Irresistible rhythms and soul-searing melodies and harmonies revealing the link between the heart and soul of African traditional music and the roots and guts of American music from jazz to gospel, rock and blues; proceeds go to Amani Orphanage, Tanzania

14 MP3 Songs
WORLD: African, KIDS/FAMILY: Kid Friendly



Details:
I was asked to produce this C.D. by the director of the Amani Home for Children, an orphanage and home for abandoned children in Moshi, Tanzania at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro. All proceeds from the sale of the c.d. will go directly to the Amani Home. For more information, go to www.Amanikids.org.

I met the director, Valerie Todd, when I went to Tanzania to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. When she found out that I was a musician, she asked if I would be interested in coming back to Tanzania to record the kids at the orphanage and produce a c.d. which would be a continuous source of income for the orphanage. I was more than happy to do so. I returned the following year and spent three days recording the kids at the Amani Home as well as the Ombeni Choir and the Tusker Crew.

When I returned to the U.S., I put backing music to some of the songs and left others in their raw state. I combined the music I'd recorded in Africa with a few of my own songs which I thought would go well together, and which establish a common theme, lyrically and musically. Together, the songs reveal the influence of African traditional music upon all forms of American music, from gospel to jazz to rock.

The word, "Amani" means "Peace" in Swahili. I hope that this c.d. brings a little bit of peace to the children of the Amani Home, a few dollars and a few children at a time.