the hum / By Bob Doran

Go Fish

Coming up Tuesday, Oct. 28, at HumBrews is the return of Toubab Krewe, a truly fine band from Asheville, N.C., who jam on traditional North African blues, transmuting it into something totally original and totally awesome. Bring merch money: pre-release copies of the Krewe’s new disc, Live at the Orange Peel, are available exclusively at their shows. For a preview tune in to KHUM that afternoon, they’ll be in the studio with Mike Dronkers at 1 p.m.

Equally jameriffic: McTuff, a band started by Hammond organist Joe Doria as an ode to soul jazz organ greats like Jack McDuff and Jimmy Smith that now includes the inimitable Skerik on sax. They’re at the Red Fox Saturday. Coming up Monday, Oct. 27, at the Fox, a special edition of the Acid Jazz Experiment (No. 26) to celebrate Brian Swizlo‘s birthday. Expect special guests, surprises and “one hell of a party!”

Don’t know much about Toph’s House, the new venue in Benbow, but I imagine it will be full of people Friday night when Bermudan dancehall star Colin Harper, aka Collie Buddz, returns to SoHum with The New Kingston Band. Collie, who played this summer’s Reggae Rising, is what you might call a sound-clash warrior. He explains, “Back when Beenie and Bounty used to war lyrically, seeing clashes wit’ Kilimanjaro an all, the sound-man an’ everyt’ing — the whole music scene for me took on a new meaning. Clash thing an’ lyrical war became a part of my daily life from early out.” DJ Pee-Wee, Rise of the Revolution and DJ Selecta Prime open the show, which, being close to Halloween, is a costume party. I don’t know the size of Toph’s, but I’d say advance tickets are in order.

More reggae? Wednesday, Oct. 29, Sonoma’s studious roots band Groundation returns to the Mateel. The band originally came out of the music program at Sonoma State, where Harrison Stafford taught a course called “History of Reggae Music.” That was 10 years ago; the rootsmen have been around the world a coupla time since, spreading the reggae vibe.

The Arcata Interfaith Gospel Choir holds its annual Harvest Concert Saturday at the Arcata Presbyterian Church, with a special guest set by the worldly a cappella group AkaBella. Note that this is the first Harvest show for new choir director Jaese Lecuyer, who’s been singing with the choir since 1995.

Friday night at HSU’s Fulkerson Recital Hall: A show put together by local percussion guru Eugene Novotney and Marimba One features Polish marimba soloist Katarzyna Mycka playing music composed for the instrument by an international array of composers, including Anna Ignatowicz from Poland.

Folklifer Maia Cheli-Colando interviewed Katarzyna and asked if her music isdistinctly Polish. “Yes,” she replied, “I think there are some specific features that [differentiate] players from different continents, countries. Poland in this case is pretty specific: very patriotic, proud, but also kind of revolutionary. The geographical position of my country is possibly uncomfortable, between two big and strong nations, Russia and Germany, but we’ve never given up the independence.

“For marimba music with Polish feeling, I was looking for somebody who understands the sound and features of marimba, and I’m so happy to have found the person. Her name is Anna Ignatowicz and her compositions definitely sound ‘Polish’ and touch my national soul.” (Find more of Maia’s interview on the Journal Blogthing.)

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