By Carol Cooper – The Village Voice
Dada and surrealism have a historic rivalry, especially when it comes to their approaches to politicized art. But despite philosophical turf wars, they accomplished more together than apart, especially once Afro-Caribbean “Negritude” emerged as the missing link needed to make sense of Dada nonsense and constructively embody surrealist dreams. Consider New York City’s high-concept Dada dance combos Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band (formed in 1974) and, subsequently, Kid Creole & the Coconuts (born in 1979): Both used music and musical theater to liberate their fans, transforming every stage into the Cabaret Voltaire with a Pan-African backbeat. [Read More]