Paul Simon's Graceland
The London African Gospel Choir was co-founded by Crystal Kassi to help London’s African community to promote the gospel, create a platform of excellence for African gospel singers and musicians, and popularise the African interpretations of gospel music. Today they announce a full UK tour performing their powerful twist on the classic Paul Simon album Graceland in full live on stage.
The London African Gospel Choir have received extremely positive testimony from not only the public but also internationally renowned artists including Annie Lennox of Eurythmics and Paul Simon himself.
As well as performing with artists such as Emeli Sandé and Mumford and Sons, the group tour their own exceptional rendition of the iconic Paul Simon’s Graceland across the UK and most recently selling out shows on the East Coast of the States where they made a powerful impact on the public.
"What makes us different is that we all come from different countries in the African Diaspora," she explains. "We have people from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Kenya, Zaire, Ivory Coast, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Uganda and the Congo... We all come from different churches as well. The common denominator is our faith, although we welcome everybody." Said Kassi.” You could say that this is a perpetuation of Paul Simon’s Graceland legacy, the way it has brought African nations together through culture.”
What also sets them apart is their repertoire - a dazzling reflection of the choir's diverse membership and that includes secular songs with a positive message. It's the meaning of the words that counts and Paul Simon's Graceland - acclaimed as "one of the most iconic records in rock and roll history" on its release in 1986 - is a perfect fit with its uplifting lyrics and South African rhythms and melodies. They are releasing their long awaited first CD in August 2019.
On this huge UK Tour the London African Gospel Choir should feel right at home on stage with their joyous singing and dancing, and their unforgettable arrangements of Paul Simon hits such as The Boy In The Bubble, Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes and You Can Call Me Al.
The richness & harmony of the Choir’s rhythmic, evocative & empowering voices have created an overwhelming musical event, for anyone lucky enough to experience this special performance.
After coming across a bootleg cassette of South African township music in the early 80s, Paul Simon was totally smitten by the infectious & irresistible rhythms. He travelled to Johannesburg, spending two weeks there, recording with the absolute cream of South African musicians.
That epic session, went on to form the basis of Simon’s most commercially successful album ever – Graceland. The record became a true global phenomenon, winning Grammys in both 1987 & 88, shifting 5 million copies Stateside & then another 2.5 million copies in the UK alone. The Graceland album spawned the hit singles, ‘Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes’, ‘The Boy in the Bubble’ & it’s biggest smash – ‘You Can Call Me Al.’
Try as you might, you simply cannot get a ticket to see this uplifting & amazing show in London. Every venue that puts tickets on sale, sells out in an instant. In just one month, all the six Jazz Cafe shows presented in the capital hit capacity, and received rave reviews from those attending.
