Ticket available
ACROSS THE OCEAN
Wednesday, 25 June – 9:00 PM
Teatro Odeion, Giovinazzo
Live stream on Viewcy World Music Platform
This evening we are taken on a journey from rhythms and melodies deeply rooted in Africa flowing across the ocean and developing many branches of Brazilian music (for example Lundu, Jongo, Modinha, Maxixe, Samba, Bossa Nova. As we move in space and time, more musicicians join in and at the end you will experience the full force of modern Afro Brazilian music with firm roots that make it strong vibrant and unique.
The evening opens with master kora player Jali Babou Saho, from the Griot tribe in Gambia. His songs start from way back, before any colonisers set foot i West Africa.
Mirla and Marcel will take us over the ocean and share music that was born in the encounter between African slaves, indigenous South American people and the Portugese.
Moving forward to modern times, we discover how much influence this merging music has spread over the globe. These beats and melodies are everywhere in modern music.
So now it is time for Sandra Bakabamba, guitar legend Coste Apetrea to get moving and being joined by Mirla, Babou and the full band to create a pulsating heart that will make it hard for you to sit still.
JALI BABOU SAHO - GAMBIA
Carrier of Centuries of Tradition
Babou Jali comes from a long line of Griot musicians. He sings and plays the kora - a 21string harp - like instrument that has been performed for over 700 years by the Mande people and Griots (Jali).
The knowledge of how to build and play the kora has been passed down orally through Griot families across generations.
Babou is deeply rooted in this tradition, while also collaborating with leading Italian musicians, bringing his sound and soul into modern music.
MIRLA RIOMAR - BRASIL
Brazilian Singer & Cultural Ambassador
Born in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, Mirla Riomar hails from a community with deep Afro Brazilian roots. Immersed in music from an early age, she began performing at just 12 years old at the prestigious Teatro Castro Alves with Projeto Aruanda.
Over the years, Mirla has collaborated with influential Afro-Brazilian artists such as Letieres Leite, Margareth Menezes, and the legendary bloco afro Ilê Aiyê. After moving to Barcelona in 2016, she co-founded the group Ganzà with guitarist Marcel Vallès before launching her solo project. Her 2022 album Afrobrasileira blends traditional Bahian rhythms with jazz and soul, earning international acclaim and coverage in magazines like Songlines.
MARCEL VALLÈS PERPINYÀ - ESPANIA
Guitarist Between Cultures
A versatile Catalan guitarist, Marcel Vallès started out in rock and blues before immersing himself in Brazilian music.
His travels and collaborations across Latin America - especially Brazil - helped shape his unique musical voice. He studied under Brazilian guitar master Wanderson Lopez and performed with artists such as Bruno Venturim and Diego Farson. Marcel blends classical and electric guitar, merging tradition and innovation. Now based in Barcelona, he continues to explore the intersections of Spanish and Brazilian musical traditions.
BABOU JALI
SANDRA BAKABAMBA - UGANDA
Voice of Afro-Fusion
Sandra Bakabamba is a dynamic singer-songwriter with deep roots in her Ugandan heritage and Swedish upbringing.
Her music fuses traditional African rhythms with modern influences, creating a sound that is both soulful and fresh.
She brings powerful energy to every stage and project she joins.
with:
COSTE APETREA - SWEDEN
Pioneer of Progressive Rock & Jazz Fusion
Coste Apetrea gained fame in the 1970s as the guitarist for the legendary Swedish progressive rock group Samla Mammas Manna. In 2002, the band welcomed Japanese drummer Tatsuya Yoshida (of Ruins) into its lineup.
Coste also worked extensively with Finnish guitar virtuoso Jukka Tolonen between 1977 and 2003 — producing six albums, including two acoustic duo recordings. Another key collaboration was with Swedish pianist Stefan Nilsson, with whom he recorded three albums he considers among his finest work. Coste is renowned for his genre-crossing style and continues to be an active musician and producer, bridging rock, jazz, and global fusion.
PHEEL BALLIANA - ITALY
Giovinazzese & Global Citizen
A founding member of 101 Flames of Inspiration, Pheel Balliana moves between Giovinazzo, Rio de Janeiro, Natal, and Lisbon.
He is a singer, composer, and bandleader with a deep commitment to musical connection and collaboration.
His sound is rooted in place but speaks globally.
DIMA LISENKO - LATVIA
The "walk to talk" hero
He sold his bass to dive into saving the planet both metaphorically and literally as he also became a diver.
Everywhere there is a need for action. He is a walking encyclopaedia of what individuals can do to make a difference.
By “walking the talk” he is an outstanding example and also a brilliant musican and communicator. Be Brave to Act!
JOHANNES KUCHTA - GERMANY
Between science and global music
He is a true contemporary Renaissance man: neurosurgeon by profession, composer and music producer by passion.
In the 101 Flames of Inspiration project, Johannes played a central role as co-producer, arranger, lyricist, and vocalist on three key tracks. He is a founding member of Voyager IV, a German progressive rock and space jazz band acclaimed for its album Pictures at an Exhibition, and founder of the independent label Phonosphere, a meeting place for musicians from around the world.
With one foot in science and the other in art, Johannes combines rigor and creativity in a unique path that enriches every project he participates in-including the global art family of 101.
PETER D - SWEDEN
Born with the guitar in his hands
With a Stratocaster in his hands, Peter has explored rock and pop genres since the 70s — often alongside his "musical twin" Eric Forsmark, founder of 101 Flames of Inspiration.
In 2010, they formed NowLab, also featuring Alex Grasso. Peter laid down the earliest tracks that evolved into 90 minutes of world fusion now known as 101 Flames of Inspiration.
He doesn’t show - he listens, complements, and shapes the sonic landscape. A true asset when the music dares to go somewhere new.
Ticket available
