The second edition brings together acts from all over to blend with local artists for eight evenings of musical exchange.
Kalmunity knows all about growing organically. Describing itself as “Canada’s largest and longest-running black arts and improv collective,” the Montreal groove crew has become an institution of the city’s music scene over the past 16 years, building its credibility one jam session at a time.
Kalmunity currently holds two weekly residencies: Sunday nights at Mile End jazz hub Resonance Café, and Tuesdays at Petit Campus. Therein, the band throws down a free-styling mix of soul, funk, hip-hop, reggae, afrobeat and beyond, while a rotating roster of guest singers and MCs step up to the microphone.
Drummer Jahsun at a Kalmunity funk-soul-hip-hop-reggae jam session in 2018.
Kalmunity has appeared regularly at the Montreal International Jazz Festival but last year the brain trust decided to up the ante, creating its own first annual Kalmunity Music Week, bringing together black artists from all over to blend with its local members for eight evenings of musical exchange.
“We decided it’s necessary for us to keep expanding and reaching out to people internationally whose work we respect and appreciate,” said Kalmunity founder and resident drummer Jahsun. “That’s what Kalmunity has always been about — bringing together people from different genres and walks of life.”
Dancer and choreographer Travis Knights
Things kick off Sunday at 8:30 p.m. at Resonance Café with Unspoken Words, a night of spoken-word poetry headlined by Toronto’s Dwayne Morgan, Motion and Eddy David, alongside Ottawa’s Nth Digri and Montrealers Blurva and Eddy Da Original One.
“Poetry has been a big element of what Kalmunity is about from the beginning,” Jahsun said. “We always make space for it, so it’s good to highlight that.”
Things start early on Monday evening with an “urban art expo” beginning at 5 p.m. at Bar Salon Rafaelle, and a performance by Montreal tap dance phenom Travis Knights, among others, and beats by Shem G and the Black Speculative Art Movement.
Philadelphia soul singer-poet-rapper Maimouna Youssef aka Mumu Fresh has collaborated with the Roots, Common and Malik Yusef, and appeared in Dave Chappelle’s Block Party. Of Choctaw, Creek, Cherokee and African American heritage, she brings her voracious approach to music to Petit Campus on Tuesday at 8 p.m.
“That was a link through (Kalmunity singer-rapper) Meryem Saci,” Jahsun said. “She’s good friends with her, and spoke to her about what we were doing, and (Youssef) was down with that. It’s really powerful to see that a lot of artists elsewhere respect what we’re doing.
“The landscape is not like the states here. The black community here is smaller and more scattered. We’re trying to bring the stuff we love to an audience that is willing to hear it.”
Wednesday night is devoted to Afro fusion with a mix of artists crafting their own takes on African music, including Spek Won, Seydina, Magdala and Jjanice.
“It’s music from continental Africa and also the diaspora — Caribbean music, compa, zouk, reggae, anything that is in fusion with these things,” Jahsun said. “Everyone has their own original style, coming from these traditions while adding their own voice to it.”
Veteran Philadelphia house music singer Lady Alma has appeared on tracks by 4Hero and King Britt. She’s sure to get things shaking on Wednesday at 8 p.m. at Petit Campus.
“It’s a big honour to have her come through,” Jahsun said. “We like people who are foundational. She is like a piece of history. Singers like Erykah Badu and Jill Scott give her props for being a mama teacher.
“This will be a funky dance party, about letting go of everything and expelling the demons; house music and deep soul are a good way to do that.”
Though Jahsun and fellow Kalmunity Music Week organizer Preach Ankobia were disappointed when rapper Bahamadia cancelled her appearance at Kalmunity Music Week, they are happy to have landed fellow ’90s underground MCs Smif N Wessun to take her spot, Friday at Petit Campus.
“It’s going to be good to have those veterans in the building,” Jahsun said.
Saturday is reggae night as Jamaica’s Micah Shemaiah and Asadenaki Wailer (son of Bunny Wailer) perform.
“These guys are real roots artists that go back to that ’70s sound,” Jahsun said. “Micah is one of the foundational cats in the roots movement happening in Jamaica. And Asedanaki is a cool brother who loves what we’re doing.”
Things wrap up on Sunday, May 5, with Toronto drummer Larnell Lewis, known for his work with Brooklyn fusion jazz act Snarky Puppy, who will be joined by blues bassist Rich Brown. Avant-garde sax player Ras Moshe will also perform.
“Jazz is such a strange word,” Jahsun said, in describing Lewis’s sound. “I say creative music. He’s one of the people trying to push boundaries.”
Much like Kalmunity, which continues to broaden its horizons and its community, on stage and off.
“Kalmunity Music Week is basically a way to expand our platform as we continue to explore black music in a creative fashion,” Jahsun said. “There’s so much beautiful talent here in this city. We just want to keep going, and keep growing by extending our reach and creating bigger opportunities.”
AT A GLANCE
Kalmunity Music Week runs from Sunday, April 28 to Sunday, May 5. Ticket cost $10 to $30 per event, or $150 to $200 for an all-access pass. For more information, visit kalmunity.com
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