African music quartet featuring two musicians from Africa. Siama Matuzungidi from Zaire and Yusuf Shalita from Uganda.

Book Karibuni

Music of the Arabic World. Featuring Tarik Ibrahim from Egypt and Khalil Lulu from Palistine.

Book Maqam

All original work

Poetry & Jazz

Ancestor Energy’s mantra is the juxtaposition of the amorous, enigmatic Poetry of Louis Alemayehu and the prodigious, procuratorial, riveting jazz compositions of Carei Thomas.

These two elements, Poetry & Jazz, fuse in an amorphous conglomeration of often pointilistic melodies and provocative stories of the Human Compassion to survive amongst the Universal upheavals of Life & Death; Oppression & Survival, Loving beyond the desire of Ego and Power.

Ancestor Energy is an offering to Humanity and a reflection of our planet’s consciousness. The audience will experience the poetic beauty of Grandmother, Heartsong for my Father, Africans in the Snow, Seeds of War and We are the River; to name a few. The players include Carei Thomas-Keys, David Wright III-Reeds, Gary Schulte-Violin and Mick LaBriola-Percussion.

The experience of Ancestor Energy can transform and challenge the Human Spirit back home to it’s essence of Humanity and the feeling of the Universal Love of our true Nature; HEALING.

“The Creator Has a Master Plan” Mick LaBriola

“Ancestor Energy. Dynamics is the operative word here….Ancestor Energy offers a fairly unique amalgam of bristling post-Coltrane jazz, taut social commentary, potent poetics, striking melodies, and freewheeling yet insistent rhythms. Few groups have combined verse and jazz music with more art and less artificiality. Ancestor Energy joins a very short list of underground heroes, including the Last Poets, Jayne Cortez, Archie Shepp and the AACM’s Shadow Vignettes big band. Louis Alemayehu writes stirring, machete sharp poems, and he really can emote – Alemayehu is that rarity among men, a great reader. Carei Thomas and the rest of the accompanying musicians match the funky poet’s fire with scripted and spur-of-the-moment improvisation sparks of their own. And the whole is definitely greater that the sum of it’s parts. Ancestor Energy is truly an experience, a no-drugs-necessary head trip.” -Tom Surowicz, Twin Cities Jazz journalist

The Maroons are a musical trio that plays the popular music of the English-speaking Caribbean Islands, including calypso and reggae.

The Maroons get their name from the African slaves who were “marooned” when the slave ships ran aground the Caribbean islands. They have earned lavish praise from schools throughout Minnesota for their colorful and informative presentations.

Book the Maroons

This dynamic trio were created to provide a musical alternative to the home grown, agriculturally provocative, party-down atmosphere of the Minnesota State Fair back in 1996.By blending familiar musical genres of each player; Marcus-Guitar (from Chicago/Muddy Waters/Howling Wolf/Ipso Facto), Art Haynes-Bass (from Lincoln/Marvin Gaye/Bobby Blu Bland/R Factor) and Mick LaBriola-Percussion (from Chicago/Big Twist and the Mellow Fellows/Maroons/Ed Volker from the Radiators); MOJO ROOTS formulated a enticing aura of exuberance and boogie down jams.

Voices of Sepharad celebrates the rich multicultural world of Sephardic music, dance and storytelling.

Active since 1986, Voices of Sepharad has performed to critical acclaim throughout North America and Europe. Voices of Sepharad is based in the Twin Cities, Minnesota.

“Sophisticated, poignant, exquisitely crafted, the arts of the Sephardic Jews as exemplified by Voices of Sepharad are at once historic, pertinent, ethnic, and worldly.” -Performance Twin Cities

New Orleans Mardi Gras, Blues, R&B and Jazz music. With horn section. 7 Piece.

Founded in 2002 by Tom Zosel, John Eric Thiede and Paul Lagos, the BKJs are a tribute to the great New Orleans rhythm and blues sounds of the 50′s and 60′s.

Visit the Beau Koo Jacks on MySpace.

Arabic, Persian, Armenian, South American, Jazz, Celtic, Central African, Bulgarian, East Indian music etc.

Instrumental Trio. Violin, Percussion, Guitar, Oud, Saz etc.

Jam Reggae originals by Tony Miller.

5 piece.

Visit the Zion Tribe website.