Listening to the World — One night only. Banda Magda in Chicago, Thursday 3/26

Banda Magda will burst on to the Chicago stage and leave you breathless. Get your dancing shoes on. One can't help but go crazy over the music. It is infectious. What does it mean when one says "World Music"? Yeah... I was skeptical thinking "what the hell is world music?" OMG. In this case, it means music that everyone in the world will jump up and want to dance to. Rated the number 2 band in iTunes on the world charts, Banda Magda careens around leaving listeners thrilled. Banda Magda moves from samba to French chanson, from Greek folk tunes to Colombian cumbia and Afro-Peruvian lando. Truly, it is not uncommon to hear 6 or 7 different languages (even Japanese) during the course of the concert — all with a sense of unchanged musicality. Banda Magda's songs capture the best of mid-century pop ballads and cinematic arranging while drawing on the band’s global background.

Intensely Delightful!

On stage, Banda Magda bursts with humor and quirky sensibility, powered by a unflagging energy. This group of close musical friends turn their songs into engaging romps that have won them the spotlight in Carnegie Hall Musical Explorers Series, as well as performances at discerning venues and festivals such as Webster Hall, Irving Plaza, The Kennedy Center, The Jefferson Center, Celebrate Brooklyn, Jazz al Parque, St. Moritz Festival Da Jazz, and the Chicago World Music Festival.

The band was founded by Greek-born singer, film scorer, and composer Magda Giannikou. Trained in film scoring at Berklee, Giannikou’s film music finesse has won her awards and caught the attention of Kronos Quartet. After the success of their brilliantly colorful albums, Amour, t’es là? (Top 10 Billboard World Music Charts, NPR’s All Songs Considered, First Listen, NPR’s 10 favorite World Music Albums 2013), and Yerakina (co-produced by GRAMMY Award-winners Michael League and Fab Dupont), Banda Magda is in pre-production of their 3rd opus, the vibrant, Technicolor Tigre to be released in January 2016. Thursday will be a chance to hear some really amazing music.

Musical notoriety

Banda Magda's album Yerakina hit #2 on the iTunes World Charts and was co-produced by three-time Grammy Award Nominee Fab Dupont and recent Grammy Award Winner Michael League. The album appeared at #9 on the Billboard World Music Charts and made the Top 10 World Music Albums by NPR. Magda Giannikou's songs Amour, t’es là? and Ase Na Bo were part of the GRAMMY Award Winning Album Snarky Puppy Family Dinner, Volume 1. Those who love a musical experience have gone wild over Banda Magda. The band is usually one of their favorites:

“An artist who fires on all artistic cylinders”

Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR

“Banda Magda’s music is polished to a high pop sheen, but beneath the glossy surface the beats veer off in unexpected directions. American swing, bossa nova, gypsy jazz, soca, tango and cinematic string charts collide with Middle Eastern and Latin rhythms for tunes that will leave your brain delightfully confused.”

J&R Music World

“My favorite band in the whole world. Music and pure joy.”

Michael League, owner of groundUP records, bassist 

(Snarky Puppy, Kirk Franklin, Patti Austin, Robert Glasper)

“With this record Magda managed to make old sound new, new sound old and make the French language an instrument of its own.”

Fab Dupont, Music Engineer/Producer
(Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, Bebel Gilberto, Sofia Rei)

“Some of the greatest cotton candy music with substance to come this way in quite some time. The genre splicing keeps it more than fresh as it sounds like you are at a French samba party on the Ivory Coast, all bottomed by a beat that can't be beat. You actually feel like you're listening to music in color. Well done.”

Midwest Record

 

The show is at Martyrs' at 3855 N. Lincoln Ave. The number is 773-404-9494. The show starts at 8:00. $10 in advance and $12 at the door. See you there... and just try to not kick your shoes off and dance.
Written by Thom Olson for HalfStack

Video:

Published on Sep 4, 2013

"Amour T'es La"
from Snarky Puppy's live DVD/CD - "Family Dinner - Volume One"
available for purchase at http://snarkypuppy.ropeadope.com/albu...

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