It’s probably safe to say that Jewish Afrobeat is a niche genre. It’s definitely safe to say that New York City’s Zion80 plays Jewish Afrobeat music really well. Just listen to “Ein K'Elokeinu.”
TRACK
Click play to listen to Zion80's “Ein K'Elokeinu”
That song is from the band's debut album, to be released April 23 on John Zorn's Tzadik label. And it prompted us to ask, "Why Jewish Afrobeat?" Jon Madof, guitarist and founder of the band, explains it in the following Q&A. But first, a few notes about the concept, pithily described on Zion80's website as "Shlomo Carlebach meets Fela Kuti."
The man: Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, known as “The Singing Rabbi.”
The music: Leading 20th century Jewish religious songwriter; recorded more than 25 albums.
The time: 1925–1994.
The man:Fela Anikulapo (Ransome) Kuti, known as “The Black President.”
The music: Afrobeat pioneer, multi-instrumentalist, composer.
The time: 1938–1997.
Starting with the obvious, why form a specifically Jewish Afrobeat band?
That's a great question! And I don't know if I have a very good answer. But it has a lot to do with the specific personalities that inform Zion80's music: Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach and Fela Anikulapo Kuti. I have a deep, deep love of their music and it felt very natural for me to combine the two into something hopefully new and interesting. And when I found out that this specific combination hadn't necessarily been tried before, I was even more inspired to do it. That being said, it really came down to trying it, listening to it and feeling that it was something genuine and exciting on a purely musical level. Because an idea can be great, but if the music doesn't hit you where it counts, I don't think it's worth very much.
What gave you the idea?
The idea actually came to me in a flash. I had been listening to Fela a lot on a Friday morning. Then, the next morning on Shabbat (the Jewish Sabbath), I was getting ready to go to shul (synagogue) with my family. I was humming a Carlebach tune that we sing on Shabbat, and heard a Fela-inspired rhythm along with it. I tried the same thing with several other songs, and it just clicked. It fit together beautifully, like it was meant to be.
What should Afrobeat fans know about Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach?
There's a saying, "Words that come from the heart, enter the heart." In other words, if the music comes from a real place, it really doesn't matter what the genre is. If you know about the depth and beauty of Afrobeat, then you'll recognize beauty and depth in other forms of music, whether it's Jewish music, Turkish classical music or the blues. Reb Shlomo (as he's often called) put every ounce of his soul into his music, just like Fela did. Even if you don't understand Hebrew and aren't familiar with the prayers that Reb Shlomo set to music, the power of the music beyond the specific language and context still comes through very strongly.
What should those who love Rabbi Carlebach’s music know about Afrobeat?
Again, anyone who responds to the genuineness and soulfulness of Reb Shlomo would presumably recognize the same qualities in Fela's music. The other important connection here is that both men placed their music in a much wider cultural and spiritual context. It simultaneously functioned as pure music and a vehicle for the larger messages that both men dedicated their lives to.
What do you think each of these men would make of this musical marriage?
If only they were both still alive to ask that question! I sincerely hope that they would see Zion80 as a tribute to the beauty that they both put into the world through their music and their lives. At the same time, there's a Buddhist saying that says, "Don't seek to follow in the footsteps of the masters. Seek what they sought." I try my best to bring all of myself into the process of making music with Zion80, and ask the same of the amazing musicians in the band. So Fela and Carlebach are the influences or jumping-off points, but at the same time we want to find our own identity as a band.
Where’s the musical point of connection between Jewish music and Afrobeat?
That's a great question. It's been my experience that all forms of music are connected. So while different genres certainly have a distinct flavour or identity, there is a level where all music comes together. I had an interesting experience recently where I was listening to Fela and trying to put my finger on exactly why I love his music so much. I was aware of a lot of the factors (multi-layered rhythms, dense horn parts, Fela's singing and playing), but something was eluding me. Then I realized that the way that some of the bass and guitar parts are played really reminds me of "riff rock," like Led Zeppelin or Black Sabbath. That's when I saw clearly that Afrobeat has everything!
Is there a cultural point of intersection?
There's a very important point of intersection, and one that for me forms the subtext of the development of Zion80. Both Fela Kuti and Shlomo Carlebach were deeply involved in their own particular cultures. They were each very learned in their own culture's history, philosophy and spirituality. It was their mission to educate the members of their culture and fight the forces that seek to undermine genuine cultural expression and continuity. At the same time, each man was very aware of the way in which a particular identity fits into the universal picture of humanity. Indeed, and here's the main point, they each saw particularism as the road to universalism. Rather than existing as two opposing forces, they saw them for what they really are: two sides of the same coin.
What’s the reaction to Jewish Afrobeat been so far?
The reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. Our concerts so far have done very well, and many people have come up to me afterwards to express their positive feelings about the music. The same goes for the email messages we get expressing a lot of excitement that we're bringing together these two musical streams. Then there's a part of me that thinks I have a few more decades of study before I can truly do justice to the music of either Reb Shlomo or Fela. But I sometimes imagine them both saying, "Come on, just get on with it and play the music!" It's all a learning process, and will hopefully get deeper and stronger with time. But for now, we're having a great time. And we're excited to release our debut CD!
Passover begins this week. Any tips for celebrating — in a Jewish Afrobeat kind of way?
Passover is a celebration of liberation. The Jewish people were released from subordination to an oppressive human authority and given the opportunity to serve God freely. However, we're taught that Passover is not simply a recounting of past events. We must see ourselves as having been personally freed from the bondage of slavery. And along the lines of what I mentioned before about particularism and universalism, this knowledge of the Jewish experience should sensitize us to all humans living in bondage of one kind or another. In a very real way, Fela sought the very same freedom for his people, and for all people.
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