Chicago Afrobeat Project performs in Batavia

The Fermilab Art Series presents the Chicago Afrobeat Project at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 18, at Fermilab in Batavia.

Afrobeat cannot stand still. As the genre's tempting sounds continue a revival across the globe, Chicago Afrobeat Project remains true to its original vision of breathing the intensity of Chicago's rich music scene into the infectious sounds of afrobeat.

Afrobeat's range of influences — funk, rock, jazz, Afro-Cuban, high life and juju music — settle into a hypnotic, dance-compelling pulse at the core of CAbP. The individual players, coming from diverse backgrounds, each hold their own as soloists that ultimately characterize the live shows. Melodic and hard-hitting horn lines create a lyrical flow to the music, delivered by a cutting, driven rhythm section. Complex call-and-response percussion songs are dispersed throughout the performances.

The group currently performs across the country with notable festival dates including Bele Chere Music Festival, Wakarusa Music Festival, Chicago World Music Festival, Vassar College Jazz Festival, Chicago's Summer Dance Series, and High Sierra Music Festival.

The band was nominated as Best African Artist in the Chicago Music Awards in 2004 and 2005, and was nominated for the CMA's “Award of Honor for Contribution to World Beat Music” in 2006. As a natural extension of the group's ability to connect diverse musical styles through afrobeat, CAbP has featured such notable Chicago guest musicians as Howard Levy of Bela Fleck fame, Fareed Haque of Garaj Mahal, and seven-time Grammy-winner Paul Wertico.

Tickets are $15 and $8 for ages 18 and younger. Visitchicagoafrobeatproject.com. For more information or for reservations, call (630) 840-ARTS weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Ramsey Auditorium is in Wilson Hall, the central building of Fermilab visible from the lab entrance from the west on Kirk Road at Pine Street. For more information, visit fnal.gov/culture.