For 15 years, ¡Globalquerque! has brought the world to Albuquerque.
This year, it’s crossing cultures for a global audience to see.
“I realized very early on that I wasn’t going to do Globalquerque! in the way that we have been accustomed to,” says Tom Frouge, producer. “I couldn’t re-create the experience online, so we had to do something different.”
After months of planning, Frouge is unveiling “¡Globalquerque! Cross-Cultural Crossover” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30. The event will be streamed for free on Facebook, YouTube and Twitch.
Frouge is putting together two amazing female vocalists – one Angolan, one Honduran – with a renowned Iraqi oud virtuoso, a master world-beat drummer and percussionist, a sizzling Brazil-meets-NOLA-meets-NYC horn section, a deadly Latin guitarist/string wizard and a fabuloso New Mexican bassist.
Rahim AlHaj, Nation Beat, Vivalda Ndula and Nohe & Sus Santos will all perform during the one-hour special broadcast.
The four acts have all played ¡Globalquerque! previously.
“I was talking to Nohelia (Sosa), and they released an album in May,” Frouge says. “She was telling me of artists taking their songs and putting a different spin on it during their time in quarantine. I realized what I needed to do is bring past Globalquerque artists together and take one another’s songs to deconstruct them with other members and bringing the cultural influences.”
Frouge sat down with Scot Kettner from Nation Beat to co-produce the audio.
“He really rose to the occasion,” Frouge says. “We had separate meetings, and we chose the songs to perform. It became a really special process.”
Frouge says the mission statement is to promote cross-cultural understanding through the music and arts.
“We’re hoping to give people a break from the screen fatigue,” he says. “This is an event you can cuddle up with your family and watch. Or you can dance and sing along.”
The event will be hosted by National Public Radio’s Catalina Maria Johnson and Albuquerque’s Mel Minter.
Other highlights will include conversations with the artists on the collaborative process and an introduction to the National Hispanic Cultural Center by Executive Director Josefa Gonzalez Mariscal.
