CD Review - Playing for Change Live

About the CD

For the next chapter of Playing For Change’s improbable journey, founder and architect Mark Johnson assembled a band with musicians from around the globe, many of whom appeared in the now ubiquitous "Stand By Me" video (which has been viewed on the internet more than 30 million times). What started as a simple concept to virtually bring musicians from different cultures together via technology for the common purpose of promoting peace through music, resulted in a bonafide cultural phenomenon; but no one was quite sure what would happen when they all gathered for the first time for a special performance at Austin’s SXSW music conference in 2009.  Sure, the Playing For Change story had captured imaginations around the world and their inspiring mix of togetherness, positivity and sterling musicianship had undeniably created a movement and surprised the music industry. But what would happen when they were actually on tour together? Could the Playing For Change idea live and breathe in the here and now?

The result was astonishing. After sold-out shows, critical acclaim and the smiles of thousands of new fans, the questions have been answered. On June 15^th, Playing For Change Records/Concord Music Group will release Playing For Change Live – a special two-disc CD/DVD containing a ten-song audio CD and a fourteen-track DVD, documenting the Playing For Change Band’s triumphant 2009 world-tour.

On Playing For Change Live, the PFC band is captured all over the world including riveting performances from the U.K.’s Glastonbury Festival, Vancouver, Madrid, Los Angeles and the Santa Monica Pier where the project’s extraordinary journey began.  The band’s incredible energy and brilliant musicianship is evident on Bob Marley’s “One Love,” a medley of 4 Non Blondes’ and Bobby McFerrin’s ‘What’s Up”/“Don’t Worry Be Happy”, the 1959 American R&B gem “Fannie Mae (with Keb’ Mo!) and original band compositions like Titi Tsira’s “Fela ngaye” and Louis Mhlanga’s “Children Of The World” just to name a few.  Guest appearances also include reggae legends, Toots Hibbert on the Otis Redding classic “I’ve Got Dreams To Remember” and Ziggy Marley on his own “Love Is My Religion.”

The DVD also contains the 90-minute film “On The Road With the PFC Band” chronicling the band’s improbable story of strength, support and harmony.  The video log’s remarkable backstage, behind-the-scenes, performance and interview footage includes personal insights and inspiring moments from touring members: percussionist Mohammed Alidu (Northern Ghana), vocalist Clarence Bekker (Amsterdam), drummer Peter Bunetta (Los Angeles), vocals/harmonica Grandpa Elliott (New Orleans), vocals/percussionist Mermans Kenkosenki (Kinshasa, DR Congo), guitarist Louis Mhlanga (Zimbabwe), bassist Reggie McBride (Detroit), guitarist Jason Tamba (Kinshasa, DR Congo), vocalists Tal Ben-Ari “Tula” (Israel), Titi Tsira (Gugulethu, African township in the Western Cape) and PFC founder Mark Johnson.  Along the way, we get to know the musicians and discover the emotional stories of perseverance and hope that enabled them to take part in this globally celebrated effort.

With its stirring call for reconciliation and cross-cultural unification, the global music collaboration/multi-media project; Playing For Change has struck a deep and powerful chord worldwide.  Founder, filmmaker, and Grammy winning producer Mark Johnson was looking for musicians for his film, Peace Through Music when he captured a mesmerizing performance of the Ben E. King classic “Stand By Me” by legendary street singer, Roger Ridley in Santa Monica. Mark then took the show on the road. In New Orleans, he put headphones on beloved local street performer, Grandpa Elliott, who harmonized with Ridley’s soulful rendition of the song and he was on his way.  Using innovative mobile technology and traveling the world, he filmed and recorded more than 100 musicians, largely outdoors, in parks, plazas and promenades, in doorways, on cobblestone streets and amid hilly pueblos.  Each performance created a new mix in which the artists are all performing together, albeit hundreds or thousands of miles apart.

In April of 2009, Hear Music/Concord Music Group released the CD/DVD Playing For Change – Songs Around The World and shocked the music world when it debuted in Billboard’s Top 10. The accompanying documentary Playing For Change – Peace Through Music, was broadcast nationwide by PBS that summer.

Recording musicians in some of the poorest parts of the world also inspired PFC to establish the Playing For Change Foundation, which offers resources – including facilities, technology, musical instruments and education – to musicians and their communities. Currently, PFCF has constructed and opened two schools in South Africa and Ghana, as well as programs that we are developing and/or operating in Mali, Nepal, Rwanda, and Jamaica.

For more information on Playing For Change visit, www.playingforchange.org, www.playingforchange.com and www.concordmusicgroup.com

CD

1. Fannie Mae 

2. Don’t Worry 

3. Back To Your Roots 

4. I’ve Got Dreams To Remember – featuring Toots Hibbert

5. Fela Ngaye 

6. Children of the World 

7. Love Is My Religion – featuring Ziggy Marley 

8. Mado 

9. One Love 

10. Stand By Me

DVD

1. Fannie Mae

2. Don’t Worry

3. Back To Your Roots 

4. I’ve Got Dreams To Remember – featuring Toots Hibbert 

5. Fela Ngaye 

6. Sugar Sweet 

7. Children of the World 

8. Love Is My Religion – featuring Ziggy Marley 

9. Mado 

10. What’s Up/Don’t Worry Be Happy 

11. One Love 

12. End Credits/Stand By Me 

Bonus Tracks

1. Amazing Grace 

2. Imidiwan Afrik Temdam 

The Film

“On The Road With the PFC Band”

Directed by Mark Johnson, Kevin Krupitzer and Jonathan Walls

Produced by Mark Johnson, Raan Williams, Joel Goulder and Jeremy Goulder

Executive Producers: Norman Lear and Whitney Kroenke

Associate Producers: Dave Bacon, Greg Johnson, Enzo Buono, Ant Rich

Music Produced and Edited by Mark Johnson and Enzo Buono

Stereo Music Mixed by Greg Morgenstein and Mark Johnson at Enormous Studios, Los Angeles, CA

Video Editing: Jonathan Walls and Kevin Krupitzer

My Take on the CD
I had found out about Playing for Change earlier this year when I reviewed one of the other CD's from the project and I was happy to see this collaborative effort that was now out there! I have to say that when I put it into the CD player I was a bit blown away by the sound of the music itself.

The music was superb, and I was entranced by the raw music that was shared by all of these artists. Simply playing this makes you want to take part in the live concert and watching the video content just takes you there. I know for me this will be one that I will play again and again.

If you would like to have this as a part of your own collection you can find it on Amazon!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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