Toumani was born in 1965 in Bamako, Mali into a family of griots. Fame has come not from just his virtuosity – and no one can match Toumani for sheer dexterity -- it is the incredible soulfulness, a lyricism he brought to the music, and has subsequently captured so beautifully on his albums and live performances. Over the past decade he has gradually built up his audience in Mali and abroad. At home he has been one of the most influential musicians, showing the way forward to the new generation. This is the spirit that he brought to the project "Kulanjan", a wonderful, uplifting and deep collaboration with bluesman Taj Mahal, whom he nicknamed "Daddy Kouyate." The Symmetric Orchestra is a pan-African band made up of musicians from across the continent. They perfectly complement Toumani on the kora. Diabaté will be playing at the Concert Hall on Thursday, April 23 at 7:30 P.M. For information on tickets, please call the box office at 545-2511 or 800-999-UMAS, or order online at www.fineartscenter.com.

Trumpet, Taiko drums and Japanese Haiku electrified the 1000 + student audience in the concert hall on April 15 with a fascinating performance about Japanese baseball. Opening with the Star Spangled Banner, America's national anthem, Tiger Okoshi's trumpet soared flawlessly in the high notes while the sound of thundering drums gave the familiar melody and words a new stature. A Salute to Baseball: Japan Style was conceived by Ranjanaa Devi, Director Asian Arts & Culture Program. who brought together the drummers from the New England Odaiko company and trumpet player Tiger Okoshi. With readers Stephen Forrest, UMass Japanese scholar (who provided translations of baseball poems by Masaoka Shiki) and graduate student Yuko Takahashi this unique performance bridged the arts and academics on the campus while extending friendship through learning between Japan and the United States.

"BEYOND THE STEPS" is a documentary about the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, one of America's oldest modern dance companies and most beloved cultural institutions. The film takes an engaging look at a company that is thriving today and moving forward, taking their founder's legacy with them. It follows the dancers to Russia after an absence of nearly 20 years, observes as the company moves into a state-of-the-art custom-built facility on Manhattan's West Side, and is on hand for the creation of a new ballet, Love Stories, choreographed by Jamison, with hip-hop pioneer Rennie Harris and modern dance maverick Robert Battle. "Beyond the Steps" will be shown in Herter 227, on the UMass campus. Admission to the film is free and open to the public.

Join our Orchestra Circle: a growing community of individuals committed to the nurturing and support of classical music at the UMass Fine Arts Center. To find out more about becoming a member and the Orchestra Circle benefits contact the Friends of the Fine Arts Center 413-545-4253 or arobbins@admin.umass.edu

Combining an innovative mix of poetry, music, movement and drama, Universes puts the state of the Union under a microscope-race, poverty, politics, history and government-examining our country through the lens of Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans. "Ameriville" recently premiered at the prestigeous Humana Festival of New American Plays to rave reviews. This past fall, New WORLD Theater hosted a week-long residency for Universes and the director, Chay Yew, to develop this new work. The residency concluded with a sneak-peek preview of the work-in-progress for New WORLD Theater supporters. Universes is an ensemble of writer/musician/performers who fuse poetry, theater, jazz, hip-hop, politics, blues, gospel, and Spanish boleros to create moving, challenging, and entertaining theatrical works. This Bronx-based quartet have created their own brand of high-energy performance, rooted in hip-hop but drawing on a global multitude of lyrical and musical influences and performance styles. "Ameriville" will be presented on Thursday, April 30 and Friday May 1, 2009 at 8:00 pm in the Bowker Auditorium on the UMass campus. Tickets for the general audience are $15; $8 for seniors and low income patrons; $5 for students with valid I.D and can be purchased through the Fine Arts Center Box Office. 1.800.999.UMASS or 413.545.2511. For more information, please call New WORLD Theater at 413.545.1972 or visit us at www.newworldtheater.org.