Ted Leo, Antibalas Live From World Financial Center

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Friday, November 23, 2012

Amayo, lead singer and percussionist for Antibalas. (Kim Nowacki/Q2 Music)

For three nights in October, WNYC presented live concerts at the World Financial Center’s Winter Garden atrium, with each one hosted by John Schaefer.

Today on the show, Soundcheck presents the first of the three events, an Afro-centric show. The first set features Ted Leo, from the popular post-punk band Ted Leo & The Pharmacists, interpreting the music of South African pioneer Hugh Masekela. And in the second, Brooklyn's own Afropop big band Antibalas performs original music that carries on the tradition of the late Nigerian saxophonist, singer and bandleader Fela Kuti.

Guests:

Antibalas and Ted Leo

Tags:

Ted Leo: Live From The World Financial Center

In the first part of the show, Ted Leo -- from the popular post-punk band Ted Leo & The Pharmacists -- interprets the music of South African pioneer Hugh Masekela. Leo explains that he was inspired by the space itself to do the Masekela theme. Listen in to hear Ted explain how.

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Antibalas: Live From The World Financial Center

For the second part of the concert, we hear from Antibalas, a Brooklyn group inspired by the late Nigerian saxophonist, singer and bandleader Fela Kuti. Fela pioneered the Afrobeat style in the 1960s and '70s, mixing American funk, infectious horn arrangements -- and political messages aimed squarely at the Nigerian government. His life story was the subject of the recent Broadway musical “Fela" -- (to which members of Antibalas contributed). Hear this high energy performance -- and its unexpected encore.

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