Sunset Concerts Series Kicks Off at Skirball

Maria de Barros performed music inspired by her native Cape Verde Thursday evening as the Skirball Cultural Center kicked off its 15th annual Sunset Concerts series in the museum’s outdoor courtyard.

The concert series is part of the Skirball’s mission to build a community that embraces every cultural and ethnic identity, according to Jordan Peimer, director of programs.

“Here at the Skirball, we are all about making connections and building bridges between communities, so with the blend of world music that we provide over the summer, we’re very careful about representing a variety of sounds and cultures,” Peimer said.

In addition to great music, the concerts offer an incredible venue and state-of-the-art sound quality, he said.

“The courtyard is just so beautiful, and when the sun starts going down behind the mountains it’s just spectacular,” Peimer said. “Yet despite being in a courtyard, the sound quality is excellent. We’re a concert venue all year round, so you get to hear these groups under the best conditions possible.”

The concert series continues for the next five consecutive Thursdays, free of charge. Curated by Skirball Music Director Yatrika Shah-Rais, this year’s concerts feature an eclectic line-up of artists representing music from around the globe.

Following de Barros will be the West Coast premiere of Red Baraat on July 28; Yemen Blues on Aug. 4; Nuriya on Aug. 11, Thomas Mapfumo and The Blacks Unlimited on Aug. 18; and Jorge Villarreal (“Mr. Vallenato”) on Aug. 25.

North Indian drum player Sunny Jain founded Red Baraat in celebration of sounds he remembers from childhood trips to his parents’ native India, along with the rock and Caribbean rhythms he grew up loving. 

“Red Baraat is probably my personal favorite, because they’re just very raucous and fun. There’s lots of drumming and brass bands, which comes from the Indian brass band tradition, but it’s a very young version,” Peimer said. “So that’s going to be really fun and maybe a little crazy.”

Founded by Yemenite Israeli vocalist Ravid Kahalani and arranger/bassist Omer Avital, the nine-member Yemen Blues will play a mix of traditional Yemenite Jewish melodies, American blues, jazz, funk and West and North African grooves.

“Yemen Blues provides a really interesting combination of Yemenite music mixed with funk and desert blues,” Peimer said. “They are probably the hottest new act in Jewish sound. They’ve only been around about 18 months, but there’s already quite a buzz surrounding them.”

Nuriya combines sizzling Spanish vocals with rumba flamenco, Afro-Cuban drumming, Arabic melodies, Gypsy brass and rhythms from the Middle East and the Caribbean.

Widely revered in his homeland as the “Lion of Zimbabwe,” Thomas Mapfumo will bring the protest music he invented known as “Chimurenga,” which means “revolutionary struggle” in Shona, to the Skirball.

The concert series will conclude with Jorge Villarreal, the renowned Mexican American accordion virtuoso who will bring to the stage his lifelong and deep love for Columbian folk music. This concert will also be an opportunity for people to get up out of their seats and dance, Peimer said.

“That will be a huge dance event, because he plays really, really beautiful Latin dance sounds,” he said.

Each concert attracts a large number of people from the particular culture that is being represented, Peimer said.

“People bring flags and they really want to represent their country,” he said. “It’s also just a good time to come and hang out with friends, or get to know new people.”

The concerts begin at 8 p.m. and the doors open at 7 p.m. Parking is available for $10 per car. For information, call the museum at (310) 440-4500 or visit www.skirball.org.