Black, Asian, Irish band to play on campus

Tomorrow marks a "harmonic" convergence of the nations. A band consisting of a Chinese vocalist who sings in Chinese, several black members influenced by jazz, several other Asians and an Irish-American drummer is coming to the University. No, the band is not trying out for a spot at next year's freshman diversity seminars. Fred Ho and the Afro-Asian Music Ensemble are coming to the Annenberg School Theater to spread their message of diversity in a concert entitled "Turn Pain into Power." Ho, a graduate of Harvard University, said his band's "American multicultural music" reflects jazz and non-Western influences. "My music is new American multicultural music because it brings together a wide range of musical heritages, particularly non-European ones, to America," Ho said. "I think our music is a product of a vision of a new America without racism or white supremacy." Ho, a self-taught musician, said his music covers a wide range of social issues including abortion rights, multiculturalism and issues of personal and social empowerment. He said he looks forward to performing at the University because he enjoys playing for students. "I am always eager to perform for students because I think students are very receptive to cutting edge ideas," Ho said. "They have not been absorbed into conformity." Ellen Somekawa, a graduate student and organizer of the event, said she worked to bring the Afro-Asian Music Ensemble to the University to help combat the growing racial conflicts between blacks and Asians. "In Philadelphia and in other big cities there is a lot of tension and conflict between African-Americans and Asian-Americans," Somekawa said. "This group represents one possible way people can respond to what is going on." She added that the group helps blacks and Asians to appreciate their differences and promotes dialogue between the two races. Although Somekawa does not think racial problems between blacks and Asians is a large problem at the University, she said it is a problem in West Philadelphia. She added that she has been encouraging teachers from local high schools to bring their students to the performance. Tickets are $3 and are on sale at the Annenberg Center Box Office. The performance, which is sponsored by the Greenfield Intercultural Center, starts at 8 p.m.

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