Afro Soul by Black Heritage

Still in contact with friends such as Miriam Makeba, Salif Keita or Manu Dibango pursues her own style of cultural fusion already identified by her as "Ethno-Techno-Pan- African sphere" in the '80's, using her gifts in the complementary areas of writing, composing, painting and singing.

Long term collaboration with German electronic composer and arranger, Reinhard Katemann, and master drummers like Ekow Alabi Savage and Nii Amah Gomez brought then a fantastic synthesis she called "Heavy-Wood-Music", on the market.

In the meantime she formed the "Black Heritage Orchestra" working with US Jazzman Mike Russell, telling the story of black music in music ( from Ethnic-African music through Blues, Afro-beat, Salsa, Gospel, Reggae, Jazz, Funk and Rap). With the help of Berliner Senat KERA then wrote and produced the musical play "Odeylo" from the repertoire of the "Black Heritage": the story of "Mama Africa".

Part of the soundtrack of this very successful musical was released on CD (feat.late Eddy Harris) which stayed one year long in the world music charts( between place 8 & 9 of 110 releases).

The Black Heritage Orchestra is constantly performing in Europe and abroad( e.g. South Africa ,were KERA did some recordings with Airto Morera and the South African Allstars, or recently in the US).

Today MFA KERA is submitting the very recent recordings of the "Black Heritage" in addition to another project to record companies via the Internet.

MFA KERA recently reformed her own group which is presenting an astonishing flirt of the African music with rock and classical music.

MFA KERA worked also for the publishing company "Klett" by composing songs in French for the use in schools. CD and booklet with songs and play- back: Klett Verlag, Collection Paroles & Musique 3-12-523-114.0

Concert at the prestigious "Kennedy Center" in Washington D.C. - the video is available worldwide via Internet.

Recently Kera made a journey to China and brought back recordings with artists and percussionists from Mongolia.

Fantastic success also in Salvador de Bahia where Kera played at the festival "Femadum" of and with "Olodum". She was also the guest of stars like Carlinhos Brown.

After having performed with Black Heritage for the Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, Kera was also invited to sing for the President of the Fereral Republic of Germany Johannes Rau.

Kera composes, writes, produces, paints and also teaches making workshops worldwide.

Reinhard Katemann was born in Germany in 1953. From 10 onwards he studied classical piano, horn, trombone and the tuba, eventually being asked to lead the school chorus. Between 1962/72 he was apprenticed as a piano tuner. Alongside his formal training he was regularly playing in bands. Living in Berlin from 1978, he developed the twin skills of sound programming and composing, achieving commercial success in selling sounds for the Yamaha synthesizers such as DX-7 and FB-01. In 1984 he developed new micro-tuning scales and sold them on cartridges for DX-7. Meanwhile he was perfecting his career as a composer, arranger and keyboard player. His interests in African music dates from an early age and it was inevitable that he should meet up with MFA KERA when she came to Berlin in 1988. Since then they have collaborated as the creative heart of the MFA KERA Ensemble. Reinhard also worked from the beginning as the arranger of the Black Heritage Orchestra. Despite all these commitments he has found the time to build a digital studio!

Mike Russell was born in1952 in Washington D.C. and began studying classical and Flamenco guitar at an early age. His professional career started in the 60's with soul and blues bands. Song writing and composing was an early interest and this creative side resulted in some studio work with Columbia Records as guitarist and composer. The year 1970 was his first record release as composer and the title "Black Woman" was recorded by Grammy nominated Gloria Taylor and culminated in a US tour. The year 1972 saw his own Jazz-Rock group "Water Forest" perform Andy Warhol at the Kennedy Center in Washington. Since moving to Berlin in 1989 he has performed with Eddy Harris, Billy Bang and many others. He formed the Black Heritage Orchestra with singer MFA KERA and released the CD in 1995 which reached the Top 10 European world music charts. He also has created his own Jazz-Soul-Funk sound with very talented Frank Oehlke, Conrad Orlowski and Darryl Taylor, who make up the Mike Russell band. He performed on German TV, Guinness Festival, South Africa, Greece and America.

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