Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra, Burnt Sugar, Nublu Orchestra August 21, 2004

Antibalas is an afrobeat juggernaut, reincarnated as a hard-hitting collective of musicians in New York City. The group carries on the soul of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, founder of the unique Afrobeat sound, which unites highlife, jazz, funk, and traditional African elements with unabashed political messages. Antibalas -- which means "anti-bullets" or "bullet-proof" -- shoots out monstrous horns and bass layered over polyrhythmic beats coupled with furious lyrics inciting insurrection in English, Yoruba and Spanish. "Antibalas offers what is easily one of the best live shows around; pulsating energy radiates from the stage." -Amazon.com. www.antibalas.com.

Burnt Sugar is "the world's second fully improvisational acid funk band," bringing together a bevy of guitarists, keyboardists, percussionists and vocalists for exploratory groove-based group improvisations ranging from jazz-rock fusion to trip-hop, jungle and ambient house music. "Burnt Sugar expand, contract and groove like liquid mercury...under the baton of producer/guitarist Greg Tate...[they] summon overlapping echoes of George Clinton, the electric Miles Davis of Get Up With It, Lee Perry's dark magic at Black Ark Studios, plantation blues and gangsta hip-hop (minus the gats and 'hos): Ellington to the future via the Grateful Dead's Anthem of the Sun." -Rolling Stone. www.burntsugarindex.com.

In the tradition of Butch Morris' "Holy Ghost" and "Skyscraper", the NuBlu Orchestra is the quintessential Nouveau-Avant art music, coming out of the fertile electro-acoustic nu-world-jazz scene centered at Alphabet City's club Nublu. With the likes of Eddie Henderson, Graham Haynes, Ilhan Ersahin, Kenny Wollenson, Didi Gutman, Jesse Murphy, Mauro Refosco and Butch Morris conducting with a host of stellar musicians and guests. ?This music is completely surprising and simply overwhelming...building the most incredible crossings of styles." -Neue Musikzeitung. "If there is one thing you can say about Lawrence D. ?Butch? Morris, it?s that his music is genuine...he creates moving, beautiful music while conjuring the unknown.? -Time Out NY. www.nublu.net | www.conduction.us.

A night of improvisational orchestras for the new millenium presented in association with HOWL East Village Festival of the Arts. 7pm, FREE tickets distributed on day of show.