Imagine Studios Presents Gabriel’s Rainbow Earth Day Coffeehouse, African Dance Party and Fundraiser. Featuring: Mamadou (mamadou.com) and Red Tail Hawk (theredtailhawk.com).
Proceeds benefit renewable energy projects of A3DInc.org and local environmental groups.
Enjoy African food, crafts and information about local nonprofits including: Small Solutions; the Greater Newburyport/Bura Alliance; Massachusetts for Elephants; Ocean Blue; C-10; Transition Newburyport and others
When: Saturday, April 21, 6-11pm. 6PM community drum circle with Mamadou Diop; 6:45 Special performance by students of Chuck Walker; 7pm Red Tail Hawk; 8pm Mamadou
Where: Gabriel’s Rainbow Coffeehouse, People’s United Methodist Church 64 Purchase Street Newburyport
Cost: $15 suggested donation at the door
Contact Information: www.imaginestudios.org, [email protected], 978-834-0367
A3DInc. Nonprofit Information:
In addition to being a musician, Mamadou Diop is a valued pillar of his communities. He is President and a founding member of A3D, Inc. (African Development through Drum and Dance), a local non-profit organization that supports people in need locally in the Boston area and overseas in West Africa. Through his efforts, Mamadou has been recognized by the Art of Living Foundation and by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. His band supports his efforts, with several band members being part of A3D. Learn more about this noble group of people determined to make a positive difference in the world around them.
MAMADOU is a world-class ensemble showcasing the original musical works of Senegalese luminary Mamadou Diop.
Having shared the stage and collaborated with countless African greats including Baaba Maal, Mamadou Jimi Mbaye and Mbaye Dieye Faye in the Madison Band (formerly of Youssou Ndour), Thione Seck, Nicolas Menheim and Papa Seck in the band Africando, the Grand Soda Mama, and many others, Mamadou introduced his signature rhythm guitar sound around the world.
Mamadou Diop has had opportunities to connect with influential giants including James Brown, the Jackson Five with Michael Jackson, Nelson Mandela – all personal inspirations for his art.
Now, fronting his own award-winning band, he resides in the USA composing and performing new and amazing songs about peace, love, hope, family and friendship, bringing a positive vibe to our world.
Band members include:
- Mamadou Diop – Lead vocals, rhythm guitar, lead percussion
- Adam Zampino – Keyboards and bass, backing vocals
- Michelle Cherie – Backing vocals, percussion
- Joey Frechette – Lead percussion
- Erik Bistany – Bass
- Mitch Cohen – Drum kit
Mamadou Diop Bio.:
Mamadou Diop is from Sénégal, West Africa, bringing with him over 40 years of musical experience. As a youth, he became interested in playing music when his mother gifted him a guitar. He would go to the river at night and sit by the bridge and teach himself to play the rooted rhythms of Africa on his guitar.
Today, Mamadou Diop is one of the most respected rhythm guitarists from his country and an accomplished sabar (Senegalese hand and stick) and djembe drummer. He holds weekly African drum classes in Newburyport.
He has an extensive musical résumé and has performed with the most celebrated musicians of Sénégal, including Jimi M’Baye and Mbaye Dieye Faye in The Madison Band, (former band members of Youssou N’dour), Nicolas Menheim and Papa Seck in the band Africando, Musicians from the band Baaba Maal, and the Grand Soda Mama with whom Mamadou toured the West African countries of Sénégal, Mauritania, Cameroon, and the Ivory Coast.
In 1991 Mamadou Diop, known then as Modou Diop, joined the West African band Raam Daan led by Thione Seck (former singer for the legendary Orchestra Baobab) and traveled throughout Africa, Europe, and North America. Mamadou settled in the United States in 1996, after completing a World Tour with the band. While in Boston, Mamadou joined Master Drummer Ibrahima Camara’s world beat band, Safal. Ibrahima, an old family friend from Dakar, Sénégal, had been living in the United States for twenty-five years at the time. Mamadou brought new energy from Africa to Ibrahima’s band.
In 1998 Mamadou formed his own band, MAMADOU (briefly known as “Mamadou Diop and the Jololé Band”). Along with performing, Mamadou, a member of the Soninke tribe, teaches about African life and culture. Mamadou has led drum workshops for public and private school programs. Mamadou also teaches weekly drum and dance classes for adults and children.
In Africa the expression of rhythm is used to make a connection with the soul. Mamadou expresses the virtues of African culture and, in his very personable manner, introduces participants to an understanding of life and spirit that is so prevalent in his culture.
Lastly, Mamadou is known for his unique style of painting, bringing African folklore to life on canvas with traditional scenes colorfully depicted. His art has reached around the world, with a piece even reportedly finding its way to a museum in Moscow.
Red Tail Hawk’s music is a vibrant fusion of alternative, groove rock and pop. They capture audiences with soaring melodies, heady grooves and high-energy performances that have earned them distinction on Boston’s north shore. Frontman Ben Zanfagna is a fluent vocalist & sax player whose songwriting and arrangements are inspired by raw experience, blues, jazz and soul but are never bounded by conventional norms.
RTH has opened for National acts such as G-Love, Ruby Rose Fox, The Brew and Chris Duarte, to name a few. They’ve played major music festival in the region, performed at The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and sold-out shows at The Stone Church in Newmarket, NH and The Press Room in Portsmouth, NH.
Following the release of Red Tail Hawk’s self-titled EP (2011) and their late-2014 release, “Magnetic Malaise” their late-2015 single releases, “Zoo” and “Blot” the band released a full-length album, “Night Soup” on the 10th of June, 2016. RTH is currently touring around New England, and writing new music for the next album release.
