Monday's mp3: On World Music Awards

The BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music have been a great source of inspiration and musical discovery for many not only in the UK, but around the world. Since 2002, the awards have highlighted global musicians from different corners of the world, and have given a special nod to world music "newcomers" such as Ba Cissoko, Yasmin Levy, Amr Diab, Chango Spasiuk, and Amparanoia.

For reasons we haven't yet heard fully articulated, the BBC has decided to drop the awards. Ian Anderson, editor of fRoots magazine, is trying to keep the balls in the air by stepping up the stature of the fRoots Critics Poll Album Of The Year this year, with an eye toward developing a replacement awards ceremony later.

I'd like to point out that despite the financial meltdown, SoundRoots and partner radio show Spin The Globe continue to keep producing their own world music awards, which have also been taking place since 2002. Granted, we generally don't manage to get the musicians to come play for us the hits from their award-winning albums. But we hope you'll find the awards a confirmation of your own good taste, a starting point for discussion about the relative merit of various global releases, or simply a launching pad for your own exploration of the world's music. You can find the past winners at Spin The Globe's reviews page -- just click the year near the top of the page.

In that spirit and a spirit of compassion for the people of Zimbabwe, who seem to be undergoing wave after wave of bad news and worse leadership, I give you 2002 winner Oliver Mtukudzi. His soundtrack to the biographical documentary Shanda is full of the usual great music by Tuku, proof of the indominable nature of the human spirit.

[mp3] Oliver Mtukudzi: Hear Me Lord
from Shanda

Monday's mp3: Chi's Modernized Mbira

CD REVIEW

Chiwoniso: Rebel Woman
Cumbancha

Chiwoniso is a woman poised for success. The Zimbabwean singer has just released her third album, but it's far and away her most mature, engaging, appealing work to date. After two sparsely distributed albums (Ancient Voices and Timeless) and contributions to a number of compilations including the delightful Women CARE, Chiwoniso has hooked up with dynamic label Cumbancha for her latest, and also has rounded up a crack team of musicians including guitarist Louis Mhlanga and Oliver Mtukudzi drummer Sam Mataure.

The songs on Rebel Woman feel clearly rooted in Zimbabwean traditional music, partaking heavily of mbira riffs in particular, though all 12 tracks are originals. With the insistent rhythms created by a tight rhythm section of bass, drum kit, and rhythm guitar, this is clearly very modern Zimbabwean music. The touches of Chiwoniso's musical influences can be clearly inferred: Tuku on "Nguva Ye Kufara," Hugh Masekela on "Listen to the Breeze," and elsewhere Stella Chiweshe, Thomas Mapfumo, and others. There might be a bit of Angelique Kidjo in there as well, particularly on the near-Afrobeat drive of "Gomo."

[mp3] Chiwoniso: Gomo
from the CD Rebel Woman

Chiwoniso sings mostly in Shona, though a fair amount of English is also heard on the album. In an exclusive Spin the Globe interview, the singer dismisses critics of this choice, asserting that both languages are part of her identity, particularly since she was born in Olympia, Washington, and spent a good portion of her childhood there. (Her father, the esteemed mbira and marimba teacher-musician Dumisani Maraire, lived in the USA for a number of years, helping to create the culture that now results in the annual Zimfest.)

Deeply spiritual, Chiwoniso champions women's rights and anti-police-violence causes. That her songs include positive messages is just one more argument for Chiwoniso to finally get widespread recognition for her compelling music.

more info:
www.chiwoniso.com
Chiwoniso video interview about censorship
Chiwoniso performing with Kris Kristoffersen (!)

Chiwoniso Meets Bollywood?

Spin The Globe playlist for 26 September 2008

as heard on radio KAOS 89.3 FM, Olympia USA

An hour of Bollywood deliciousness, an interview with Zimbabwean musician Chiwoniso, and even a few new releases. What a show!

Congrats to listener Eric, who won the giveaway for the CD Yo Baba by Funkadesi, and to listener Bob, who won a copy of Chiwoniso's CD Rebel Woman

Artist - Song - Album
hour 1
Udit Narayan - Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani (Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani 2000) - Rough Guide to Bollywood
Sukhwindher Singh, Kavita Krishnamurthy - Main Albeli - Zubeidaa soundtrack (2001)
Nitin Sawhney feat. Reena Bhardwaj & Jayanta Bose - Koyal - Asian Lounge
Labh Jhanjua & Sunidhi Chauhan - Chhuriyaan - Money Hai Toh Honey Hai (2008)
Dick Lee feat Jasintha - Mustapha - The Mad Chinaman
Najma - Piya Tu Ab To Aaja (Caravan, 1971) - Forbidden Kiss
Sonu Nigam & Javed Ali - Nagada Nagada - Jab We Met (2007)
Kronos Quartet feat. Asha Bhosle - Dum Maro Dum / Take Another Toke (Hare Rama, Hare Krishna, 1971) - You’ve Stolen My Heart
Kazi Aniruddha - Piya Tu Ab To Aaja (Caravan, 1971) - Bollywood Steel Guitar
Kunal Ganjawala, Shreya Ghoshal - Masha-Allah - Saawariya soundtrack (2007)
Funkadesi - Makhana - Yo Baba
Bollywood Brass Band - Ek Tu Hi Bharosa - Rahmania
unidentified - In the Garden - Bollywood Breaks Sampler

hour 2
Chiwoniso - Matsotsi - Rebel Woman
Chiwoniso - African Woman - Women CARE
Chiwoniso interview
Chiwoniso - Vanorapa - Rebel Woman
Souad Massi - Ghir Enta - Acoutic Arabia
Watcha Clan - Call of Hagar - Diaspora Hi-Fi
Terne Chave - Amare Chaja / Our Girls - More, Love!

For more Bollywood music and info, especially out of print soundtracks, check out:

• Music from the Third Floor
• Old Classic Hindi Songs
• Parties, Sarees, and Melodies
• Bollywood for the Skeptical

You Need to Know Louis Mhlanga

Louis Mhlanga may be the best South African musician that nobody knows.

Oh, I'm sure this guitarist/composer/arranger/producer is well known in southern Africa. But if his albums have been released at all in the USA (except for recent exposure on Calabash), I'm not aware of it. Fortunately you can take advantage of the Internet to order straight from South Africa. His melodic hooks and stellar guitar playing are worth it, trust me.

A little background: Mhlanga's parents fled apartheid South Africa and he was born and raised in Zimbabwe. But other musicians lured him back to his homeland, which has been so musically rich (not that Zimbabwe isn't, but the conditions there are another story). His music teaching found him in the Netherlands for a year, where he hooked up with an enduring collaborator, the Dutch bassist Eric Van Der Westen.

Mhlanga has played with and produced albums by a stellar array of musicians, including Andy Narell, Habib Koite, Thomas Mapfumo, Hugh Masekela, Busi Mhlongo, King Sunny Ade, Vusi Mahlasela, Oliver Mtukudzi, Orchestra Baobab... It seems silly to list them all. Suffice to say he's a musical extrovert. And he's musically adventurous and his songs range from traditional African to modern jazz, and even a touch of rock in "Kamba Kemaziso," his tribute to Jimi Hendrix's "All Along the Watchtower."

I recently had a chance to ask Mhlanga a few questions:

SoundRoots: How important were your teachers/mentors? Who are/were they?

Louis Mhlanga: I am self taught and come from a musical family. My brothers and sisters would bring other musicians at our home and that inspired me a lot too. I grew up in the late 60's when soul music, underground music, blues were still dominant and I listened a lot to that kind of music from Tamla Motown artists and the rock musicians like Grand Funk Railroad to Tower of Power to name a few, there were lots of them.

SR: What music are you listening to? What are your favorite artists or styles of music?

LM: I listen to all African music that I can get hold of and I love George Benson. Earl Klugh, Dwight Sills and other guitar players out there even Spanish guitar players. I also listen to Segovia the late classical guitar maestro.

SR: Describe your favorite experience(s) collaborating with other musicians.

LM: I have enjoyed working with everyone I came across and the experience I shared is of different quality its like smelling a flower to another flower and appreciating different sweet smells. Also I have learnt a lot from meeting and sharing the music.

SR: What non-musical job would you most like to try?

LM: I always wanted to be a medical doctor but I thought about the time which one has to put up in study then I gave it up.

SR: Do you think it's important for musicians to address social and political issues?

LM: Music shapes the culture of our lives and its the most powerful art which can reach the people with a positive message. Of course all the issues of the world can be addressed quicker through music.

SR: What's the story behind "Kamba Kemaziso," in which you quote "All Along the Watchtower"?

LM: "Kamba Kemaziso" means a house full of eyes literally and it's the watch tower. We were asked to do a song in memory of Hendrix, myself and a bass player from Holland, Eric van der Westen, and we chose this song as a dedication.

Listen:
Download tracks from a live show with Mhlanga and Van Der Westen at the Jazzpower club in the Netherlands (requires a free registration).

Louis Mhlanga Discography:
Louis Mhlanga & Friends: World Traveller (2006, Sheer Sound / Calabash)
Regis Gizavo, Louis Mhlanga & David Mirandon: Stories (2006, Marabi)
Louis Mhlanga: Tinganekwane (2004, Sheer Sound)
Louis Mhlanga & Eric Van Der Westen: Keeping the Dream (2004, EWM)
Louis Mhlanga: Shamwari (2001, Sheer Sound)
Vusi Mahlasela & Louis Mhlanga: Live at the Bass Line (1999, BMG Africa)
Louis Mhlanga & Eric Van Der Westen: Song for Nomsa (2000, BMG Africa)
Musik Ye Afrika [Mhlanga with Jimmy Indi & Iethro Shasha]: Musik Ye Afrika (1997, Upenyu)

More:
www.louismhlanga.com
Cape Town Magazine has an illuminating interview with Mhlanga.


Tags: worldmusic, louis mhlanga, south africa, afropop, afrojazz