Denver Public Library: Music From The Sole
The Denver Public Library recommends these library resources to enhance your theater experience.
READ
Afro-Atlantic Histories edited by Adriano Pedrosa and Tomás Toledo
Published in conjunction with an exhibition of the same name co-organized by Museu de Arte de São Paulo,Afro-Atlantic Histories brings together a selection of more than 400 works and documents by more than 200 artists from the 16th to the 21st centuries that express and analyze the ebbs and flows between Africa, the Americas, the Caribbean, and Europe. Of special note, the plural and polyphonic quality of "histórias" is interesting; unlike the English "histories," the word in Portuguese carries a double meaning that encompasses both fiction and nonfiction, personal, political, economic, and cultural, as well as mythological narratives.
WATCH
Tap World: American rhythm. A global story, dir. Dean Hargrove (2015)
This documentary explores the evolution and diverse reach of tap dance across the world. The film showcases over 115 up-and-coming dancers from over a dozen countries, including Japan, Brazil, Australia, South Africa, India, and France. Tap World is a great watch for anyone interested in learning more about the current state of the artform throughout the globe as well as the cultural impact and history of Tap.
LISTEN
Like in Music from the Sole, multiple influences intertwine to showcase Brazilian jazz that reclaims African roots. This compilation offers jazz funk, orchestras, and smooth jazz-rap from both old school musicians and younger players.
Outstanding by Timba MM
This Canadian-Cuban group loves to take traditional Cuban music and mix it with other world genres, creating a contemporary sound infused with jazz, samba, flamenco and world music while incorporating African origins with grooves, melodies and chants.
DOWNLOAD
The Black Roots of Salsa: The Emancipation of Cuban Rumba, dir. Christian Liebich (2016)
Get fascinated on this journey into Cuban culture, full of dance and music. The documentary unwinds the complexity of many traditional and cultural movements in Cuba, as well as the deeply rooted approach to the life of the descendants of historically deported African slaves as expressed in the Cuban 'Rumba'. The traditions are carried on through the generations, and it is shown how they evolve and how they are conserved. Stream it on Kanopy, free to all Denver residents with your library card.