WILLEMSTAD – Singer and composer Franklin Batta will perform Saturday evening at the Cathedral of Thorns in Willemstad.
The concert is scheduled to begin at 8:00 p.m. Batta will be accompanied by the band Soulvival, which for this performance consists entirely of local musicians.
According to the announcement, the program will feature a mix of music from the 1960s and 1970s combined with influences of soul, jazz and funk, as well as several original compositions.
Batta began his musical career in Curaçao in the 1960s and performed with the band Pearl Ash, which later gained recognition for its fusion of soul, rock and funk influences. In 1972 he moved to the Netherlands, where he further developed his career as a performer and went on to appear in various European cities as well as in the United States and Venezuela.
During Saturday’s concert he will be joined by pianist David “Ronchi” Matthew, keyboardist Chris Wallé, drummer Marlon “Lonte” Conradus, percussionist Ernie Gregorio, guitarist Andrey Pichardo and bassist Herschel Rosario. Violinist Aliya Helmijr will appear as a guest musician.
The performance is part of the cultural program hosted at the Cathedral of Thorns, a well-known artistic venue on the island that regularly stages concerts and other cultural events.