Calgary Sun |
Sukay Show is something special
by Dave Veitch
| Quentin Howard admits some people mistakenly think
her band, Sukay, performs South African music. It’s an honest error. Whereas South
African music has been embraced by a North American mainstream audience, the South
American folk music that Sukay performs is generally unexposed on this continent.But last
night in the Jack Singer Concert Hall, Sukay not only taught the 800 patrons about the
music’s history and heritage, the quartet also recruited many new fans and supporters
for this captivating musical style. The instrumentation alone—flutes, rattles,
acoustic guitars, drums --suggested the show was going to be different. How these
instruments eventually meshed into music turned the show into something truly special. Howard’s and Carlos Crespo’s flute parts intertwined on the slight, lingering melodies, creating a dreamy, ethereal effect. Meanwhile, the aggressive strumming of several stringed instruments—including the charango, made from the shell of an armadillo—was primarily used for rhythm. The music was old as the Andes and many of the hand made instruments were relatively primitive (at least by today’s high tech standards) but the hauntingly beautiful sounds were elegant and sophisticated. However, one suspects Sukay’s interpretation of South American folk music breaks a few traditions. Howard’s work on the pan flute, for instance, sounded like Zamfir on a caffeine overload. Yet the concert provided a quick, entertaining education on this distinctive, folk music style. |
Sukay World Music, Suite 523, 3450 Sacramento
Street, San Francisco, CA 94118
Tel/415 646-0018 Fax/415 646-0066
Email sukay@mindspring.com
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