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Bobby McFerrin: Gimme 5

Circlesongs

,Barbican Hall
Bobby McFerrin

Bobby McFerrin performs his spontaneously composed choral piece Circlesongs with members of his group Voicestra, augmented by a 12-piece a cappella choir – and sometimes by the whole audience.

‘I want to bring audiences into the incredible feeling of freedom that I get when I sing,’ says Bobby, ‘I want everyone to leave the theatre and sing in their own kitchens the next morning.’ Through exhilarating vocal vocabulary – call and response, global rhythms, soaring melodies, lush harmonies, funny noises, invented language, silence, prayers, and laughter – Bobby reminds us all of just how much fun it is to be alive.

Ten Grammy Awards and his global hit ‘Don’t Worry, Be Happy’ are impressive, but ‘Bobby McFerrin's greatest gift to his audience may be changing them from spectators into celebrants,’ says the Los Angeles Times, ‘transforming a concert hall into a playground, a village center, a joyous space.

Tagged with: Contemporary music EFG London Jazz Festival Jazz More...

The performance will begin promptly at the advertised start time of 7.30pm

Running time: 90 minutes – no interval

Timings are approximate and subject to change

Part of EFG London Jazz Festival 2018

Produced by the Barbican in association with EFG London Jazz Festival

Discover

artwork of bobby mcferrin's album circle

Listen: Bobby McFerrin's 'Circlesongs'

Listen to McFerrin's album Circlesongs, a recording of eight spontaneous vocal improvisations sung by twelve singers and Bobby himself.

a great photo of kamasi washington playing jazz

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Follow our regularly updated Jazz playlist for a sample of the music you'll hear across our programme. 

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