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10/14 Sunday

3:00 PM Steve Thomas & the Co-Conspirators

Steve Thomas (vocals, songs)
Rich Greenblatt (vibraphone)
David Vermette (electric bass)
Gary Fieldman (drums)

Steve and the Co-Conspirators will be playing original jazz songs from their
CD, SPIRITS PASSING THROUGH, plus some new songs and arrangements of tunes
by Wayne Shorter and Steve Lacy. Our songs are influenced by Brazilian
music, New Orleans second line, reggae, funk, and occasional old blues guys,
but we're a jazz band. Improvising, group interaction, swing, building up a
head of steam -- these are important to us as musicians and as a band. Our
mighty bass player, John Funkhouser, can't make the Lily Pad gig, so
electric bassist David Vermette will be pinch-hitting. Visit
www.stevethomasjazz.com.

7:00 PM Bridges Between The West and West Africa - Ashley Maher and Balla Tounkara

7pm Ashley Maher
8:30 Balla Tounkara

ASHLEY MAHER is an original — a singer-composer-bandleader who lives in the industrial West yet is truly at home with African and other world music traditions. Her highly individual and infectious brand of world/folk/jazz has gained her an international following, four acclaimed albums, and performances with several major African icons. Ashley has opened for Salif Keita, Baaba Maal, Vusi Mahlasela, Zap Mama, and Dobet Gnahore. Youssou N'Dour recently released a song she co-wrote (Boul Bayekou) as track #1 on his new CD, Alsaama Day. She also just completed her own fourth CD, Flying Over Bridges, produced by Cameroon’s Andre Manga. Ashley appears at Lily Pad w/ guitarist Francis Jacob, for this special night of beautiful songs and world grooves.

www.ashleymaher.com
www.myspace.com/ashleymaher

BALLA TOUNKARA
BALLA TOUNKARA, artist / singer / master kora master, was born into one of the Mali's most prestigious griot families. He studied the kora with his grandfathers, master kora player Batouroue Sekou Kouyate and Samakou Tounkara. Balla's deep devotion to Manding music and his mastery of the kora were further expanded by his interest in Western music. Since moving to the USA in 1996, he has collaborated with jazz, funk, rock, hip-hop, R & B, Latin, and reggae musicians while maintain his connection with his Malian roots. Balla's group, Groupe Spirit, as performed regularly in Boston and New York, with forays across the border into Canada. The perform a spicy, eclectic blend of African, Latin, funk, and blues that can electrify any audience.
http://www.myspace.com/ballatounkara