Shishani
(by Christa)
One of our beautiful joint trips led us on September 16, 2017 to ……… the barn LindenCult, where an unusual concert took place.
Already the atmosphere in the barn with the comfortable chairs, a sofa, the bar and all the props has made me expectable.
The band “Shishani-Namibia Tales” has 4 members, who have already traveled all over the world, recorded the most varied music styles and joined as a band in Amsterdam in 2015.
Shishani, who gave the group its name, is deeply rooted in her home country Namibia, which is clearly heard in her songs, that she accompanies with the guitar. A delicate, intimate and then powerful voice, flexible and expressive, also in her movements, which she showed in a dance.
Just as tender, almost shy-behaved, the young Debby with an unusual instrument, a bowl in which a marimba is hidden, an African Mriba. I was tense on the instrument next to her, and when she reached for it, she conjured up harp-like sounds, a Kora. Her quiet, subtle style and calm song have touched me.
Completely different the percussionist Sjahm. He masters the music and the rhythms with his various instruments and impresses by drama and expressiveness – a master who knows how to draw countless stops and who is incredibly present.
A little out-of-the-way – outside the cellist, who in the beginning could only be heard very quietly. He held his instrument in his arm, as if they had grown together, and the sounds seemed to come from his body. His introverted nature fascinated me and I immediately heard that he came from a classical school.
This mixture of classical elements, traditional African music and jazz, the always strange rhythms and changing moods were a deep experience and not only impressed me. The applause made that clear. An audience of all ages, that also could clap the sometimes difficult rhythms.
An evening, a music and an atmosphere like I love them. Such adventures are what joins Michael and me in a deep way.