From: Equator [events_at_equatorfestival_dot_com]
Sent: 27 March 2012 15:09
Subject: re-
Equator's WOW Festival - Carmen Souza: 31st March 2012
Press Release
Carmen Souza, WOW - Women of the World Festival
O
n March 31st
Equator's WOW - Women of the World 2012 edition will come to an end in great
style with acclaimed Cape Verdean songtress Carmen Souza at the Ashford
Youth Theatre.
Carmen has it all: excellent repertoire, a mesmerizing, expressive and versatile voice that glides effortlessly through a huge range of registers and a spellbinding, charismatic stage presence. Whether she is singing the plaintive morna (the Cape Verdean variation of the blues) or an exuberant batuco, Souza is always convincing owing to her swingy jazz sense of timing and her virtuoso voice full of nuances from the highest to the lowest notes she sings. Singing in her ancestors' Creole language and mixing traditional African and Cape Verdean rhythms with contemporary jazz influences she creates a unique sound all of her own. In the last 3 years she has build an amazing reputation touring all over the world and collecting outstading reviews from both her live performances and CDs.
"Her music has a deceptive simplicity, a rare clarity, derived from a unique mix of influences from her Cape Verdean background to jazz and modern soul creating this beautifully vibrant, largely acoustic, accessible hybrid. World soul music for the 21st century."? David Sylvian
"The poetic voice is as original as the musical one...The lyrics this Cape Verdean singer has written have a vivid, passionate energy; Backed with rippling accompaniments from a band blending Afro-Latin and contemporary jazz effects, she beats up a very unusual storm." - The Independent
WOW - Women of the World Festival coincide with March being International Women's Month. It is the brainchild of Priti Paintal, Artistic Director of ShivaNova (and co-director Robert Maycock) - the cutting edge arts organisation who specialise in world music.
Priti Paintal says "Our Festival is about promoting women from around the world and highlighting the diversity of communities in this country. As a musician and composer myself I am acutely aware that the equation between men and women in the arts is not yet equal and hope this annual festival will help somewhat towards re-dressing this balance."
?a victory for musicianship and vision' The Times
Carmen Souza
Saturday 31st March, 7.30pm
Ashford Youth Theatre
1 Dover Place, Ashford
TN23 1HU
Tickets ?10, ?8 concs, ?3 child up to 12yrs.
End
Equator 's WOW - Women of the World is supported by Arts Council England, Ashford Borough Council, Ashford Presents, Horsebridge Arts Centre, Kent Music and ShivaNova
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Equator is a world music and dance festival produced by ShivaNova.
ShivaNova is a cutting-edge world music company led by composer Priti Paintal. It brings together an ensemble of musicians from around the world, blending urban, folk, classical and jazz ambient sounds with influences from Indian, African, Caribbean and Western Music. ShivaNova has always celebrated cultural diversity through music and other art-forms.
Equator's WOW- Women of the World Festival events in Kent, London and Birmingham log on to www.wow-womenoftheworld.com
For interviews, images or further information please contact Sandra Berlin on 07868 707 164 or management_at_equatorfestival_dot_com_dot_