Amayo’s FU-ARKIST-RA official site | Amayo’s FU-ARKIST-RA official site

AMAYO’S FU-ARKIST-RA is a unique afro-beat concept, created by Amayo in 2000, which was developed in three countries :in Brooklyn (USA), in Paris (France) and in Bahia (Brazil). The music of  AMAYO’S FU-ARKIST-RA is a combination of traditional Chinese Lion rhythms and Nigerian Afro-beat. This unique blend of styles creates a vivid and magical landscape for stories, lessons, and dances of ancient Chinese and African folklore. Songs in the repertory include ‘Amen-awon’, ‘Wounded Lion’, ‘Lion Awakes’ and ‘Happy Lion’. The result is a lethal fusion called FU-Afrobeat: a blend of African spiritual rhythms, Traditional Chinese lion rhythms, highlife, funk, and jazz, infused with political messages. The band’s diverse spectrum of backgrounds carries the spirit of Kung Fu masters and philosophers of the Orient, Freedom fighters, the Royal warriors of Edo & Ife Kingdoms, and Fela Kuti.

Holy Forest official site | Holy Forest on Facebook

Holy Forest is the brainchild of musician and filmmaker Jon Fine. Wearing a number of hats on this record as producer, instrumentalist and songwriter, he enlisted friends and collaborators on this epic genre-blending project. The seeds of the recording sessions, spanning 3 years, were planted on a trip to the Makasutu Forest, a lush, green wilderness of mangrove swamps that line the River Gambia. While there, Fine connected with legendary griot Tata Din Din Jobarteh and the project was born.

With an intimate knowledge of music across genres and styles, Fine reached out to a number of critically acclaimed musicians including members of Antibalas, singer-songwriter Morley, Grammy nominated kora master, Youssoupha Sidibe and rising Gambian star ST. Digging even deeper, he brought in BK afro punks No Surrender, Bay area singer Sparlha Swa, and the criminally underrated Harlem soul man, Ed “Preachermann” Holley to craft a collection of songs about love and distance. Recorded in The Gambia, NYC, Woodstock and San Francisco, Holy Forest is 21st century cross-continental roots music.

Organic Magnetics officials site

Cuban-American director / choreographer Maija Garcia is best known for her collaborations with luminaries such as Spike Lee, Bill T. Jones, Angelique Kidjo, Zap Mama, and for her award winning choreography on the Broadway musical FELA! Last year, Garcia directed the high profile production Salsa, Mambo, Cha Cha Cha in Havana Cuba; toured FELA! The Concert in Australia and New Zealand, won best choreography for Cuba Libre at Artists Repertory Theater and worked alongside Spike Lee as director of movement on CHIRAQ.

Garcia’s signature storytelling integrates music, movement, historical narrative and innovative design to create immersive, transformative experiences. She founded Organic Magnetics to produce live installations that engage audiences on issues of race and social justice, technological innovation and environmental sustainability. Artist in residence at El Museo del Barrio in 2014, Garcia co-created I Am New York: Juan Rodriguez, an origin story with live music about New York’s first immigrant. Employing theater arts as a tool for social transformation, Garcia is a board member of SBI and director of Performing Arts at A. Philip Randolph High School in Harlem.

Graduate of California Institute of Integral Studies with a BA in Sustainable Development, Garcia is a guest teaching artist at City College, NYU Grad Acting and Steps on Broadway. A member of SDC, Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, Garcia is represented by CAA.