Soundcheck At Momo’s - African Music TV Show

Sunday Times, Sunday 13th April
"The Congolese rumba collective Kékélé are the first guests to grace this relaxed, atmospheric eight-part series, their distinctive, acoustic guitar-led sound proving the perfect introduction to a slot that seeks to showcase the best in modern African music. Their performance is interspersed with snippets of the troupe discussing Congolese folklore, politics and the origins of rumba."
Justin Adams & Juldeh Camara perform 'Ya Ta Kaaya'
Daby Touré performs 'Banta'
Vieux Farka Touré performs 'Wosoubour'
Orchestra Baobab perform 'Nijaay'
Souad Massi performs 'Ghir Enta'
Julia Sarr & Patrice Larose perform 'Nimala Djure'
Kékélé perform 'Kubola'
Mama Sissoko plays an ngoni solo
during a break in taping the Vieux Farka Toure episode.
The guys from Natacha Atlas's group decide to horse around on their darbukas during a break in filming. Good times.
Soundcheck at Momo's is a ground-breaking new music series brought to you by The Africa Channel .
Filmed at London's famed and exclusive Momo's Kemia Bar, the series showcases the full range of genres and talent from across the African continent. From Egyptian pop to Senegalese flamenco-fusion, it's all there.
In a broadcasting climate that affords precious little exposure to African artists, this series attempts to redress that balance, radically.
Given that Africa has so many wildly varying musical styles to boast of, we felt that a varying approach to each episode was called for.
So, unlike most music shows, 'Soundcheck' endeavours to give each act the best chance to get their music and story across. That's why we've dedicated each half-hour episode to only one group - rather than four or five. That way the contributing performers get a decent opportunity to properly showcase their material.
Also uniquely, the series is not hosted by some larger-than-life presenter stamping their personality across each episode. Instead, each episode has a unique feel because they're hosted by the artists themselves.
Not a grinning celeb in sight. Afterall, who better to tell their stories than the musicians themselves?
Another break with the norm is that 'Soundcheck' is not filmed in front of a live audience.
Instead, we've tried to capture the intimacy of a private showcase/soundcheck.
For those of you with surround sound and HD screens, we guarantee that the show will look and sound so good, it'll be as though the musicians are performing in your living room! Or - if you'd prefer to imagine, that you're reclining on an ottoman in Momo's' sultry surrounds...
Watch this space for more news on the series...
In the meantime, we'll be posting snippets below - in addition to the music we've already made available.
Enjoy - it's only the beginning...