Above and featured: Yulugi performers Keyna Wilkins (flutes,piano), Raph Hatz (yidaki), Robert Waetherall (dance) and Gumaroy Newman (song man, poetry, percussion) performed to an appreciative crowd at Lazybones on Wednesday August 13. Images:Tawfik Elgazzar
This refreshing show was a cultural collaboration in music, spoken word and dance. And just a really rewarding, good time. The Yulugi formula and performers assembled in very successful cultural blend supply an entertainment rich in real history, humanity and common sense that warms the heart as it feeds the ears and head.
The two half-hour or so sets both flowed well, blending cultures as Australia can -and should. traditional Aboriginal instruments, songs and dances (Raph Hatz on yidaki, Gumaroy Newman singing, reciting original poetry and on percussion, plus dancer Robert Waetherall) are highlighted by the atmospheric improvisations from Keyna Wilkins on flute, alto flute and keys.
Above: Dancer Robert Waetherall. Image: Tawfik Elgazzar.
This show- much more layered than simply a music gig had yarns, tributes and comments on family, having more than one family, country, Aboriginal languages, racism, the environment and the current agenda for tolerance, respect, cultural co-operation and co-existence.
And some amazing crossover plus combined soundscapes resulted as the performers from Gamilaroi, Wakka Wakka, Bidgigal, Yuin, Anaiwun and British-Australian backgrounds carved up the Lazybones stage in a meaningful, enjoyable showcase of this solid and new concept.
Above: Yidaki player Raph Hatz. Image: Tawfik Elgazzar.
The event in the hands of these souls on stage referenced animals, nature and a huge bit of human nature. In the current national and global climate, such grass roots demonstration of musical and cultural understanding is welcome. What the world needs now-and Australia has long needed- is a sensible, warm sharing of culture, and when it comes with effective creativity and fine collaboration in performance, all the better.
Vocal sound effects, traditional First Nations instruments, Western Tonal Tradition tweaked so effectively on wind and keyboard sound, were amazing take-home experiences for the crowd.
Song, dance and language teaching as audience participation segments were great inclusions- which showed this group needs to reach a wider audience of all ages from school age up. Raph Hatz virtuosity on the yidaki and sharing of the challenges and versatility that comes with playing it was also a highlight of the night’s sharing.
Above: Gumaroy Newman – song man, prformance poet and prcussionist provided excellent commentary throughout the two sets. Image: Tawfik Elgazzar.
Robert Waetherall’s use of all stage area in dance-narrative various was also an experience not often found. A highlight of the new sound created with Western Classical or Jazz instruments and traditional Aboriginal elements was when the instruments provided a background for the recitation of Gumaroy Newman’s poetry layer above.
Newman’s poetry with no-nonsense messages about people, place and preserving the land is real wake-up call stuff, intricately and consistently rhyming and possessed an infectious rhythm that this engaging emcee, musician, vocalist and philosopher delivered so well.
Above: Keyna Wilkins plyed flutes and keys on the night. Image: Tawfik Elgazzar.
Keyna Wilkins – no stranger to using her performing and compositional gifts for good in fine cultural blends – excelled once more here. A collaborator’s chameleon, Wilkins always delights in any venue with a consistently solid standard, inimitable sound palette plus a musical conscience that keeps building bridges with several cultures, peoples and predicaments in this country and abroad.
Lazybones was a warm and welcoming venue for this event. We hope to see a lot more of Yulugi’s special energy and broad skill set as creatives as well as collaborators across the country and beyond in future.
