A Tribute to JAMES BROWN, the Godfather of Soul February 17, 2007

What: Tribute to James Brown and Fela Kuti
When: Saturday, February 17th, pm doors, Show: 9PM
Who: Sila and the Afrofunk Experience, Dj Jeremiah and the Afrobeat Nation and DJ Vanka (special James Brown set)
Where: the Independent, 628 Divisadero Street, San Francisco
Tickets: $15 available at Independent box office or at http://ticketweb.com

A TRIBUTE TO JAMES BROWN, THE GODFATHER OF SOUL AND FELA KUTI, THE KING OF AFROBEAT

In the 1970s, Paul McCartney wasn't the only superstar to recognise Fela's musical innovations, the way in which he fused high-life and jazz with the rhythms of funk to create 'Afrobeat'. When James Brown toured Nigeria in 1970, bassist William 'Bootsy' Collins recalls, '[Fela] had a club in Lagos, and we came to the club and they were treating us like kings. We were telling them they're the funkiest cats we ever heard in our life. I mean, this is the James Brown band, but we were totally wiped out! That was one trip I wouldn't trade for anything in the world.'

Tony Allen, Fela's drummer and a key architect of Afrobeat, claims that Brown sent his arranger, David Mathews, to check him out. 'He watches the movement of my legs and the movement of my hands, and he starts writing down ... They picked a lot from Fela when they came to Nigeria. It's like both of them sort of influenced each other. Fela got influenced in America, James Brown got the influence in Africa.'

On Saturday, February 17th, Sila and the Afrofunk Experience will perform a special set to honor the legacy of James Brown and Fela Kuti.

Official Website: http://afrofunk.net