Redmond rocks to WOMAD rhythms

WOMAD opened to gray skies and few people yesterday afternoon at Marymoor Park in Redmond, but by twilight only a few pink-tinged clouds were left and the crowd had swelled.

The plan to use big-name stars to boost attendance at this three-day international world-music festival apparently is working. Meshell Ndegeocello, the talented, bracing young American R&B singer, drew a large crowd to the main stage, although her raw, sexy show would have been better suited to late night than sundown, when a lot of kids were still present.

Ndegeocello noted that African music, which makes up most of the festival, is a lot different than African-American music. "We're here to bring you the 3/4 beat," she said, fronting her band on electric keyboards.

Meanwhile, over at the Village Stage, Tama, of Mali, played sweet, danceable Afro-Pop. The seven-piece band played electric and traditional instruments and a variety of drums. But the authentic-sounding marimba actually came from the electric keyboard.

Now in its third year at Marymoor, WOMAD USA is hoping to surpass the attendance of the previous two years, with a goal this year of 30,000. Bonnie Raitt, playing on the main stage tomorrow, should be the biggest-drawing star.

Another inducement to attract bigger crowds this year was the addition of on-site camping. That too, seems to be working: By yesterday, it was sold out.

Among the other acts playing the main stage yesterday was Ismael Isaac from the Ivory Coast. Backed by an eight-piece group, including two lively female singers in green and gold robes, the singer-guitarist sang in English and French, reflecting a variety of Western and African influences.

While Isaac and his group played, Afro-beat superstar Femi Kuti of Nigeria was interviewed not far away at the Under a Tree workshop stage by Jon Kertzer, an expert on African music who also is a top official at the Experience Music Project.

Kuti spoke about his father, the late Fela Anikulapa-Kuti, who became the Bob Dylan of Nigeria when his music raised political awareness about various military dictatorships of the country.

Among other performers yesterday were Jimmy Little, an aboriginal Australian pop singer who sang such American country songs as "Folsom Prison Blues" and "Oh, Lonesome Me," and Alejandro Escovedo, who played songs reflecting his Mexican heritage and American upbringing.

At the Drum Grove, the heart of WOMAD, festival-goers could pick from a variety of instruments and join in the communal music-making. Festival-goers also flocked to a variety of workshops, including African dancing, and shopped at the Global Market.

Various incarnations of WOMAD have been playing in cities around the world since 1982, but Redmond is the only place it has played in America. Local producers are hoping for bigger crowds to ensure the festival will stay here.

WOMAD, One Reel and the King County Park System are committed to the festival through 2002.

------------------------------------------------------------

Today at WOMAD

Huun-Huur Tu (Tuva), 2:45 p.m. today Big Top; 3 p.m. tomorrow, Village Stage; workshop 5:30 p.m. today, Under A Tree. Popularly called the Throat Singers of Tuva; their music is based on vocal harmonics which require singers to produce two and sometimes three tones simultaneously.

Mickey Hart Band (U.S.), 5:30 p.m., Mainstage - The drummer from the Grateful Dead has plunged into world-music percussion.

Paula Cole (U.S.), 7:30 p.m., Mainstage; 4:15 p.m. Sunday, Big Top - Grammy-award winning singer of "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?" has been dabbling in R&B styles.

Wendo Kolosoy (Congo), 7:45 p.m. today and 1:30 p.m. tomorrow, Troubadour Stage - Antoine "Papa" Wendo Kolosoy is, at 75, the father of Congolese Rumba. His songs, sung in French, may remind listeners of Mexican and South American styles.

Jimmy Little (Australia), 8 p.m., Big Top - Australia's first aboriginal pop star, he's influenced by mellow American country singers like Jim Reeves and Marty Robbins.

Ali Farka Toure (Mali), 9:30 p.m., Mainstage. If you ever doubted that American blues arose from African soil, one listen to this mesmerizing guitarist/vocalist from Mali will shred your skepticism.

Note: Barbara Luna's performance Sunday has been canceled.

WOMAD runs 11 a.m.-11 p.m. today, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. tomorrow at Marymoor Park, 6049 W. Lake Sammamish Parkway N.E., Redmond. Information: 206-281-8111 or www.womadusa.org. Tickets: $35 single-day adult available at the gate, Ticketmaster outlets, 206-628-0888, ticketmaster.com or participating Starbucks stores.