Catch Bakithi on the Surprise Tour this Summer with Paul Simon
A native of Soweto Township outside Johannesburg, South Africa, Bakithi Kumalo's musical career has been characterized by a series of serendipitous events, ranging from his debut gig as a precocious 7- year-old filling in for the bassist in his uncle's band to his enlistment into Paul Simon's group during the recording sessions of the pop star's landmark Graceland album in 1985.
Produced by Chris Pati, who also performs throughout the disk, Transmigration displays Kumalo's multifaceted talent in a variety of jazz-infused, deep-grooved musical settings including those steeped in contemporary/lyrical jazz, R&B funk and straight-ahead acoustic jazz (with Kumalo setting aside his electric bass for an upright acoustic) as well as an African rhythm jam. “Every track is different," says Kumalo, who in addition to bass plays keyboards, drums and a variety of percussion instruments. “Some albums stick to having a certain sound, with all the songs having a similar feel but I wanted to show all the sides of my playing. Working with Chris was great because he allowed me the opportunity to be myself and just create."
Kumalo creates a singular electric fretless bass sound that teems with double stops that sound like human voices and the African grooves of his homeland and has garnered him a stellar reputation as a sideman. In addition to touring with Simon on his current North American tour, he's also recorded and/or toured with the likes of Gloria Estefan, Chaka Khan, Harry Belafonte, Gerald Albright, Miriam Makeba, Josh Groban and Chris Botti.
Paul Simon's Surprise Tour dates featuring Bakithi Kumalo on bass:
June 28 Schottenstein Center - Columbus, OH
June 29 Plain Dealer Pavilion - Cleveland, OH
July 1 Summerfest - Milwaukee, WI
July 2 Zoo Amphitheater - Toledo, OH
July 4 Doubleday Field - Cooperstown, NY
July 5 Place Des Arts Salle Wilfrid Pelletier - Montreal, QU
July 7 Champlain Valley Fairgrounds - Essex Junction, VT
July 8 Verizon Wireless Arena - Manchester, NH
July 9 Mohegun Sun Arena - Uncasville, CT
July 12 Merriweather Post Pavilion - Columbia, MD
July 14, 15 Borgata Events Center - Atlantic City, NJ
July 16 PNC Banks Arts Center - Holmdel, NJ
July 19 Chastain Park Amphitheatre - Atlanta, GA
July 21 Nokia Live - Grand Prairie, TX
July 22 Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion - Houston, TX
July 24 Municipal Auditorium - San Antonia, TX
July 26 Maricopa Events Center - Phoenix, AZ
July 28 The Pacific Amphitheatre - Costa Mesa, CA
July 29 California Mid State Fair - Paso Robles, CA
July 30 Harvey's Outdoor Arena - Lake Tahoe, NV
For more information contact All About Jazz.
