780 (Tues-Sat. Cash Only)
Or online $19.20 (Including booking fees): www.trybooking.com/ITIB
Or $20 on the Door from 8:30pm (Unless Sold Out)