Roberto Fonseca III & Fatoumata Diawara
CAP UCLA | 8 p.m., The Theatre at Ace Hotel
"The Cuban keyboardist is a terrific example of what makes 21st century improvised music so exciting: Fonseca is part of a generation of musicians who feel that all sounds from all countries are accessible to them, either in acoustic, electric, or digitized form—whether it's a traditional, ancient rhythm or a computerized studio effect." –Downbeat
"Fatoumata Diawara projects her strong songs with effortless poise." –The Telegraph
Both Fatoumata Diawara and Roberto Fonseca III learned their craft from old masters: she as a back-up singer for her fellow Malian Oumou Sangaré; he as a pianist with the Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club®. Diawara is hailed as one of the most vital standard-bearers of modern African music. She takes her artisty to fresh and thrilling heights on her new album, Fenfo. Boldly experimental, yet respectful of her roots, Fenfo defines her as the voice of young African woman-hood—proud of her heritage but with a vision that looks confidently to the future with a message that is universal. Fonseca is considered one of the most innovative Cuban pianists in generations, with a sound at the fertile crossroads of jazz, traditional music, and soul, steeped in a spirituality faithful to his Afro-Cuban roots. His most recent album, ABUC (Cuba spelled backwards) is teeming with rascally rhythms and burly brass creating a kaleidoscope of dancing colors through which Fonseca recalls the rich history of Cuban music. In 2014 Diawara and Fonseca teamed up for the album At Home. Diawara’s husky yet honey-smooth vocals combined with Fonseca’s jazz genius resulted in the perfect Afro-Caribbean musical dream team. They will each perform separately with their bands at Royce Hall.
This event is presented by the Center for the Art of Performance.
Event Date: Saturday, Mar. 23, 8 p.m.
Venue: The Theatre at Ace Hotel
Price: $26–$56*
*UCLA Students: $15, UCLA Faculty & Staff $25
The Theatre at Ace Hotel is located at 929 South Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90015.
Valet services are available at Ace Hotel and several private parking lots can be found near the theater.
Stay engaged. Use #UCLAarts to stay connected.
