Fra Fra Sound

Fra Fra Sound is a multicultural septet from Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Founded in 1980 by artistic director and bassplayer Vincent Henar, Fra Fra Sound has developed into one of the most vivid presenters of Afro-Caribbean crossover music (in the broadest sense of the word). Since the foundation various musicians have been a member of Fra Fra Sound and the band has gone through a number of artistic stages. At first focussing on the exploration of Surinamese kaseko, kawina and winti, soon the... Meer »

Fra Fra Sound is a multicultural septet from Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Founded in 1980 by artistic director and bassplayer Vincent Henar, Fra Fra Sound has developed into one of the most vivid presenters of Afro-Caribbean crossover music (in the broadest sense of the word). Since the foundation various musicians have been a member of Fra Fra Sound and the band has gone through a number of artistic stages. At first focussing on the exploration of Surinamese kaseko, kawina and winti, soon the urge was felt to not limit themselves to only these genres. From the early nineties Fra Fra uses this freedom to explore the extensive relationships between the various music styles having their roots in Africa. Naturally, to Fra Fra not only Caribbean and Latin American music styles belong to the African Diaspora, but also jazz, blues, soul and gospel from the United States. Fra Fra Sound has managed to develop an absolutely individual sound, in which Caribbean and African rhythms and grooves are blended with jazz improvisations in a subtle way. African-Caribbean crossover – that's Fra Fra's music in a nutshell.The name 'Fra Fra' has several meanings: it means a hybrid, but also strange, different, mysterious; the invisible connection. Fra Fra is also the name of a tribe in North-West Ghana: the Fra Fra people. In that sense the band's name reflects the relationship between music, dance, religion and philosophy from the African Diaspora and West Africa. Fra Fra Sound has been travelling around the globe for over twenty years now. Next to being a physical, it has been especially a musical journey.The new album Kultiplex, released April 2003, consists of original compositions by the Fra Fra-members and reflects the inspiring experiences gained from international tours and coalitions with renowned artists from both the jazz and world music scene.The albumtitle Kultiplex refers to this ongoing musical and cultural crossover within the group, that once started with the Surinamese kaseko and expanded to musical countries like Mali, Ghana, South-Africa, La Reunion, the USA, Guatemala, Turkey and Rumania.More information on: www.frafrasound.comFor bookings & information please contact:Samponé Music ProductionsP.O. Box 185911001 WC Amsterdamtel. nr.: 0031 – (0)20 – 6060768fax nr.: 0031 – (0)20 – 6060769e-mail: info@frafrasound.comHomepage: http://www.frafrasound.com « Minder