Ndongo Mbaye of Senegal, West Africa : My WorldBeatPlanet
Cape Crusaders
Mayra Andrade - Navega (Sony BMG 886971005642, 2007)
Tcheka - Lonji (Times Square/Four Quarters Entertainment FQT-CD-1809, 2008)
How can a country like Cape Verde- a small, remote, rather barren archipelago a few hundred miles off the west coast of Senegal -produce so much great music? I don’t know. There must just be something inspirational about the place. Whatever it is, I hope it continues.
When I first heard Cape Verdean music, what immediately attracted me was the similarity it bore to that of Brazil, another former Portuguese colony. But soon, through hearing the distinctively Cape Verdean styles of morna, coladera and funana, it began to take on its own voice. That said, I must disclose that if I had heard Mayra Andrade’s album Navega without knowing her nationality, I might well have guessed her to be a Brazilian singer with Cape Verdean leanings rather than the other way around. But the Cuban-born Andrade is Cape Verdean sure enough, though she spent parts of her childhood in Senegal, Germany and Angola as well and currently calls Paris home.
Before she was even 20 years old Mayra Andrade was an acclaimed vocalist, winning contests and captivating audiences in both the Americas and Europe. Navega is her debut disc, and this still-very-young singer possesses a warm, nimble vocal style that makes the early acclaim understandable. Several of the players providing instrumental support on the CD are in fact Brazilian, thus accounting for a samba-like feel for much of the album’s first half. But keep listening (and believe me, you’ll want to) and a vibe more befitting Andrade’s true homeland seeps in.
By the time the closing track “Regasu” unfolds in true morna style worthy of Cesaria Evora (whom Andrade once opened for), you’ll want to hear the whole lovely disc again just to catch the subtlety and sparkling beauty with which Andrade vocally spans the Atlantic to connect Brazil and Cape Verde.
There’s likewise something of a Brazilian bottom line to Tcheka’s Lonji, which was produced by Brazilian rocker Lenine. But Tcheka’s sound is based on Cape Verdean batuku, a voice-and-makeshift-percussion style originally sung primarily by women on both celebratory and sad occasions.
While there is some strange percussion accompaniment mentioned in this disc’s credits (including kitchenware and brushes on a telephone book), the main focuses here are Tcheka’s voice and guitar. His singing suggests Angola’s Bonga without so much gravel, and his acoustic picking deftly guides his whispery delivery through the breezy but insistent rhythms of the songs.
Decorative touches like the accordion that weaves through “Tuti Santiagu” and the trombone enrichment on “Lingua Pretu” shed some light on the shadows of Tcheka’s intimate style, which is every bit as inviting as more established Cape Verdean stars like Tito Paris. Lonji prompted me to revisit Tcheka’s previous release Nu Monda (which I lazily never got around to reviewing) and marvel at the hints of jazz and blues (as well as “real” percussion) that Tcheka adds on both discs while maintaining an unspoiled sense of underlying simplicity befitting the music’s traditional sources. So consider Lonji a must if you like your Cape Verdean sounds especially tasty, and check out Nu Monda as well.
Buy the CDs:
Wolsfraektroes Music Releases Beetz n Bobz and Insanity FX Sample Packs
European company Wolsfraektroes Music has released Beetz n Bobz Shock Out, a set of "in your face" drum & bass sounds ready for dancefloor productions. The pack size is 650mb with 128 drum loops, 150 single hits, 20 musical loops, 5 drum kits, 84 bass sounds, 40 pads, 51 sound effects, and 118 synth sounds.
The set comes in Wav and Rex for drum loops formats. There is also a 'boutBeats Bonus Folder containing 20 Speaker Smashing Drum Loops. This pack has been aimed at the dance floor jump up, techstep, jungle and wobble heads which need high quality breaks, bass and everything else every time they get in the studio.
"We created this pack as we where fed of getting poor quality half assed sample packs which where well below par, check this pack out and you will see that we have put everything into it," says the company press release.
Exlusive instant download on Dance Midi Samples (UK) and Sonomic (USA) at:
http://www.dancemidisamples.com/Beetz-N-Bobz-Shockout-DB.html
http://sonomic.com/components/display/cdrow_display.jsp?id=1971&product_type=samples
The Beetz n Bobz Insanity FX Sample Pack press features 100mb of sound effects. All sound effects are in wav format and are completly unique.
Exclusive instant download on Dance Midi Samples (UK) and Sounds To Sample (UK):
http://www.dancemidisamples.com/Beatz-N-Bobz-Insanity-FX.html
http://soundstosample.com/info/Wolsfraektroes_Music/Insanity_FX/94
English Folk Sensation Rachel Unthank & The Winterset Will Tour North America in September 2008
Raised in northern England singing traditional folk repertoire, the Unthank sisters developed a harmonizing style of spine-tingling clarity. Their first Real World release, The Bairns features spare instrumentation and a haunting, moody sound that transforms traditional material. The band also presents a fresh take on new folk, with two originals and surprising interpretations such as Robert Wyatt's aching 'Sea Song.'
The Bairns earned the band the coveted Horizon Award at the BBC Folk Awards and was named one of the top 10 folk albums of 2007 by Mojo, UK Channel 4, fRoots and the Daily Telegraph.
Rachel Unthank & The Winterset's 10-city North American tour begins on September 18, bringing them through the Midwest, Toronto and to the East Coast.
- Sept 18, CSPS, Cedar Rapids, IA
- Sept 19, Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis, MN
- Sept 20-21, Chicago World Music Festival , Chicago, IL
- Sept 22, The Ark, Ann Arbor, MI
- Sept 23, Hugh's Room, Toronto
- Sept 25, Iron Horse, Northampton, MA
- Sept 26, Joe's Pub, New York, NY
- Sept 28, World Café Live, Philadelphia, PA
- Sept 29, Jammin' Java, Vienna, VA
- Sept 30, T.T. & The Bears, Cambridge, MA
For more information on the band, visit www.rachelunthank.com.
Nomad Blues Act Etran Finatawa Returns to United States for September and October 2008 Dates
Nigerien sensation Etran Finatawa returns to the US for the third time this year. Etran Finatawa. They are six Tuareg and Wodaabe musicians now based in Niamey, Niger. Etran Finatawa, whose name literally translates as “the stars of tradition,” began as a group of ten musicians who wanted to unite these two nomadic cultures as a symbol of peace and reconciliation, forming around the time of the 2004 Festival in the Desert near Timbuktu.
The touring and recording band consists of six players, three Tuareg and three Wodaabe. In Niger, the Wodaabe and the Tuareg live side by side on the desert’s fringes, sharing pastures and water sources, which sometimes leads to feuding. Here they work together for unity and strength and to give their culture a future in an ever-changing world. The music of the two tribes is very different but the way it has been combined produces a powerful and hypnotic sound, one which could be called “Nomad Blues.”
Concert dates:
- 9/20 Madison Madison World Music Festival
- 9/21 Chicago Chicago World Music Festival
- 9/22 Chicago Chicago World Music Festival
- 9/23 Los Angeles Amoeba Music (in-store)
- 9/25 Los Angeles Japan American Community Cultural Center
- 10/3 Bloomington Lotus Festival
- 10/4 Bloomington Lotus Festival
- 10/6 World Café
- 10/7 Philadelphia Crossroads Music (Calvary Church)
- 10/8 Boston Museum of Fine Arts
- 10/11 Pittsburgh Carnegie Mellon University
Buy the CDs:
- In North America Desert Crossroads and Introducing etran finatawa
- In Europe: Desert Crossroads ad Introducing etran finatawa
Read the CD review: Saharan Intersection
New Flamenco Sheet Music Books by Mario Escudero and Juan Lorenzo
Ventilador Music has published two new books (with CD) with sheet music by the legendary Flamenco guitarist Mario Escudero and contemporary guitarist Juan Lorenzo.
Mario Escudero - Gloria de la Guitarra Flamenca, written by Claude Worms includes some of Escudero's most important works, including the buleria ‘Ímpetu.’ Escudro performed with some of the leading artists of his time, including Vicente Escudero, Ramón Montoya, Tomás Pavón, Niña de los Peines, and Mairena. The book's notes are in English, Spanish and French.
Guitarist Juan Lorenzo provides 200 exercises for flamenco guitar on 200 Ejercicicios para Guitarra Flamenca. The book comes with a CD that allows the student to listen to the exercises at lower speed. Bilingual edition in English and Spanish.
Both titles are available from hwww.ventilador-music.com.
All About Me
My name is Johnathan J. Stegeman/MidiMacMan, and I am a composer, web master, photographer, graphic artist, and freelance writer from Denver, Colorado.
FeedBurner: Hear that Sizzle!
Subscribe to RSS headline updates from: Powered by FeedBurner
Youssou N'Dour Featured in January Global Rhythm
Youssou N'Dour is featured on the cover of the January/ February issue of Global Rhythm. The article discusses Youssou's role being one of Africa's preeminent musical stars, his new album Rokku Mi Rokka (Give and Take), and touring with his band Super Etoile.
Checkpoint 303: Free music from occupied territories
The TV images and sounds coming from Palestine can be overbearing. But for many people, they are the daily lot. Now a Palestinian-Franco-Tunisian collective is using them as a soundtrack to create electronic music.
An Indian jazz musician
Colin D'Cruz-jazz bassplayer from India
What inspired you to become a jazz artiste? When did you decide that this will be your career?
Jazz from India
DMB saxophonist LeRoi Moore has died
I'm a big fan of Dave Matthews Band, so this news hit me hard today. LeRoi Moore, saxophonist and founding member of Dave Matthews Band, died unexpectedly Tuesday afternoon, August 19, 2008, at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Angeles from sudden complications stemming from his June ATV accident on his farm near Charlottesville, Virginia.
New Johnny Clegg cover album
On April 29, an album of Johnny Clegg tunes covered by international artists will be available in iTunes.
Read more for the track list...
Cesaria Evora suffers stroke in Australia
Australia WOMADELAIDE headline act Cesaria Evora has been forced to cancel her appearance after suffering a stroke in Sydney.
The 66-year-old singer from Cape Verde was due to star at Womadelaide tonight and tomorrow following Sydney Opera House performances earlier this week.
She was admitted to hospital for tests after feeling unwell for a few days.
Bringing African sounds to Indie Rock
A few days ago while browsing iTunes Music Store I found Vampire Weekend as one of my recommendations and I was hooked immediately. They have a unique sound blending Soukous guitars and other African styles with western classical and Ska-influenced indie rock. Their self titled debut album is my favorite album since Neon Bible.
Musicians mark Autism Sunday 2008
Church musicians will mark Autism Sunday 2008 - the International Day of Prayer for Autism and Asperger's Syndrome, on Sunday 10th February 2008. Churches of all denominations have bee asked to remember over 60 million people with autism around the world, in prayer.
Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance
A variety of world music will be presented at the 16th Annual Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance, to take place July 20-23 at the Trumansburg Fair Grounds in Trumansburg, NY. Among the 70 bands and artists who will be performing on four stages over the four days are Thomas Mapfumo & Blacks Unlimited, Musafir, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Aurelio Martinez, Cherish the Ladies, Son de Madera, Folklore Urbano, Inner Visions Reggae, Mamadou Diabate, Conjunto Los Pochos, Preston Frank & His Zydeco Family Band, Walter Mouton & The Scott Playboys, Cyro Baptista & Beat The Donkey, Samite of Uganda, and Keith Frank & The Soileau Zydeco Band, among others. These musicians hail from Zimbabwe, India, Honduras, Ireland, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Colombia, Mexico, Mali, Brazil, Louisiana and Uganda, and they will bring their divergent cultures and music to the GrassRoots festival, in the tiny town of Trumansburg.
1st Iranian Underground Rock Music Album on iTunes
Thursday, August 11th 2005 marked a milestone for Iranian Underground Rock Music. This was the first time, at least to our knowledge, that underground music from Iran became available for Digital Download over the internet.
The addition of Kiosk : Ordinary Man to the iTunes music catalog is important in many ways , but most importantly freedom from restrictions for publishing and performing music in Iran.
AFRICA CALLING at the Eden Project : July 2
>>> Peter Gabriel, Youssou N'Dour, Akim El Sikameya, Angelique Kidjo, Ayub Ogada, Daara J, Maryam Mursal, Modou Diouf, Salif Keita, Shikisha, Tinariwen
"Furious Conversations" a collaborative project of music and art
OZOMATLI, GAJIN FUJITA with K2S and TROPICO de NOPAL GALLERY
* March 26 - April 16, 2005 *
Art Reception: Saturday, March 26, 2005 7-10pm, Station demos: 8-9pm
Volvo Teams With iTunes Music Store For “NU: The Sounds Of New Scandinavia”
On March 23, Volvo will present a live music and multi-media event in Times Square to launch “nu: the sounds of new Scandinavia,” with music available on the iTunes Music Store to promote developing Scandinavian artists and building awareness for the region’s distinct sound.
New Johnny Clegg cover album
On April 29, an album of Johnny Clegg tunes covered by international artists will be available in iTunes.
Read more for the track list...
New release from Projekt A-Ko
'Nothing Works Twice' is the first official release from Projekt A-Ko's forthcoming debut album.
The Brown Indian Band
Manou Gallo: documentary and 2nd CD for ex-Zap Mama
Manou Gallo, who played with Zap Mama for 6 years, has been on a rising curve since the release of her debut album for IglooMondo, "Dida". The bassist and percussionist combines the sounds of Ivory Coast with the rock vibe she picked up in Europe. Over the past two years, she has played across Europe, plus Louisiana, Mexico and home in Ivory Coast.
Obligato-Goa's sensational latino band
Obligato-Goa's sensational latino band has launched two music videos in Goa. A slamming spanish salsa called 'La Paranda' and a kicking konkani kantaar called 'Goa Amchem'. The band has decided to get together again after a two year break. The video DVD has been released for promotional purposes and is available free of cost. Call Carlos in Goa for your copy on cellphone 9822382824.
More info about Obligato at: http://jazzgoa.tripod.com/obligato.html
DMB saxophonist LeRoi Moore has died
I'm a big fan of Dave Matthews Band, so this news hit me hard today. LeRoi Moore, saxophonist and founding member of Dave Matthews Band, died unexpectedly Tuesday afternoon, August 19, 2008, at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Angeles from sudden complications stemming from his June ATV accident on his farm near Charlottesville, Virginia.
Cesaria Evora suffers stroke in Australia
Australia WOMADELAIDE headline act Cesaria Evora has been forced to cancel her appearance after suffering a stroke in Sydney.
The 66-year-old singer from Cape Verde was due to star at Womadelaide tonight and tomorrow following Sydney Opera House performances earlier this week.
She was admitted to hospital for tests after feeling unwell for a few days.
South African Reggae star Lucky Dube murdered
Lucky Dube, a reggae star who launched his career with criticism of the former apartheid government, was shot to death in an apparent carjacking attempt as he was dropping off his children, police and his Web site said Friday.
The 43-year-old singer was shot Thursday night after two men approached his car in Johannesburg's southern Rosettenville suburb, police spokesman Eugene Opperman said.
The Gandhi Tour
The Gandhi Tour benefit Event
(New York, NY): On October 10th, the Gandhi Tour, Dr. Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, and Avon Mattison, Founder of Culture of Peace and Cofounder of 30 Days of Peace, will host a benefit at the Donna Karan/Stephan Weiss Studio/NY to raise funds for The Gandhi Tour in 2008.
The Vieux Farka Touré / "Ana" Remix Contest
Creative Commons, Modiba Productions and Global Beat Fusion are pleased to present the Vieux Farka Touré / "Ana" Remix Contest. Vieux Farka Touré — a highly talented guitarist, singer, songwriter, and percussionist from Mali (and son of the late Ali Farka Touré) — is offering the audio source files from the song “Ana” online under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial license, so that producers worldwide can use the sounds in remixes and new compositions.
1001 Ways Live at Neofest Peace Festival Bosnia
1001 Ways Live at Neofest Int. Peace Festival Bosnia
http://www.mtsmondo.com/entertainment/vesti/text.php?vest=101016
1001 Ways Gandhi Program Live at 4. Yogafestival Berlin
July 5th 2008 1001 Ways Gandhi Program Live at 4. Yogafestival Berlin
1001 Ways Gandhi Program Live at 4. Yogafestival Berlin
July 5th 2008 1001 Ways Gandhi Program Live at 4. Yogafestival Berlin
1001 Ways Gandhi Program Live at 4. Yogafestival Berlin
July 5th 2008 1001 Ways Gandhi Program Live at 4. Yogafestival Berlin
Jason Webley & Reverend Peyton's BDB tour
Punk Accordion, Country Blues and Two Bottles of Wine
Accordion troubadour, Jason Webley is teaming up with country blues sensation, The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band for fifteen nights of foot-stomping, washboard-pounding, accordion-squeezing fun across the Eastern US.
April 22 - Kansas City, MO - Beaumont Club
April 23 - St Louis, MO - Lucas School House
