Ursus Minor / Brother Ali
Ursus Minor and Brother Ali performed together for the first time during Minnesota sur Seine 2005. The collaboration was a natural extension of the band's maxim - "to enter into the 21st century with an approach anchored in current world issues and boosted by the lessons of the past."
Ursus Minor was born from keyboardist Tony Hymas' will to put together a group with French sax player François Corneloup and Philly guitarist Jef Lee Johnson. The group soon brought drummer Stokley Williams of Mint Condition into the mix. This phenomenal lineup offers Hymas the space to express his sense of composition - as remarkable in jazz, classical or pop - as well as his qualities as an instant composer. "Deep soul rapper" Brother Ali, whose art is grounded in a strong musicality and flexibility, finds within Ursus Minor a new spontaneity and warmth; together, these five generate an energy that is as exciting for the musicians as for the audience, as those fortunate enough to catch last year's performance at the Triple Rock Social Club can testify. This evening's performances promises an astounding mix where improvisation, deep groove, rap and singing come altogether, on equal footing, in a balance between body and heart, dance and emotion.