Fra Fra Sound

The Center for Black Music Research at Columbia College Chicago in partnership with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, the Old Town School of Folk Music, and the Music Department of Columbia College Chicago present

Fra Fra Sound
In concert

Photo credit: Mirande Phernambuqc

For nearly three decades, the Suriname-Caribbean septet Fra Fra Sound has been prominent in the international jazz and world music scene. Founded in Amsterdam in 1980, Fra Fra Sound has expanded its initial fascination with music styles of Suriname by incorporating other musical influences from the Caribbean, Africa, and the United States. Fra Fra Sound is equally at home on world-music stages and at festivals, jazz clubs, theaters, and concert halls. It has performed in Europe, Africa, regions around the Indian Ocean, the Caribbean, South America, and the United States.

Fra Fra Sound researches diverse African-rooted music, including—in addition to Caribbean and Latin American styles—jazz, blues, soul, and gospel of the United States. Fra Fra Sound has succeeded in creating a unique sound through its combination of Caribbean and African rhythms and grooves and jazz improvisation. The connection between American jazz, Suriname kaseko, and African rhythms are made comprehensible by Fra Fra Sound in an organic and swinging way. Among several projects undertaken by Fra Fra Sound to accentuate African and Caribbean influences are “Kotabra/Kaseko Revisited” and Mali Jazz.

The term Fra Fra has different meanings: it can imply volatility, difference and mystery, or unboundedness. Fra Fra is also the name of a people in the Northwest of Ghana. Fra Fra Sound uses the term to reflect the relationship between music, dance, religion, and philosophy from the African diaspora and West Africa as well as its unpredictable and experimental approach to music.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009, 9:30 p.m.
Old Town School of Folk Music
Gary and Laura Mauer Concert Hall
4544 N. Lincoln Avenue
Free ticketed event / Advance tickets recommended
$5 suggested donation / Call 773.728.6000 for tickets

Thursday, October 22, 2009, 7:00 p.m.
Chicago Cultural Center
Cassidy Theater
78 E. Washington Street
Free and open to the public.

New Public Performance
Friday, October 23, 2009, 7:00 p.m.
Columbia College Chicago
Concert Theater, Music Building
1014 South Michigan Avenue

For more information, e-mail cbmr.contact@colum.edu or call 312.369.7559.

This project was made possible by support from the Consulate General of the Netherlands.