Album Notes

“Sadness & Beauty in the Black City”

(Tristeza e Beleza na Cidade Negra) is a musical portrait of Rasheed Ali's three month stay in Salvador da Bahia, Brasil in the fall of 2003.
The Caribbean musician received an Artist-in-Residency Grant from the Sacatar Foundation that allowed him to compose and record this haunting musical work in Brasil.
As Rasheed explains: "This was a very special & rare artistic opportunity for me to actually compose and record a project in another country."

Located in the northeast of Brasil, Salvador is a city that is rich in history & culture. Outside of Africa, it is the city with the largest population of people of African descent. That explains why many Brazilians refer to this treasure trove of African culture as the Black City (Cidade Negra).

On this CD, Ali continues his quest to unite the voices of the African Diaspora. With the unique surdo rhythms of the Blocos Afros providing a sensual foundation, Rasheed delivers his passionate message in Portuguese and English.
"Tristeza e Beleza na Cidade Negra" is a work that is dense and organic. It is music that resonates.