PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR FULL LIST OF EVENTS

Thursday 1 May
JOSE JAMES

Vocalist, lyricist, and composer José James has been leading jazz ensembles for the past ten years, expanding his vision of lyrical blues clarity and vocal improvisation excellence. A unique talent, he is quite simply one of the best jazz vocalists in the world today. Inspired by the vocalists Billie Holiday and Bobby McFerrin, the jazz writing of Jon Hendricks and Kurt Elling, and by the composer/saxophonist John Coltrane, Jose has consistently paid the deepest respect to the history of the music while evolving his personal artistic vision within it.

“Without doubt the most exciting young vocalist I’ve come across in years. This album is the real deal, sublime, beautifully crafted – it’s real soul music. You just don’t come across stuff like this every day. I can’t wait for people to hear it!” Gilles Peterson
7.00pm The Junction Tickets £15.00
Tickets on sale via The Junction Box Office on 01223 511511
More info: www.josejamesmusic.com
Event promoted/managed by Gil Karpas of Beatnik in partnership with The Junction.
This event is supported by:

.www.cambridgemusic.net
 ..and is an initiative of The Junction & Gil Karpas for The Heart of The World Festival

Watch a live concert of Jose James by clicking here.

 

Thursday 1 - Sunday 11 May
TIBETAN PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION
At Nomads, 5 King's Parade (see Free Events)

Friday 2nd May
AFROTEMA
+ AFRICAN & SALSA DANCE CLASS

        

'Afro-Tema’s music ranges from modern West African funk, reminiscent of the likes of Fela Kuti, to languid reggae. The ‘mbalax’ sound of Senegal, which is in itself heavily influenced by salsa, is often a starting point, but the band’s sound is dominated by chiming guitars and rhythms which build and build over the course of songs lasting well over ten minutes – long enough to get even the most reluctant toes tapping. If the music is not easily compartmentalised, it is definitely infectious, and every month the floor at Cellar Bar soon fills up with surely some of the most energetic dancing seen at any of the city’s club nights. For fans of world or folk music this is a must, and for fans of dance music who want to experience something different it’s well worth a detour away from your usual haunts." Expolrer Magazine August 2006

Why not also join Theodore Menelik-Mfuni for a dance class in both African and Salsa before the performance?

Dance Class 7pm - 9pm. Band 9pm onwards.
Tickets £7.00  St Paul’s Centre, Hills Road, Cambridge.
On sale via The Junction Box Office on 01223 511511.
More info: www.menelikmusic.com

Saturday 3 May
EXPERIENCE WEST AFRICA WITH BATAFON ARTS

Travel to West Africa for one day only with Ali Baba Bangoura. Master drummer, dancer and performer Ali Baba will be teaching a day of workshops introducing aspects of West African performing arts. Ali is artistic director of Batafon Arts and toured internationally with Les Ballets Africaines the national ballet of his home country, Guinea Conakry. Ali will be teaching two classes which are available individually or together, Introducing Djembe Drumming and West African Dance. Both sessions will include a West African song. For an inspiring and energizing experience, join us on this day trip!

All ages are very welcome and the workshop will also benefit those with more experience of drumming. Previous workshops have been very popular and early booking is recommended.
Introducing Djembe Drumming, 11.00am
West African Dance, 2.00pm
Individual class £10.00, both classes £18.00
For further info, booking & drum hire, call Lucas on 07790 996845
Tickets on sale via The Junction Box Office on 01223 511511
 

Sunday 4 -Wednesday 7 May
TIBETAN SAND MANDALA
(see Free Events)

Sunday 4 May
PORTICO QUARTET AND BASQUIAT STRINGS
The Portico Quartet are a 4-piece modern jazz group from London. Their sound is made distinctive by the use of the hang, a 21st Century percussion instrument used on all their tracks. Blurring contemporary jazz with modern classical tendencies, their approach gives a nod to the work of Steve Reich and Philip Glass, whilst their melodic rhythms are reminiscent of Penguin Café Orchestra. Like the instruments they play, their compositions defy geographical origin. This is global music from another world. They are joined by jazz quintet Basquiat strings whose fusion of classical and jazz saw them nominated for a Mercury Music Award in 2007.
7.00pm The Junction Tickets £15.00
Tickets on sale via The Junction Box Office on 01223 511511
Event promoted/managed by Gil Karpas of Beatnik in partnership with The Junction.

      

More info:
www.myspace.com/porticoquartet
www.basquiatstrings.co.uk
This event is an initiative of The Junction & Gil Karpas for The Heart of The World Festival

Wednesday 7 May
DESTRUCTION CEREMONY OF SAND MANDALA
(see Free Events)

Friday 9nd May
KANDA BONGO MAN
+ AFRICAN & SALSA DANCE CLASS

Kanda Bongo Man is one of the foremost figures in modern African popular music. He formed his first band as a 15-year-old in 1973, toured in Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and theDR Congo (Zaire) with their newly created Soukous, a music style that is a cross between Caribbean rumba rhythms and traditional African music. In 1983 Kanda Bongo Man played WOMAD in the UK and his international reputation was born. The Bongo Man (his father was also called Bongo Man) sings in Lingala, and his high speed form of soukous gave birth to the kwassa kwassa dance rhythm where the hips move back and forth while the hands move to follow the hips.

Why not also join Theodore Menelik-Mfuni for a dance class in both African and Salsa before the performance?
 
Dance Class 7pm - 9pm. Band 9pm onwards.
Tickets £12.00 (£10.00 conc.) / with meal £20.00 (£15.00 Conc.) - Under 18s - Free
Tickets on sale via The Junction Box Office on 01223 511511
(Meals must be booked in advance and will be served at 8pm).
 More info: www.menelikmusic.com

 

Friday 9 May
CHELA – THE CAMBRIDGE GEORGIAN CHOIR

PLEASE NOTE - THIS EVENT IS POSTPONED.
For more information please call 01223 264991 or log on to: www.movingtone.com

The Moving Tone Sessions present an evening of Georgian song from Chela, the Cambridge Georgian Choir. Founded eight years ago through the inspiration of the late Edischer Garakanidze, a remarkable Georgian ethnomusicologist, Chela bring the ancient sounds of the remotest regions of Georgia to life here in Cambridge.
Emmanuel United Reformed Church, Trumpington Street, Cambridge 7.30pm


Saturday 10 May
TIBETAN SINGING BOWL CONCERT with FRANK PERRY in MICHAELHOUSE 
presented by Nomads of 5 King's Parade
A must-see event.  In Buddhist practice, singing bowls are used as a support for meditation, trance induction and prayer. Singing bowls (also known as 'Himalayan bowls' or 'rin' or suzu gongs in Japan) are a type of bell, specifically classified as a standing bell. Rather than hanging inverted or attached to a handle, standing bells sit with the bottom surface resting. The sides and rim of singing bowls vibrate to produce sound. Singing bowls were traditionally used throughout Asia as part of Bön and Tantric Buddhist sadhana. Today they are employed worldwide both within and without these spiritual traditions, for meditation, relaxation, healthcare, personal well-being and religious practice. Join Frank Perry, a world renowned Singing Bowl expert and a pioneering, innovative improvisational percussionist for this fascinating event.
Michaelhouse, Trinity Street, Cambridge
7.30pm Tickets £10.00 available in advance from Nomads (01223 324588)

Sunday 11 May
HEART OF THE WORLD FAMILY DAY
(see Free Events)

In addition the Arts Picturehouse will be screening films to to compliment the programme of events in the Festival including

Saturday 10 May - 2.30pm
U-CARMEN E-KHAYELITSHA (12A)
Dir: Mark Dornford-May, S.Africa, 127 mins, 2004
Winner of the Golden Bear for Best Film at the 2005 Berlin Film Festival, U-CARMEN is an excitingly fresh adaptation of George Bizet's 'Carmen', which  relocates the classic love affair between Carmen and Don José to Khayelitsha, a shantytown in South Africa.
More info: www.artspicturehouses.co.uk

Sunday 11 Mat - 5.00pm
RETURN TO GOREE (15)
Dir: Pierre-Yves Borgeaud, Switzerland, 112 mins, 2007
This musical road movie tells of Senegalese singer Youssou N'dour's epic journey along the slave route and the jazz music that was created along the way.
More info: www.artspicturehouses.co.uk