Is Africa in Zurich? The 15-piece orchestra ROOT DOWN brings together impressions and experiences of African music – more precisely, the melancholy music of homesick South African musicians in exile and the revolutionary protest music of self-conscious rebels. And Root Down combines these experiences (documents of their age) with the unbelievably wide range of individual experiences (musical and otherwise) of the fifteen musicians who have come together to create this unusual orchestra: with music of Fela Kuti, Chris Mc Gregor, Dudu Pukwana or compositions of bandleader Tommy Meier.

Cover art: Tommy Meier, Ornella Groebli
Graphic design: Jonas Schoder
Liner notes: Christian Rentsch
Photos: Francesca Pfeffer

Recorded live between 2004 and 2007. Mix/Editing: Willy Strehler, Tommy Meier, Will-y Klangdach Guntershausen. Mastering: Walter Schmid, Oakland Studios Winterthur. Produced by Tommy Meier and Intakt Records. Executive production: Patrik Landolt