Renowned American singer and actor Charles Williams and global percussionist and composer Tom Teasley performed in a concert hosted by the US Consulate last week featuring songs from their new album “Word-Beat: The Soul Dances.” The songs include the inspirational texts of authors such as Langston Hughes and Martin Luther King Jr. as well as African folk songs. The two artists put on a fantastic show at the Jeddah Literary Club in Jeddah Tuesday, as the timeless world rhythms evoked by Teasley's masterful blend of ethnic percussion and cutting-edge electronics underscored the traditional verses delivered by Williams. The duo achieved a beautiful marriage of ancient melody and future sounds from Africa, the West and some borrowed oriental beats. In an interview after the event, Williams told Saudi Gazette that all their performances are traditionally accompanied by inventive percussive rhythms and melodies. “We performed songs from our new album ‘Word-Beat' that included enthralling performances called ‘The Soul Dance', which is an interpretation of folk music,” he said. Teasley added that the album draws heavily on various African proverbs and traditional African-American beliefs. “‘Word-Beat' delivers ancient wisdom wrapped in powerfully percussive grooves and uplifting melodies,” he remarked. As their second album ‘Word-Beat' “offers a triumphant celebration of the human spirit in both song and verse”, according to Williams. “Teasley's coloristic approach to the drum set and a variety of hand percussion instruments from around the world, together with my baritone makes for a joyful combination that stirs deep emotions,” he added. While citing praise for some Arab singers, Williams spoke at length about the renowned late Egyptian singer Umm Kalthoum. “When I was listening to one of her songs, I was overwhelmed by the feelings that she could convey through her melodious performances. I was in tears while I listened to her, even though I couldn't understand the lyrics. Music is a universal language,” he said. Teasley added that he would like to perform with traditional Hijazi musicians in the Kingdom. “I like Eastern and Arab melodies and scales,” he remarked. “I am familiar with their style as I have visited a few Arab countries and performed with local musicians there.” The duo has performed in Bahrain recently and have also recently. The musical and literary duo's first CD: “Poetry, Prose, Percussion and Song,” interpreted the words of Langston Hughes and James Weldon Johnson with spiritual texts from the Deep South and additional narratives that sought to explore the rich depths of the heart. Williams has performed in theaters, opera houses, and for radio and television shows in Munich, Berlin, Hamburg, Zurich and Vienna. Teasley, who has been described by Washington Post as “a percussionist in the widest and most exuberant sense of the world”, is also a widely recognized recording artist.
