WOMAD 2009: Justin Adams and Juldeh Camara Trio

WOMAD 2009 Featured Artist: Justin Adams and Juldeh Camara Trio (UK)

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Justin Adams is one of today’s most creative and interesting guitarists and composers and has been referred to as the Ry Cooder of the United Kingdom. He has an unmatched knowledge of both blues and African styles which he has been developing for 20 years.

He’ll be joined on stage by the Gambian griot Juldeh Camara who is a virtuoso on the Ritti - a one stringed fiddle that traditionally was used to enliven ancient spirits. Their recent album envisages a modern world where ancient spirits are not extinguished by red tape and computers but enlivened by the crackle of rock ‘n’ roll electricity.

Justin first collaborated with Robert Plant (ex Led Zeppelin) on Robert’s 2002's Grammy-nominated "Dreamland "album. He co-wrote Plant’s "Mighty Rearranger" album, which was released in 2005 to rave reviews, and has played guitar with Plant’s band the Strange Sensation around the world, gaining an awesome live reputation.

Justin is also a renowned producer. His work with Saharan desert blues sensations Tinariwen, whose debut and third albums he produced, the Strange Sensations, and collaborations with Brian Eno, Jah Wobble, LO’JO , Sinead O’Connor and Natacha Atlas as well as musicians from African, Arabic and Irish traditions have created his unique style.

He has composed numerous feature film soundtracks, and was instrumental in setting up the legendary Festival of the Desert held each January in Mali.

In the past few years he has been joined by Juldeh Camara a Gambian griot and master musician. Juldeh’s blind father received the gift of music from forest spirits who took the use of his eyes in return. Playing the Ritti he participated as a griot in traditional Fula society. Juldeh was recorded by Bill Laswell for a CD of traditional Gambian music and it was this CD which Justin Adams had been listening to for years when he received a call from Juldeh.

Juldeh has an unusually keen and open ear, and he in turn had heard Justin's “Desert Road” CD and appreciated the way in which ancient trance-like rhythms had been given a modern vitality, not tidied up and shrink-wrapped but left true to their essential spirit.

Their live shows also feature Adams' long time percussionist Salah Dawson Miller, who has played with an extraordinary array of artists including Phillip Glass, The Drifters, Dr. John, 3 Mustaphas 3 and Jah Wobble, and who studied in Algeria, Morocco, Cuba and Brazil.

At WOMAD, Justin will perform with the Trio and also be the Musical Director for Sunday night’s All-Star Gala.

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