SoundRoots World Music & Global Culture

Beata's Tango No. 3

2008-07-23T15:15:00.001-07:00

CD REVIEW

Beata Soderberg & Justango: Bailata (World Village)
buy CD/hear samples

Of all the boats in the world, one I previously had not cruised on is the steamship Swedish Tango. But if this wonderful release is any indication, I've been missing out. This is the third such cruise for Swedish cellist Soderberg and her talented Argentine crew, and these sparkling originals show that even Northern Europeans can have a South American soul.

In a Setting Sun interview, Soderberg explained how she came to tango.

I went to New York to study for my Master of Music degree, I am a classically trained cellist.There I discovered a tango club called La Belle epoque, and I started to hang out there since I love dancing. I got really interested in tango music, both traditional and Piazzolla and other new things, and after a few years I began to write my own tangos for quintet. ... I think my music has elements from tango, jazz and classical, romantic music.

[mp3] Beata Soderberg: Vamos Animales
from the album Bailata

Monday's mp3: China Rising(?)

2008-07-21T19:12:00.001-07:00

Chinese pop music is a vast territory largely unmapped by Western musical cartographers. For proof, check out the brevity of the Wikipedia article on C-pop and its list of Chinese musicians. Even as someone with both feet in the stream of global music, I could name only a handful of Chinese artists, including Wu Man, Dadawa, Mei Han, and Twelve Girls Band. Not to politicize this, but I could name at least as many Tibetan artists. And even more artists from the tiny nation of Tuva.

From what I understand, this may be due to the nature of the Chinese music industry. While Western artists and labels are continuing to fight technological change in the form of blogs, filesharing, and CD priracy, the Chinese apparently have moved on, with artists and labels expecting to make more money from live performances, and less from recordings. Perhaps this explains the relative paucity of Chinese music making across borders to the West. Or perhaps with a domestic market of 1.3 billion, Chinese artists don't feel the pressure to market internationally. Or maybe it's just the Western preference for the more familiar sounds of Latin and African lands.

Still, with the Olympics a mere discus toss away, I'm expecting to hear more Chinese music in the next couple of months. The first wave of that tide may be Sa Dingding.

We've had Eastern pop diva incursions before. Uzbekistan gave us Yulduz Usmanova, and Shiela Chandra's pop-fusion opened many ears to the sounds of India. Both were successful, but more as individuals than as the start of waves of similar artists. From what I hear and see of Sa Dingding, I expect her success may be along those lines. Of course, when dozens of other Chinese pop artists become household words in Seattle and the Chinese musical tsumani is lapping at my knees, I will happily pick up my chopsticks and eat those words.

I was a bit resistent to give her CD a listen at all, not least because it seems to be burdened with an excess of hype (the Asian Bjork! the next Enya!). Sa Dingding is a pop star in Asia, having sold more than two million albums. Her emergence and signing to major label Universal just before the China-hosted Olympics may be a coincidence. Or maybe not. And early promotion seems to be based on her Chineseness and the gorgeous photo shoot that adorns the album's artwork as much as on her remarkable voice.

[mp3] Sa Dingding: Holy Incense (Tibet Version)
from the album Alive

In any case, she's carefully straddling rickety fence between art and politics in a year where China is under intense scrutiny. She reportedly said she supports China's tough policies toward Tibet; she also has a song on this album in Tibetan, and says she promotes Tibetan culture as well as that of the little known Lagu minority in China. And her musical embrace of Buddhism and her heritage (she was born in Inner Mongolia to a Mongolian mother and Chinese father) may make her a less than ideal Communist Party mouthpiece.

Adding to the puzzle is the complete lack of liner notes or song lyrics. Sure, they mention that she's singing in Chinese, Tibetan, a self-created language, or Sancrit (sic), but what's she actually saying in those lushly orchestrated pieces? No idea. Still, the music is engaging, if a bit overproduced (think PBS concert fundraiser) and it'll be interesting to see if Sa Dingding can appeal to a wider audience than, say, the 12 Girls Band.

By the way, keep an eye on the Christian Science Monitor in the next few days for a Sa Dingding article/interview that just might feature quotes from yours truly.

Monday's mp3: What in the World Is Jazz?

2008-07-14T18:16:00.001-07:00

I've been pondering that question this week as I do research for an upcoming radio show on global jazz, or jazzy "world music." Like any evolving genre, jazz can be difficult to define. Like "world music" it's a umbrella that's so huge nearly everything can be found taking shelter beneath it.

So I won't actually answer the question in the title. I'll let someone more qualified do that. Among my favorite "world jazz" artists are a number of Africans: Hugh Masekela, of course, and Richard Bona, Suthukazi Arosi, Gangbe Brass Band, Henri Dikongue, Dorothy Masuka, Abdullah Ibrahim (aka Dollar Brand)...the list seems endless.

One of my favorite African musicians is not commonly described as a jazz musician. Heck, he's not commonly mentioned at all here in the US, despite his tremendous chops and even more stellar compositions. I've written about Louis Mhlanga in a previous post; here he is with Dutch bassist Eric Van Der Westen, on a sublime CD released in 2000. Is it jazz? You decide.

[mp3] Louis Mhlanga & Eric Van Der Westen: Batho
from the album Song for Nomsa (the only source I've seen for this album is here)

More info:
www.louismhlanga.com
www.ewm-music.com

From Niyaz to Nation Beat...

2008-07-11T16:07:00.001-07:00

Playlist for Spin The Globe on KAOS-fm
11 July 2008 - Top 10 World Music albums, July

Our monthly countdown of favorite new releases of global music took us from the Sufi sounds of Niyaz to the Brazilian fusion of Nation Beat in the first hour of the show. The second hour wandered broadly with sounds old and new from Hawaii to Senegal to Japan. Big fun, all around. If you missed it, the archive link is below -- enjoy!

hour 1
10-Niyaz -- Beni Beni -- Nine Heavens
9-Firewater -- Borneo -- The Golden Hour
8-Bajofondo -- El Anden feat. Mala Rodriguez -- Mardulce
7-Emmanuel Jal -- Warchild -- Warchild
6-Chambao -- Papeles Mojados -- Con Otro Aire
5-K’naan -- Soobax -- The Dusty Foot on the Road
4-Grupo Fantasma -- Se Te Mira -- Sonidos Gold
The Angel Brothers and Satnam Singh -- Climb The Wall -- From Punjab to Pit Top
3-Nami Makioka -- Subayado Bushi -- The Rough Guide to the Music of Japan
2-Francois Lindemann & Tewan -- Krai Lad Sam Rueng -- Thai
1-Nation Beat -- Sobe a Poeira -- Legends of the Preacher

hour 2
The Shin -- The Epic Waltz of Mr. QQ -- Many Timer
Rachid Taha -- Rock El Casbah -- Rock El Casbah – Best of
Crazy Fingers -- Surf’s Up (Hawaiian Mix) -- Island Roots Vol. 2
El Hadj N’Diaye -- Fagaru -- Geej
Karim Ziad -- Had Zmen -- Dawi
Yusa -- Tanto de Mi -- Haiku
Shooglenifty -- Nordal Rumba -- Radical Mestizo
Kasai Allstars -- Beyond the 7th Moon -- Kasai Allstars Congotronics 3
Setsubun Bean Unit -- Moon River is a Swamp -- Setsubun Bean Unit
Etran Finatawa -- Kel Tamasheck -- Desert Crossroads
Dobet Gnahore -- Jho Avido -- Na Afriki
Angelique Kidjo -- Batonga -- Keep On Moving
Nikitov -- Vander Ikh Mir Lustig -- Vanderlust

listen:

Legends of the Batteria

2008-07-10T21:26:00.001-07:00

If you haven't yet heard the fantastic new album Legends of the Preacher by Nation Beat, head on over to their website, where you can download three complete tracks by filling out a simple form (which I assume will subscribe you to the band's newsletter). The songs are "Nago Nago," "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" (no kidding!) and "A Vida Tava Tao Bao."

I'll scribble a more complete review of the album shortly, but you should note that not among these free tracks are the three tracks on the album that feature The Klezmatics. Yes, Brazil meets klezmer, and it works for me.

Once you've checked out the free tracks, fergoshsake buy the album; 10% of the proceeds go to Corpos Percussivos (video), which helps the kids of Racife, Brazil with arts, culture, and educational programs.

Anti-Rom Racism in Italy

2008-07-09T09:57:00.000-07:00

As an appreciator of Rom music and culture, I was deeply disturbed though not surprised to read about a proposed plan to fingerprint all Rom (Gypsies) in Italy, to track them -- supposedly for their own safety. There's an online petition you can sign if you, like me, find this racist and objectionable. (Thanks to Elizabeth for bringing this to my attention.)

The Home Minister of Italy and member of North League, Roberto Maroni, announced recently that he intends recording the fingerprints of Rroms located in Italy. In the most cynical way, he justifies this measure by the need to protect the children!

This proposal has been widely criticized by Italian politicians, culture’s personnalities, by civil society, the Council of Europe and the European Commission, but Mr. Maroni continues despite everything to defend his proposal.

The Berlusconi government is criticized in Europe and in democratic world for its persecution policies towards the Rroms. In its 27th June editorial, The Independent qualified this behaviour a «spasm of cruelty» and the party of Mr. Maroni as a «notoriously xenophobic » one. The editorial ends with this lapidary statement : « Every act of popular violence against foreigners, every instance of official discrimination against the Roma, diminishes the country's claim to be regarded as a civilised nation.»

We fully agree and say NO to this proposal, which recalls the darkest years of European and world history! Let us not forget that the Rroms were often « guinea pigs » of repression and extermination policies, as those Rromani children from Czech on which the Nazis tested the "Zyklon B" before generalizing its use it in the gas chambers.

Sign the petition against any ethnic filing of the Rroms

Petition website: http://www.petitiononline.com/08041971/petition.html

For more background on the Roma, check out the excellent book Bury Me Standing: The Gypsies and Their Journey by Isabel Fonseca, and Princes Amongst Men: Journeys with Gypsy Musicians (and companion CD) by Garth Cartwright.

Monday's mp3: Baaba Maal Remixed

2008-07-07T13:52:00.001-07:00

We haven't heard much from Baaba Maal recently...not since his 2001 album Missing You...Me Yeewnii. He's done concerts, of course, and there was the compilation Palm World Voices: Baaba Maal, which contained highlights from his career.

Well, that's about to change. I'm eagerly anticipating the new acoustic album called On The Road, but since it hasn't arrived yet, here's a little Baaba to whet your appetite. This is from a three-song 2002 remix EP, and features his stunning vocals with a tasteful, nearly acoustic backing track. Don't think you can buy this CD anywhere (though you can download the tracks at Calabash), so enjoy.

[mp3] Baaba Maal: Jamma Jenngii (J Walk Remix)
from Remix 2002 - remixes from the album Missing You...Me Yeewnii

And head on over to Baaba's website, where you can nab a free download of the song "Koni" featuring Ernest Ranglin from the upcoming "bootleg" album.

And here's a glimpse of Baaba Maal performing live in Ethiopia!

Pacifika Pop

2008-07-05T08:56:00.000-07:00

Pacifika: Asuncion (Six Degrees)
buy CD/hear samples

It’s not often that a new Latin alternative/pop band grows up among the towering Douglas firs of British Columbia. But Vancouver-based Pacifika isn’t letting their northern climate get in the way of making catchy tunes. Admittedly, their global influence stems from the origins of the band members: singer Silvana Kane was born in Peru; Toby Peter grew up in Barbados, and Adam Popowitz, well, he’s actually Canadian, though with a rather diverse resume.

Together they make music that wouldn’t be out of place in an Ibeza lounge, or as an opening for Trio Mocoto or Zuco 103. Layers of sound often overshadow the ethnic roots of the musicians, but Pacifika isn’t in the business of ethnomusicology – they’re creating gently global music for a culture that’s only just starting to emerge.

[mp3] Pacifika: Me Cai (download here / video here)
from the album Asuncion

band website: www.pacifikaonline.com

tags: worldmusic, mp3, soundroots, pacifika, latin, vancouver, cd review, world music

Zimbabwe Meets USA

2008-07-04T15:11:00.001-07:00

Playlist for Spin The Globe - 4 July 2008

as heard on radio KAOS - 89.3 FM

We honored the coincidence of two cultural events -- USA Independence Day and the opening day of 2008's Zimfest -- by alternating music from Zimbabwe and the US in the first hour, followed by more widely ranging tunes in hour 2. I was dearly hoping to play "The Flintstones Meet the President" by the Dirty Dozen Brass Band -- a song that captures something true and sublime about politics -- but was unable to locate the CD this morning (you can hear a streaming version here). But we had time for much other goodness, as you can see from the playlist.

Hour 1 (artist - song - album)
Brooklyn Funk Essentials - Freeway to Uskudar - In the BuzzBag
Tendai Muparutsa - Ndangariro / Reminiscence - Zimbabwe Acoustics
Pepe & the Bottle Blondes - Rumba de 5 Kilos - Latenight Betty
Fallen Heroes w/ Solomon Skuza - Patimile - Jit Soundtrack
3 Leg Torso - Frog…Secret Agent - Astor in Paris
Chiwoniso - The Way of Life - Ancient Voices
Ry Cooder & Manuel Galban - Monte Adentro - Mambo Sinuendo
Oliver Mutkudzi - Raki - Bvuma / Tolerance
Correo Aereo - La Petenera - Provinces
Mawungira Enharira - Chitovapasi / Traditional Beer - Hurongwa
Fishtank Ensemble - The Last Shamisen Master - Super Raoul
Bongo Love - Malaika - Afrocoustics

Hour 2
Rachid Taha - Ida / If… - Rock El Casbah-The Best Of
Grupo Fantasma - Rebotar - Sonidos Gold
Francois Lindemann & Tewan - Kaey Kio Kaow - Thai
Nation Beat - The Preacher feat. The Klezmatics - Legends of the Preacher
Children of the Revolution - Eleftheria - Chapter One
Bajofondo - Hoy feat. Juan Subira - Mardulce
Niyaz - Ramana (acoustic) - Nine Heavens
Kasai Allstars - Mpombo Yetu - Kasai Allstars-Congotronics 3
Sa Dingding - Mama Tian Na - Alive
Alex Cuba - Agua del Pozo - Agua del Pozo

show archive/listen:

Zimfest!

2008-07-03T16:12:00.001-07:00

It's Zimfest time again! Tomorrow is the start of the annual three-day celebration of the music and dance of Zimbabwe. It all takes place at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington. So get thee hence! Yes, it's troubled political/social times back in the African nation itself, but all the more reason to celebrate the positive culture from the nation in anticipation of getting things straightened out there. Below is the performance schedule (afternoon shows are free, evening shows are ticketed); Zimfest also has lots of workshops, plus a marketplace and more. For complete details, see www.zimfest.org.

Friday Afternoon Concert Red Square Marketplace, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Performer	Type	From
Shamwari Marimba	Marimba	Eugene OR
Kamba	Marimba Quartet	Boulder CO
Chigwaya Marimba	Youth Marimba	Hood River WA
Rutendo Marimba	Youth Marimba	Ashland OR
Chenjera	Youth Marimba	Whidbey Island WA
Njiva Marimba	Youth Marimba	Victoria BC


Friday Evening Concert Eastvoldt Chapel, 7:00 pm – 12:30 am
Opening Ceremony with Che oke’ ten & Friends, Zimbabwean Guests, and Russ Landers (Chipendani)
Shumba Marimba	Youth Marimba	Seattle WA
Boka Marimba	Marimba	Portland OR
Njuzu	Mbira	Portland OR
Chinyakare	Dance, Mbira, Drums, Marimba	Oakland CA
Hungwe	Mbira	Zimbabwe
Ande Marimba	Marimba	Santa Fe NM


Saturday Afternoon Concert Red Square Marketplace, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Mhuri Marimba	Marimba	Bellingham WA
Tumbuka Marimba	Marimba	Seattle WA
Break for Village Meeting 1:00–2:30
Savara Jena	Mbira	Santa Cruz CA
Kuzanga	Marimba	Santa Cruz CA
Mukana	Marimba	Olympia WA


Saturday Evening Concert Eastvoldt Chapel, 7:00 pm – 12:30 am
Youth Showcase with Shamwari, Tamba! and Vana Vedu	Marimba	Boulder CO
Lora & Sukutai	Dance & Drum	Seattle WA
Sheasby Matiure & the Mbira Queens	Mbira	Bloomington IN
Musasa Marimba	Marimba	Hawaii & Seattle
Vakaranga Venharetare: Women of the Spirits	Mbira	Berkeley CA & Zimbabwe
Chiroto with Tendai Muparutsa	Marimba	Moscow ID
Bongo Love	Marimba & Mbira	Zimbabwe


Sunday Afternoon Concert Red Square Marketplace, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sweet Pumpkin	Marimba	Bellingham WA
Jenaguru	Marimba	Eugene OR
Erica Azim and Isaac Rains	Mbira	Berkeley CA
Singing Wood	Marimba	Santa Cruz CA
Sahlee Mbira	Mbira	Seattle WA
Zambuko	Marimba	Eugene OR
Zambuko	Marimba	Seattle WA
Boka Boys	Marimba	Portland OR


Sunday Evening Concert Eastvoldt Chapel, 7:00 pm – 12:30 am
Mahonyera Mbira Ensemble	Mbira	Seattle WA
Nyamuziwa	Marimba	Seattle WA
Loveness Wesa & Kgotso African Cultural Arts	Electric	Portland OR
Anzanga Marimba Ensemble	Marimba	Seattle WA
Hokoyo	Youth Marimba	Eugene OR
Pachi Pamwe and Vakasara	Mbira	Portland & Eugene OR
Ruzivo & Special Guests	Marimba & Mbira	Puget Sound WA & Zimbabwe

tags: worldmusic, zimfest, zimbabwe, africa, mbira, marimba, plu, tacoma, pacific lutheran university

Save the kitten!

2008-07-02T09:04:00.000-07:00

I hate to resort to threats, but it's come to this. SoundRoots has been receiving a record number of hits and downloads. At the end of June, we had to take some content offline because we'd hit our bandwidth ceiling. That pains us, because we're here to help spread the word about global culture, specifically new music that has crept into our hearts. And just reading about the music isn't fun, I know.

That's not the bad part, though. We can always get more bandwidth, or find another way of hosting the files. The bad part is that as hits have skyrocketed, comments have plummeted. Dropped like a wet emu tied to a rock that's duck-taped to an anvil. And that, my friends, is most discouraging. We understand that some visitors may not have time to respond to the offerings on SoundRoots. But others of you, we're sure, really care.

Now you have even more reason to care. Because if we don't start getting comments by the end of the weekend, it's kitten soup for everyone. Really. We're not kidding.*

So take a moment to leave a comment. Tell us what you like, what you don't like, what you'd like to see covered on SoundRoots, or why you think our complete failure to even mention Shakira's name somewhere in our 500+ postings over the years is a travesty of the highest order.

Otherwise, well...I'm cutting up some potatoes and carrots right now.

tags: kitten, cat, soup, worldmusic, comment, blog, soundroots, shakira

*Okay, we are. But only about the soup. And only because we're vegetarian.

Borneo envy

2008-07-01T07:49:00.000-07:00

I've got it, after watching this video of my radio friends up at KEXP doing the island-native backup vocals for Firewater's "Borneo" (about which and for free mp3, see earlier post).

We here at SoundRoots global headquarters want to be backup singers. It's a little dream we have...is it really so much to ask?

tags: worldmusic, borneo, firewater, kaos, kexp, video, youtube

Monday's mp3: The Veil of Niyaz

2008-06-30T14:49:00.001-07:00

Still struggling under an excessive bandwidth demand... which is a good thing, sort of. I'll address that shortly (in the meantime, visit the Tip Jar!), but for today here's something fabulous direct from Six Degrees Records. They've just released the latest from Niyaz, a group formed in 2005 by the trio of Azam Ali (Vas), Loga Tamin Torkian (Axiom of Choice), and Carmen Rizzo (R-New Mexico. No, just kidding...).

For their ambitious second release, Niyaz has created an enticing double album, with one disc of souped up world electronica, and another called "The Acoustic Sessions" -- with some of the same songs done without electronics, but with nonetheless Niyaz-like lush arrangement.

The whole package is certainly worth checking out for any fan of Middle Eastern, trance, or whatever else you might call their delicious music.

[mp3] Niyaz: Ishq-Love and the Veil
from Nine Heavens

tags: worldmusic, niyaz, azam ali, mp3, cd review, persian

Burning Through Bandwidth

2008-06-27T17:51:00.000-07:00

SoundRoots fans: Have you noticed that the mp3 links are disconnected? Turns out this month has set new hit records for SoundRoots, which is a great thing! But we've run out of bandwidth for the month, so those links will be inert until July 1. We'll get some other goodies posted in the meantime (hey -- time to catch up on some reviews!). Thanks for your patience. And if you wish to contribute for more future bandwidth, please visit the Tip Jar.

Fela's Footprints

2008-06-27T14:52:00.001-07:00

Playlist for Spin The Globe - KAOS radio

27 June 2008

This week's show was prompted by the current tour of Seun Kuti, son of the great Afrobeat creator Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Well, one of his sons, from one of his many marriages. Since Seun's people have yet to send any of his music to SoundRoots/KAOS (hello! people!), we spun music from another son -- Femi -- as well as from musicians who inspired or were inspired by Fela. The second hour found us spinning the globe more broadly.

hour 1
Geraldo Pino - Let Them Talk - Heavy Heavy Heavy
Fela Kuti - Zombie - The Best Best of Fela Kuti
Femi Kuti - Traitors of Africa - Fight to Win
Tony Allen - Jakelewah - Home Cooking
Dele Sosimi - Big Cat Fat Cat - Turbulent Times
Dele Sosimi - Di Godfada - Turbulent Times
Keji Hamilton & Exousia Band - Designers - Keji
Fela Kuti - Unnecessary Begging - The Underground Spiritual Game
Fela Kuti - Swegbe and Pako - The Underground Spiritual Game

hour 2
Nation Beat w/ the Klezmatics - Ver Es Hot - Legends of the Preacher
Chambao - Despierta - Con Otro Aire
Nasiba - Maraw - Samarkand
Niyaz - Molk-E-Divan (acoustic) - Nine Heavens
Svang - Moara - Svang
Takashi Hirayasu - Koza Renka - Rough Guide to Japan
The Immigrant Orchestra - Wunderbar - Home Away from Home
DJ Logic & Jason Miles - Planetary Beat - Global Noize
Max Pashm - Manea-K - BalkanBeats Vol. 3
K’naan - Wash It Down - The Dusty Foot on the Road
Issa Bagayogo - Kalan Nege - Rough Guide to the Music of Mali
Roberto Poveda - Sueno Mama - Son Electrico
Jackson Conti - Amazon Stroll - Sujinho

listen (finally got it uploaded! - 6/30/08):

tags: worldmusic, soundroots, spin the globe, playlist, fela kuti, afrobeat, kaos radio, nigeria

Monday's mp3: Swingin' with Sväng

2008-06-23T16:59:00.001-07:00

Sväng, their record label claims, "is a refreshing and uplifting new phenomenon in the genre of harmonica bands." Frankly, I was unaware that harmonica bands had earned their own genre. I'll leave that point to the experts. The point of this CD is to spread what I can only describe as wonderful and surprising music.

The quartet begins with a slightly dissonent rising tone that leads to "Jampparaleele," a bouncy tune that sounds like an accordion being pulled in four directions at once. Then the tango melancholy of "Kaipaustango" with a completely different tone, grounded by the low, low bass harmonica. And with the swing of "Saaren Erakko" kicks in, any last suspicion fades that this is just a novelty band.

Playing chromatic, diatonic, harmonetta, and bass harmonicas, Sväng achieves a balance and richness you might not expect. They move seamlessly from originals, to traditional Romanian, Finnish, Russian, and Swedish tunes, even the American "Sandy Boys and Hangman's Reel."

Sväng seems to cultivate a retro aura, from the sepia CD cover to their songwriting. You'll find no electronic effects here, and the concluding song "Svängtime Rag" could be the soundtrack to an old silent comedy. If you're dead set against reedy music, steer clear. But open-minded world music listeners and harp players and fans will find a lot to like in this energetic and emotionally rich album.

[mp3] Sväng: Kaipaustango
from the album Sväng

tags: worldmusic, svang, finland, harmonica, world music, cd review

Music of the Caribbean + Kobo Town interview

2008-06-20T17:34:00.001-07:00

Playlist for Spin the Globe on radio KAOS

20 June 2008

For the summer solstice we took a Caribbean vacation... one for your ears if not your body (archive link is below). We heard music from Cuba, Trinidad , Jamaica...plus an interview with Drew Gonsalves of the band Kobo Town , and a few other musical destinations.

Artist - Song - Album

hour 1
Ska Cubano - Tabu - Ay Caramba!
Lord Executor - The Lajobless (1938) - Calypso Calaloo
Leonardo Paniagua - Mi Secreto - Bachata Roja
Skatalites - Freedom Sounds - The Caribbean
Kobo Town - Abatina - Independence
Interview with Drew Gonsalves of Kobo Town
Kobo Town - Higher Than Mercy - Independence
Kobo Town - Corbeaus Following - Independence

hour 2
Habana Abierto - Basta Que lo digas tu - Boomerang
Lou Adams Orchestra - Barnyard Calypso - Native Caribbean Rhythm & Songs Sampler
Kawina Creole Group - Tampie - The Exotic and Pulsating Rhythms of the Caribbean
Lord Invader - Steel Band War - Calypso in New York
Mighty Sparrow - No, Doctor, No - First Flight
Maraca - Castigala - Rough Guide to Cuban Street Party
Grand Kalle & L’African Jazz - Parafifi - Rough Guide to Congo Gold
Rockamovya - Brown Stew Fish - Rockamovya
Tango Negro Trio - Murga del Atardeces - La Vuelta del Malon
Omega Bugembe Okello - Tugilabilile / Lets Take Care of the Earth - Kiwomera Emmeeme
Yemanja - Psalm Samba - Tales from Jupiter
Sonantes - Mambobit - Sonantes
Firewater - Bhangra Bros - The Golden Hour

listen:

The Best Semi-Secret Festival on Earth

2008-06-19T16:16:00.001-07:00

My favorite secret festival has come and gone once again, leaving me with new cultural impressions, a bit of puzzlement, and a lot of music and laughter ringing in my ears.

The organizers of the Seattle International Children’s Festival aren’t trying to keep it a secret. In fact, they do a great job of spreading the word to area schools, which ship off shouting yellow busloads of kids, filling the theater seats with their noise and energy and fidgeting. Talking, twisting, and being shh’ed by teachers, the kids can seem a little ambivalent about what they’re doing here and what they’re about to see.

It’s exactly the focus on the kids, however, that tends to keep SICF secret. Most shows are held mid-day, when kids are in school and when adults generally toil instead of attending concerts and circus performances. But the festival will gladly sell tickets to those adults willing to pry themselves away from work for an hour or two of entertainment at the hands of some truly compelling global acts.

I attended only two days of the seven-day festival, so there’s much that I missed. Still, I was able to catch five shows (well, okay, four plus one repeat), four of which I enjoyed very much, and one of which failed to connect with me or most of the kids around me.

First, the good. Colombia’s Petrona Martinez and Her Group of Drums were already playing when I slipped past the black curtains that separated the uncharacteristically hot Seattle day from the dark performance hall at the Seattle Center. The three singers and five drummers play Afro-Colombian songs, reflecting their mixed indigenous, African, and European heritage. The drumming was as good as any Latin drumming I’ve seen with the possible exception of Cubans, who are in a class of their own. The group’s songs were varied, from call and response vocals to flute-led instrumentals, but all with an insistent energy that backed up Martinez’s assertion (through a translator) that “dancing is not optional!”

After a short break, Palestinian singer Reem Kelani took the stage. Her band’s cool sophistication was a sharp contrast to the earthy energy of the Colombians, but Kelani established her own claim on the audience’s attention with her first song, a bare vocal piece with clapping and stomping percussion. She followed with he “Galilean Lullaby” before launching into a long raucous dubke (dance) tune that got much of the mixed crowd of kids and adults up and moving.

Kelani is clearly a master organizer/director – not only in leading her band in sometimes unexpected direction, but also in getting the kids to ease from this jubilant dancing to quiet breathing exercises, which she calls chillaxing (chill/relax). Without lecturing, she spoke of the interfaith heritage of Jerusalem then introduced a song based on a poem by Egyptian composer Sayyid Darwish. Tough to count (17/8 time!) but easy to enjoy, the song is a savory taste of Kelani’s upcoming tribute album to Darwish, who was trained as a Muslim clergyman but was pulled away from the pious life by the allure of music.

“Most of his songs have become pan-Arab classics,” Kelani said in a Spin The Globe radio interview, “and as an Arab musician if you haven’t tackled the Sayyid Darwish repertoire, you still haven’t been initiated.”

Following her set, Kelani called Petrona Martinez back to the stage and their groups merged to perform two more songs, again with much directing and organizing by Kelani and much dancing and clapping from the audience.

Fast-forward two days, and it’s time for SICF’s one-day stand in Tacoma. It’s not the full buffet that’s available in Seattle, but if you time it right, you can get a half-day of work in and still catch three different performances. I caught Petrona Martinez once again, and her group was, if possible, even more energetic and engaging than at the previous show. Kids jammed toward the stage of the Rialto Theater like it was a rock concert, and the musicians obliged, playing drum solos on the edge of the stage and giving high-fives.

I always look forward to the nonmusical events, and two of those were on my list for Tacoma. One was Japanese puppeteer Jo Taira. As the youngest winner ever of Japan’s National Puppet Contest, he’s got puppet cred. His show, however, was quite hit-or-miss. A segment on mouse love – complete with dozens of offspring – was uproarious. But his descents into over-familiar fairytales (Pinocchio, Cinderella) dragged on and on… and my companion turned to me during part of the latter, during which Taira was wearing the iconic (though not glass) high-heeled slippers – and suggested that in another context, this could be a bizarre avant-garde transvestite performance art thing. His musical choices were odd as well, particularly the inclusion of Ellington’s “Nutcracker Suite.” The silence and fidgeting of many of the kids showed that we weren’t alone in not getting it.

Finally, the cream: Australian circus troupe Circa. Three men and one woman performing 46 circus acts in 45 minutes. To keep them on schedule, a giant digital clock counts down on the right side of the stage. Their show was perfectly tailored for high humor, short attention spans, and amazing displays of, well, nearly everything. Juggling, tumbling, contortion, strength, balance, even cream-pie-in-the-face slapstick. The names of each of the 46 acts were announced with fanfare (e.g., “Toss the Girl” and “Slapstick 101”), and most of the show accompanied by a brilliantly constructed soundtrack that sometimes included live on-stage mixing by one of the troupe.

Some of the segments – and I’m thinking here about the men's underwear-removing contest – were more theater than circus, but who can complain after 45 minutes of flat-out fun that elicited wave after wave of genuine laughter from kids and adults alike. Oh, and for the record, they finished with 7.08 seconds remaining.

There. At least I’m not keeping it secret anymore.

festival website: www.seattleinternational.org
more festival photos

Monday's mp3: Fiery Fantasma

2008-06-16T17:09:00.001-07:00

Grupo Fantasma's fourth CD hits stores tomorrow, and it's a big burning ball of steamy fun. It's hot, I tell you! If you're from Austin, you already know about this 11-piece group, which calls itself a "Latin funk orchestra."

They've certainly got the sound to support that -- Sonidos Gold begins with funky percussion and a wall of horns on "El Sabio Soy Yo" and only slows down a bit on the final Ry-Cooderish track, "Perso Fra I Mesquites." Between those two are ten other tracks that go great with summertime and sweat.

Grupo Fantasma may not be as well known as groups Ozomatli -- to whom they'll certainly be compared, but this album and their summer tour should help change that. I haven't seen them, but have heard they put on a fantastic live show.

This track has something of a Santana feel -- and it's a perfect summer rocker, with that great guitar sound, a tight sax solo, and the sing-along refrain "Ain't got no money / gimme some." Easy to relate to that when you're sweating in a plastic chair in the driveway next to your El Dorado, wishing you had cash for gas.

[mp3] Grupo Fantasma: ~~Gimme Some~~
from Sonidos Gold

band website: www.grupofantasma.com
On tour through Sept. 18

Playlist: World Music Top 10, June 2008

2008-06-13T17:40:00.001-07:00

Playlist for Spin The Globe on radio KAOS
13 June 2008

This week's show features highlights from our favorite new global CDs (for more info on the albums, check out the Spin The Globe charts).

Artist - Song - Album

hour 1
10-Francois Lindemann & Tewan - Sabai Dee Mai - Thai
9- Chambao - Detalles - Con Otro Aire
8-Sergio Mendes - Funky Bahia feat. will.i.am & Siedah Garrett - Encanto
7-Firewater - Borneo - The Golden Hour
6-Peacocks Guitar Band - Eddie Quansa - Nigeria 70 – Lagos Jump
5-Capoeira Experience - Princesinha Da Mare - Rough Guide to Brazilian Street Party
4-Afrissippi - Sonna - Alliance
3-Les Amazones de Guinee - Demembalou - Wamato
Lionel Loueke - Rossignal - Virgin Forest
2-Sunil Ganguly - Rote Huye Aate Hain Sab - Bollywood Steel Guitar
1-Emmanuel Jal - Forced to Sin - Warchild
Kapela ze Esi Warszawa earlier than Warsaw Village Band - Four Horses - Hopsasa

hour 2
Olla Vogala - Zonder Angst Voor Het Verlies - Marcel
Pili-Pili - Whitewash feat. Angelique Kidjo - Best of Pili-Pili
Kola Collective - Bat Around - Stew It, Fuse It, Groove It
Elisa Vellia - Kerkira Nissi Mou - Ahnaria
Conjunto Jardin - La Culebra - Yerba Buena
Chanchiki - Yagaefu - Rough Guide to the Music of Japan
K’naan - Until the Lion - The Dusty Foot
Setsubun Bean Unit - Gujo Ondo - Setsubun Bean Unit
Setsubun Bean Unit - Rettsu Kissu - Setsubun Bean Unit
Lawson Rollins - The Awakening - Infinita
Grupo Fantasma - Soltero - Sonidos Gold
Actitud Maria Marta - Quimeras w/ Marina - Sampler
Brothers of the Baladi - Perom Pom Pom - Just Do What’s Right
Adrian xavier - Today - R Nature

listen:

Monday's mp3: Flamenco Chill

2008-06-09T17:07:00.001-07:00

CD REVIEW
Chambao: Con Otro Aire
(Norte / Sony BMG)

Con Otre Aire is the fourth album from the Spanish-rooted group Chambao – I can’t tell you too much about their evolution, as I’ve only heard this and their previous album, Pokito a Poko. That release was denser and more heavily produced, while the new offering has a more rootsy, acoustic feel – one I find much more interesting and enjoyable.

Varied and lyrical, the album builds on a flamenco foundation without being limited by it. There’s plenty here to appeal to all kinds of listeners; fans of the Gipsy Kings, Ojos de Brujo, and Estrella Morente (who contributes vocals on “Lo Bueno Y Lo Malo”) will certainly enjoy Chambao…while finding their music quite distinct from those artists.

[mp3] Chambao: ~~Lo Bueno y Lo Malo con Estrella Morente~~
from Con Otro Aire

Chambao website: www.chambao.es

Funky Lagos

2008-06-07T16:38:00.001-07:00

CD REVIEW
various artists: Nigeria 70-Lagos Jump: Original Heavyweight Afrobeat Highlife & Afro-Funk
(Strut)
buy CD/hear samples

I don't know what's going on with Strut Records -- their .uk website is defunct and their new .com site is under construction. But whatever internal machinations are afoot, I can tell you this: I love the music they're dragging out of the archives. Back in 2001 it was the marvelous (now out of print?) box set Nigeria '70 The Definitive Story of 1970's Funky Lagos, a broad compilation of some hot Afrobeat and close musical relations.

Now out is something of a sequel to that release. Subtitled "Original Heavyweight Afrobeat Highlife & Afro-Funk," the CD includes 16 tracks of similar material (though only two artists make a repeat appearance, Peter King and Sir Victor Uwaifo & His Melody Maestroes [video]). Inspired but by no means constrained by the emerging genre called Afrobeat, these artists explore jazz, funk, rock, and R&B while usually retaining some elements of Nigerian music in the form of drums, or the rhythmic and lyrical structures of Highlife or Fuji music.

To my ear, standout tracks include "Igbehin Lalayo Nta" by the obscure Afrobeat band Dynamic Africana, and Bola Johnson & His Easy Life Top Beats' "Ezuku Buzo" with its unusual scratchy rhythm guitar playing tag with the chanted vocals.

It's another solid offering from Strut -- one you may find even educational if you can just sit down for a moment and read John Collins' expansive liner notes the history and context of Nigeria's popular music instead of simply getting caught up in the inviting, nearly timeless grooves.

More info and a free mp3 from the album at www.strut-records.com/nigeria70

(This review originally appeared at Spin The Globe.)

World Music, Recorded Live

2008-06-06T15:02:00.001-07:00

World Music Recorded Live - Spin The Globe playlist

6 June 2008

Artist - Song - Album

hour 1
Oliver Mtukudzi - Hear Me Lord - Shanda
Mynta - Rapatal - Mynta Live
Tarika - Ady (live at WOMAD) - Tarika 10: Beasts, Ghosts & Dancing with History
Mahsa & Marjan Vahdat - Mina - Songs from a Persian Garden
Ojos de Brujo - Sultanas de Merkaillo - Techari Live
Opa Cupa - Opapo - Live in Contrada Tangano
Tony Allen - Yeshe - Live
David Krakauer - Gypsy Bulgar - Live in Krakow
The Shin - Born in the Saddle - Egari

hour 2
Alpha Blondy - Jerusalem - Live au Zenith (Paris)
Konono No. 1 - Kule Kule - Live at Couleur Café
Vusi Mahlasela & Louis Mhlanga - Tontobane - Live at the Baseline
Tabla Beat Science - Nafeken - Live in San Francisco at Stern Grove
Lindemann & Tewan - Loaw Kratopmai - Thai
Yoshida Brothers - Overland Blues - Tsugaru Shamisen
Lin Youren - Pingsha Iuoyan / Wild Geese descending on the sandbank - Acoustic World China
Chambao - Lo Bueno y Lo Malo - Con Otro Aire
Dem Trio - Cecen Kizi - The Fountain
Extra Golden - Obama - Hera Ma Nono

listen:

K'naan, the dusty footed rapper

2008-06-05T18:03:00.001-07:00

CD REVIEW
K'naan: The Dusty Foot on the Road (Wrasse)
buy CD/hear samples

K’naan raps so smoothly, you’d think he grew up deep in the heart of US hip hop culture. In truth, he hails from the streets of Mogadishu, Somalia. And like Sudanese rapper Emmanuel Jal (about whom we've written much recently), he has learned the language of hip hop fluently, yet he comes at his music from a unique cultural and musical perspective.

K’naan raps over organic sounds: “Wash It Down” has no music other than hands drumming on water; “The African Way” uses only hand drums as support for his rapid-fire wordplay. Other tracks include acoustic guitar, but most tracks on the album are shockingly stripped down for a hip hop recording.

K’naan is certainly a better rapper than singer (proof of which is in “Be Free”), but this live recording shows that he clearly has the showmanship to get the London crowd singing along. If not for the sprinkling of mild profanities, Dusty Foot would certainly be getting more US airplay; K’naan’s sharp, raw, powerful music deserves that, and more.

This track shows off K'naan's deft vocal skills with a minimum of backing rhythms. How many top hip hop artists would sound this good stripped of their beats and DJs?

[mp3] K'naan: ~~The African Way~~
from the album The Dusty Foot on the Road

SoundRoots World Music & Global Culture

Beata's Tango No. 3

Monday's mp3: China Rising(?)

Monday's mp3: What in the World Is Jazz?

From Niyaz to Nation Beat...

Legends of the Batteria

Anti-Rom Racism in Italy

Monday's mp3: Baaba Maal Remixed

Pacifika Pop

Zimbabwe Meets USA

Zimfest!

Friday Afternoon Concert

Red Square Marketplace, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm

Friday Evening Concert

Eastvoldt Chapel, 7:00 pm – 12:30 am

Saturday Afternoon Concert

Red Square Marketplace, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm

Saturday Evening Concert

Eastvoldt Chapel, 7:00 pm – 12:30 am

Sunday Afternoon Concert

Red Square Marketplace, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm

Sunday Evening Concert

Eastvoldt Chapel, 7:00 pm – 12:30 am

Save the kitten!

Borneo envy

Monday's mp3: The Veil of Niyaz

Burning Through Bandwidth

Fela's Footprints

Monday's mp3: Swingin' with Sväng

Music of the Caribbean + Kobo Town interview

The Best Semi-Secret Festival on Earth

Monday's mp3: Fiery Fantasma

Playlist: World Music Top 10, June 2008

Monday's mp3: Flamenco Chill

Funky Lagos

World Music, Recorded Live

K'naan, the dusty footed rapper