Paul Anka’s debut hit single ‘Diana’ catapulted him immediately into the Hall of Fame in 1957 at the tender age of 16, making him the youngest millionaire in the history of music. The hits that followed: ‘Lonely Boy’ and ‘Put Your Head On My Shoulder’ made the Canadian singer with Lebanese roots the most successful entertainer since Elvis. Ever since he started composing for other musicians, Anka has been one of the most successful musicians of all times. Buddy Holly’s ‘It Doesn’t Matter Anymore’ and Tom Jones’ ‘She’s a Lady’ were both written by Anka. He also wrote the lyrics for Frank Sinatra’s ‘My Way’ and Michael Bublé is his protégé. He has released over 120 albums and sold over 100 million records. These days, Paul Anka is known as the last great crooner, seasoned after years of singing in the big casinos of Las Vegas. When he translates his own as well as cover songs into elegant swing and gives his charm free reign on the stage, Anka glorifies the purest, most beautiful form of entertainment. Joined by his Big Band he presents his programme ‘Rock Swings’ including famous rock classics in Swing versions at AVO SESSION Basel.
Sharon Corr plays Avo Session
Sharon Corr has the same deep understanding of elegant entertainment, but she remains loyal to her homeland and her own history. Her homeland is Ireland, through and through. Her history is her siblings, The Corrs. After touring 15 years with the Corrs, Sharon decided to take an indefinite break. She gave birth to two children and made her comeback in 2010 with her solo debut. It’s beautiful music with heart and soul as Sharon steps out of the background and into the forefront to play first fiddle. She has great joy in giving traditional Irish songs a new twist but also exploring the depth of cover songs like ‘Smalltown Boy’ by Bronski Beat. Now she is ready for the Hall of Fame.
Keb’ Mo’ plays Avo Session
The Blues singer Keb’ Mo’, who is actually named Kevin Moore, grew up in California, but now he lives in New Orleans. During the quest to find his own kind of music, he discovered archaic blues pioneer Robert Johnson, who became one of his most important sources of inspiration. The refined simplicity of his guitar playing, his freedom in form and the stories that Johnson told his listeners influenced Keb’ Mo’ deeply. The difference is that Robert Johnson, who would have celebrated his 100th birthday in May 2011, was paid in food and whiskey back in his days. These days, Keb’ Mo’ is rewarded with Grammys for his work. At AVO SESSION, Keb’ Mo’ plays his best known hits as well as songs from his new album ‘The Reflection’. He is joined by Jeff Paris, Keyboards, Guitar, Mandolin, Les Falconer, Drums, Vail Johnson, Bass, Kevin So, Keyboards and Michael B. Hicks, Organ.
Aaron Neville plays Avo Session
A bear of a man, his high voice with its remarkable vibrato contrasts greatly with his appearance. The sounds of the South flow through his music, along with Cajun and Creole music, soul, gospel and even jazz, it forms the basis of his art, which is always carried by deep emotion. At AVO SESSION, Aaron Neville performs with Charles Neville, saxophone, Michael Goods, keyboards, David Johnson, bass/vocals, Makuni Fakuda, guitar and Earl Smith, drums/vocals.
Lizz Wright plays Avo Session
A hundred years ago, when the thing we call jazz was spawned, this new genre soaked up everything that made a sound: the blues of the South, gospel songs, ragtime, European, Caribbean and Creole music. Jazz was and is a musical furnace and what has emerged from it has defined pop music since the beginning: It’s all about jazz! Like many other African American girls, Lizz Wright grew up as the daughter of a preacher, singing in the church choir, taking piano lessons and realizing that there was more to music than gospel. At the age of 22, she was discovered in a contest and now almost ten years later and with four albums and countless concerts behind her, she is completely at home with herself, singing simple songs, trusting in her voice alone, calmly delivering her message, a message is always about a deep sense of humanity. At AVO SESSION, Lizz Wright performs songs from her album ‘Fellowship’. Look forward to world music in the very best sense and in the end: It’s all about jazz!
Richard Bona & Raul Midón play Avo Session
As a small child, he often cried for no reason, Richard Bona says, until he was given a balafon that he could play. Since then, Richard Bona’s music and his stage performance is a synonym for good times. Bona grew up in Africa, before moving to Germany at the age of 22 and later to France. There, the young bassist was immediately part of the scene. But Bona has only been truly at home since he moved to New York. There he met his brother in spirit, Raul Midón. They are the perfect pair, two brilliant singers and instrumentalists who bring the African, Latin American, European and North American worlds together. World music at its best – a feast for the senses!
Daniela Mercury plays Avo Session
Many Brazilian musicians are from Salvador de Bahia in the Northeast, Brazil’s most African city, where slaves from West Africa still landed in the 19th century. Daniela Mercury was born there in 1965. She learned to dance and sing at the same time that she learned how to walk. When she was around 20, she finished her apprenticeship with Gilberto Gil and released her first album in 1991, which became a surprise hit. Since then, she has added a dozen CDs to the list and became a star also outside of Brazil.
Carlinhos Brown plays Avo Session
One particular scene in concerts with Brazilian singers never ceases to surprise European audiences: Someone starts the first verse of a song on stage, then holds out the microphone to the audience and ten thousand people finish the verse without a single mistake in the lyrics as they dance in perfect rhythm to the song. That is MPB: Música Popular Brasileira is pop music in the literal sense of the word, it’s the music of the people. MPB is part of the Brazilian national identity, just like football. Carlinhos Brown’s African roots are obvious and on the stage he likes to emphasize the fact by wearing tribal headdress. He uses the name Brown in honour of his brother in the US, civil rights leader H. Rap Brown and singer James Brown. It’s going to be a hot night at AVO SESSION. Whoever wants to have a true MPB concert experience, should start learning Carlinhos’ songs by heart … .
Katie Melua plays Avo Session
Accomplished singer-songwriter Katie Melua makes her second appearance at the AVO SESSION festival. She presents her new, mysterious and profound album «Secret Symphony». Like the rain of gold and platinum with her earlier albums, this album has been at the top of the charts for many weeks. It shows that even superstars have hard times, like Katie Melua with her burnout. Her art was making this crisis into a source of creativity by turning it into new songs. This great music dynamic speaks for the quality of her new works. She mixes pop, jazz and folk intuitively and adeptly, her songs are heartfelt, natural and unpretentious. Pop and poetry don’t get any closer than this – as you will see at this evening at AVO SESSION Basel.
Khaled plays Avo Session
«Raï» is a folk music form in Algeria. The word means opinion or view, a pointed message to the world. Khaled experienced the danger of spreading that message when the Islamists took over the country in 1986. He was forced to flee at the age of just 26. Khaled continued to develop his music in France. He became a superstar and an important symbol in his homeland, although he was forbidden to perform there. Khaled wants to entertain and to be popular. He says what he thinks and he plays raï the way he wants to, electronically, but also with traditional instruments, western and yet still Maghrebian, in different languages, but most of all with a message that is loud and clear.