Zap Mama brings ‘Eclectic Flash world beat to The Ridgefield Playhouse on Friday, January 9

Known to her fans as Zap Mama, Marie Daulne redefines the term "vocalist". She is more than just a singer. She alternates between storytelling and organic creative expression utilizing the tonality of the human voice. Since first bursting onto the scene almost 20 years ago, the Belgian-Congolese diva has wowed audiences around the world with her unique sound, which seamlessly blends African, American, and European cultural influences and effortlessly mixes genres such as R&B, hip-hop, and jazz with indigenous and tribal sounds. Zap Mama will bring her amazing ‘Eclectic Flash show to The Ridgefield Playhouse on Friday, January 9, at 8 p.m. This show will expand the musical horizons for everyone who appreciates live performance. Palm Bay International will host a tasting of wines/spirits in the lobby at 7 p.m. Bistro 7 (Ethan Allen Highway, Wilton) is offering a free appetizer or glass of house wine with dinner the night of the show when tickets/stubs are presented. This show is part of the Palm Bay International World Beat Series with media sponsor 90.7fm WFUV.

Zap Mama's seven album-deep catalog represents her mastery of what African griots recognize as the seventh sense: the ability to heal through music. In addition to her musical endeavors, Daule has worked with humanitarian aid organizations Doctors Without Borders, Amnesty International, CARE and the United Nations. 

Zap Mama is the music act of Belgian artist Marie Dalne who sings polyphonic and Afro-Pop music. It’s a harmonic music with a mixture of infused African vocal techniques, Urban and Hip-Hop with an emphasis on voice. The worldwide success of Zap Mama, and an ensemble of female polyphonic singers, inspired influences in American Hip Hop, Nu-Soul, Jazz and elements of Pop. Polyphony is a texture consisting of two or more simultaneous lines of independent melody, as opposed to music with just one voice, called monophony.

Zap Mama says, "The voice is an instrument itself. It's the original instrument…The most soulful instrument, the human voice. Singing songs in French and English with African World Music Roots.”

For tickets ($38), call the box office at 203-438-5795. The Ridgefield Playhouse is a not-for-profit performing arts center located at 80 East Ridge, parallel to Main Street, Ridgefield, CT; ridgefieldplayhouse.org.