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2010 Wild Wednesdays!

MASANGA MARIMBA ENSEMBLE

Masanga Marimba Ensemble plays traditional and popular music from Latin America and Africa. The instruments used in this ensemble consist of seven Zimbabwean marimbas of various sizes along with vocals, drums, percussion, saxophone, and trumpet. The word “Masanga” comes from an African word that means the coming together of rivers or roads representing the meeting of African, Latin, and American traditions in this group.

Masanga Marimba Ensemble formed in the year 2000 and has performed at the Hollywood Bowl, Grand Performances, Skirball Cultural Center, Madrid Theater, and the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre. The ensemble also played for the inauguration of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and was honored to be selected to perform for the World Festival of Sacred Music. The group is led by Dr. Ric Alviso, a Cal State Northridge ethnomusicologist, professor of World Music, and the director of the CSUN African Music Ensemble. Professor Alviso studied traditional African music in Senegal and Zimbabwe for two years.

Now in its 16th year, Wild Wednesdays! free noon concert series is presented in Torino Festival Plaza at Torrance Cultural Arts Center. Along with a diverse line up of professional musicians, the event features a variety of fresh food vendors on site.

This is a program of the Cultural Services Division of the Torrance Community Services Department presented in co-sponsorship with Torrance CitiCABLE, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, Office of Supervisor Don Knabe, and The Daily Breeze

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