FolkBlog

Ashley Maher, one of my favorite world folk fusion artists has the opportunity to record in Senegal.   Here’s the scoop from Ashley: 

Dear Friends, Fans, and Family!!!!

 

I HAVE NEWS TO SHARE!

WHAT?  I am raising money to record my 5th CD in Dakar, Senegal in September with key musicians of Africa’s biggest star and my All Time Musical Hero: 

Youssou NDour!

WHEN?    September 2 – 16.  I’ve already bought the plane tickets for my Cameroonian producer, Andre Manga, and I!! We will record at Dogo Studios with Jimi Mbaye, Habib Faye, and a host of other top Senegalese mbalax musicians.

WHY?   This is a unique opportunity for the convergence of multiple incredible talents to record a musically historic and successful album. We’ll be making history! Westerners recording with West African musicians have mostly tuned in to Malian blues (Ry Cooder, Bonnie Raitt, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Taj Mahal, Toubab Krewe) but few have tapped into that magic middle ground between Western music and Senegalese mbalax

, since Youssou Ndour sang on Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes” in the ’80′s.

Most of you know that I have looooong collaborated with West African musicians and that my music and stage shows are grounded in Senegalese dance and rhythm, both of which I have studied passionately for over ten years.  The time is Now!

In 2007, Senegal’s Youssou NDour recorded a song i co-wrote (Boul Bayekou). This was one of the great honors of my professional life.  Then, last April, Youssou flew me to Dakar to rehearse (as a dancer) with his seven Senegalese dancers for two weeks before performing in two enormous shows: first in Dakar and then before 20,000 at Paris’ Bercy Arena.  While it was a mind-bending experience, it also deepened my ties with Youssou’s musicians.  Simply put, they are free this September and enthusiastic about recording with me … it is an opportunity I’ve GOT to take!

This development is a big surprise. By last February, having raised the money to record CD #5 in Los Angeles, I began working on it with Andre Manga.  I never imagined this chance to record in Dakar with Youssou’s musicians would arise.  Now, we have more-than-an-album’s-worth of excellent new material, backing tracks ready to go, a downpayment made on Dogo Studios, and our ’round trip tickets to Dakar in hand.  However, the cost of recording will add a minimum of $15,000 to our current budget.  So

….

HOW?     HERE’S WHERE YOU COME IN!
Although income for artists from both labels and sales has diminished, our hunger for Art remains constant.  Independent artists are fundraising like never before to keep music alive.  It is the most direct and effective model in use today.

And so my friends, here is how you can support this exciting project:

 

$5 – $45     a very sincere email of thanks and I will keep you posted on The Story of how the CD develops from Dakar onwards

!

$45 - 

a copy of CD #5

$50     a signed

CD  : ) !!

$75     a signed CD and a T-shirt  (please tell me your adult size

)

$100 

   a signed CD, T-Shirt, and free entrance to my CD release party

$250 

signed CD, T-Shirt, free entrance to our CD release party,
          and a “Silver Angel” credit on the CD liner notes

$500 

  signed CD, T-Shirt, free entrance to CD release party,
          and a “Golden Angel” credit on the CD liner notes

$750 

 signed CD, T-shirt, free entrance to CD release party,
          and a “Platinum Angel” credit on the CD liner notes

$1000 

signed CD, T-Shirt, free entrance to CD release party,
                 and a “Diamond Angel” credit on the CD liner notes

$5000+ 

   signed CD, T-shirt, free entrance to CD release party,
               “Executive Producer” credit on the CD liner notes and I will fall down
               and weep and kiss your feet whenever I see you for all eternity.

NOTES: 

Any and all contributions welcome!!
Questions?  Ideas?  Suggestions?  Email me!  ashmaher5@aol.com

Payment is by check or via PayPal.   (Shipping and handling are included.)

Please include full mailing address, and T-shirt size (if applicable),

BY MAIL: 

(please make check payable to “Ashley Maher”)
Ashley Maher
1425 6th Street  #405
Santa Monica
California  90401
USA

PAYPAL: https://www.paypal.com/ 
please email donation to: ashmaher5@aol.com

 

Love, bottomless gratitude, and countless blessings!
Ashley