A cappella stars from South Africa
Well into its sixth decade, Ladysmith Black Mambazo continues to cultivate new fans, the younger the better. While Americans discovered the South African vocal ensemble via its collaboration with Paul Simon on his 1986 album “Graceland,” the group had long been recognized as a leading force in the luxuriantly layered Zulu vocal tradition known as isicathamiya. Founded by Joseph Shabalala in 1960, the family ensemble continues under the leadership of his son Thamsanqa Shabalala and seems poised to add to its forest of laurels. Both of the group’s 2017 albums are up for Grammy Awards next month, with “Shaka Zulu Revisited” nominated for best world music album and “Songs of Peace & Love for Kids & Parents Around the World” competing for best children’s album against East Bay favorites The Alphabet Rockers’ “Rise Shine #Woke.”
The vocal group is back in the Bay Area for a string of shows.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Friday at Green Music Center, Sonoma; $25-$50; 866-955-6040, gmc.sonoma.edu. 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday at Freight & Salvage, Berkeley; $52-$56; 510-644-2020, www.thefreight.org. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Rio Theatre, Santa Cruz; $35-$55; 831-427-2227, www.kuumbwajazz.org.
Lewis Black is good at getting angry.
And he can also be pretty funny when he’s angry. That’s been one of his trademarks during his lengthy career in show business. So, it was entirely appropriate when Black was chosen to voice the character of Anger in the 2015 animated Pixar film “Inside Out.” He was pretty much perfect for the role.
He’s also appeared in such films as “Accepted,” “Man of the Year” and “Unaccompanied Minors” as well as such TV series as “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and “The Big Bang Theory.” And many remember Black for his appearances on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.”
You can witness his harrumphing humor when Black performs Friday at Zellerbach Auditorium at UC Berkeley.
Details: 8 p.m.; $39.50-$65; www.ticketmaster.com.