Unni Løvlid

Rite (Grappa GRCD4223, 2008)

Unni Løvlid creates a dreamy sound that comes from the lands of the north that combines folk and chamber music, minimalism and ambience, generating a hauntingly beautiful sound. Norwegian singer Unni Løvlid, who is also a member of the trio Rusk, uses her voice in several different ways, mixing traditional style vocals with processed vocal sounds, creating fascinating effects.

On Rite, Lovlid presents a new set of ethereal musical poems in which she is accompanied by accordion, synthesizers and samples, percussion, various wind instruments, hardanger fiddle, and the Norwegian National Opera Children’s Choir.

Paris, France - Malian singer-songwriter Rokia Traoré is releasing her newest album, Tchamantche, this month, and will be touring Europe and North Africa. Ever since she was declared the “African Discovery of 1997” at the Angoulême Festival in France, Rokia Traoré hasn’t looked back. Now, more than ten years later, this fantastic singer and guitarist from Mali is releasing her fourth full-length album Tchamantche (Universal Jazz France) on May 19th in France, and will be available throughout May and June in Belgium, Holland, the US, Canada, the UK, Italy and Japan. The release of this newest album will coincide with a tour across North Africa and Europe – see dates below.

The daughter of a diplomat, living in the US, Europe and the Middle East before studying in Brussels, Rokia Traoré hasn’t just traveled all over the world – she has lived all over the world, and the perspective she achieved coupled for her love for music has led to a style famous for its unique tendencies and unapologetic themes. Her new album aims to impress both critics and audiences – Rokia’s last album, Bowmboï, sold 200,000 copies worldwide.

Biomusique

The 10,000 Steps  (Kosmic Music, 2008)

Combining the talents of singer/songwriter Lisbeth Scott, known for her musical collaborations on such movies as The Chronicles of Narnia, Munich  and The Passion of the Christ, and percussionist/songwriter Greg Ellis, member of the ensemble Vas and musical contributor to The Matrix, 300 and Fight Club, is a surely a ticket to the ethereal. Affixing the name Biomusique to their collaboration, Scott and Ellis will offer up the debut recording The 10,000 Steps on the Kosmic Music label, set for release on May 13th.

Pairing Eastern and Western musical traditions, along with a wide cinematic feel, The 10,000 Steps is an enchantingly persuasive lure into a world of wonder. Opening with soothing bells, “Ananda” spirits away the listener to a magical world hung on the elegance of Ms. Scott’s vocals. Shot through with piano, harmonium, trumpet, guitar, frame drum and tabla, the musical tapestry of The 10,000 Steps creates wonderlands of sound like the dreamy “Caeli et Terra” and the wildly rushing beauty of “The Tender Green.”

Chicago Cultural Center Presents (CCCP) is an ongoing showcase series that highlights critically acclaimed national and international musicians who are rarely seen by Chicago audiences in mainstream venues. On Sunday, May 11 at 6 pm, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs presents Klapa Grdelin from Zagreb. The concert takes place in the Claudia Cassidy Theater at the Chicago Cultural Center, 77 East Randolph Street. Admission is free.
 
 Since 2000, Klapa Grdelin has been exploring and expanding its repertoire, which includes original Dalmatian songs arranged by famous composers and ethnomusicologists like Jakov Gotovac, Ljubo Stipišiÿ, Dinko Fio, Duško Tambaÿa and others. Klapa Grdelin has found a valuable source of songs in the rich musical heritage of the city of Split and its surrounding area.

San Francisco (California), USA - Stern Grove Festival announced its 71st Season of 10 admission-free world music, Latin and roots music concerts, Sundays at 2:00 p.m. from June 15 through August 17, 2008 at Sigmund Stern Grove, located at 19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard in San Francisco. Since its founding in 1938, Stern Grove Festival has shared world-class performing arts with hundreds of thousands of visitors in one of the country’s most beautiful and unique natural settings.
 
 June 15 – Booker T. Jones and Bettye LaVette
 
 Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Booker T. Jones is a legendary figure in the world of R&B and popular music. Both as a solo artist and with the MG’s, Jones has amassed an impressive string of hits, including the instrumental“Green Onions,” and performed as a session musician on some of R&B’s most seminal songs, including “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay” and “Try a Little Tenderness.” 

Sa Dingding

Alive (Universal/Shanghai To-Wing Culture Development, 2008)

Chinese singer Sa Dingding is beginning to get well deserved worldwide attention thanks to her recent BBC World Music Award in the Asia/Pacific category. The key to her success is her captivating vocal style, together with Chinese and Tibetan traditions and instrumentation combined with cutting edge global grooves and electronica.

The photogenic vocalist sings in Mandarin Chinese, Sanskrit, Tibetan and also in an imaginary language she created. Sa Dingding is fascinated by Sanskrit and also incorporates evocative Tibetan Buddhism elements, such as mantras, adding vocal ensembles and chill out ambience as a counterbalance to the dance oriented pieces. 

World Music Central's Angel Romero recently visited Madrid, where he interviewed Manuel Domínguez, one of the key figures in the development of world music in Spain. Manuel Domínguez runs, together with Zazie Wurr, the renowned Nubenegra world music label. 

Nubenegra has been a key label in the production of world music and folk in Spain. Which is it the current focus of the label?

It has not changed. Simply, we try to run less risks knowing that sales are going to be lower and that the majority of sales will be at concerts. This means that it is becoming more difficult to record singers who need to hire musicians, arrangers, etc. Therefore, our priority are groups that help with promotion by willing to tour for a promotional fee. Neither do I record anyone that doesn't have a good live show. On the other hand, it is almost impossible to make recordings like we used to, such as A María Teresa Vera, or Rapindey, collective tribute albums, which have very little commercial viability at the present time.

In any way, I'm always alert, with my eyes attentive- or rather, with my ears, in case something unexpected arises, with personality, that invites me to dream again and to jump on the opportunity without worrying about the bottom line.

Music Crossroads - Africa’s largest youth-music program – has launched its first official website. The site is now live and will definitely surprise audiences with the wealth of Southern African musical talent pouring from over 10 years of musical empowerment in Southern Africa.

The Music Crossroads website is packed full of information, enabling anybody to get involved:  Participants can register for festivals, competitions and training programs; fans can find info on bands, tours, news and events; music lovers can sample the undiscovered music scenes of Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Supporters wanting to contribute can become active volunteers or make a donation to Southern African music; andt those looking for an unique African music festival experience can get all the latest information on the upcoming Music Crossroads IRF (7th-10th August 2008 in Lilongwe, Malawi)

Shastriya Syndicate

Syndicated  (Sense World Music, 2008)

Shastriya Syndicate is Purbayan Chatterjee's project. On the outstanding CD Syndicated (Sense World Music) he has brought together a group of young Indian masters, who are bringing new blood to Indian classical music. The virtuoso musicians fuse the music of North India (HIndistani) and South Inda (Carnatic).

While many Indian artists follow the traditional format of soloist and accompanist, Shastriya Syndicate brings together seven maestros who have the opportunity to collaborate, while at the same time they get to show their enviable skills.

Jovino Santos Neto - Alma do Nordeste (Adventure Music, 2008)
 
 Jorge Albuquerque, Marcos Amorim & Rafael Barata - Revolving Landscapes (Adventure Music, 2008)
 
 For his third release on Adventure Music, Brazilian jazz pianist and composer Jovino Santos Neto celebrates the music of Northeastern Brazil--and what a wealth of musical styles! "Alma do Nordeste (Soul of the Northeast)," features a variety of Brazilian genres including, Baião, xote, Forrò, marcha and others. Lush Afro-Brazilian polyrhythms provide a backdrop for swirling flute, woodwinds, lush accordion and gorgeous instrumental harmonies.
 
 From the cover art to the passionate musicianship of Jovino (piano, melodica, flute), Toninho Ferragutti (accordion), Gabriel Grossi (harmonica), Carlos Malta, Eduardo Neves and Marcelo Martins (woodwinds), Joseman Honaine (10 string guitar), Dudu Lima (basses), Marcio Bahia (drums), Tiago da Serrinha and Durval Pereira (percussion) and Pernambuco (voice)--whew!, this music feels like the sun bursting forth through layers of clouds. Especially on the title track, when the music breaks into a frenzy guided by Pernambuco's passionate vocals.