World Music Central

Somalian Hip Hop Artist K'Naan Will Perform at Earthdance 2008

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 02:29:55 -0400

Somalian Hip Hop artist K'Naan will be sharing his powerful message of global unity at Earthdance 2008. With his unique style, K'Naan brings an enormous dose of realness and urgency to the hip-hop world in a time when people are desperate for it. From a personal and cultural history rooted in poetry (being the grandson of one of Somalia's most famous poets ), K'Naan widens the traditional hip hop perspective.

Leaving Somalia at the age of thirteen on what turned out to be the very last commercial flight to ever do so, amidst a crumbling society and the end to this day of any form of central government, K'Naan carried with him a very strong sense of purpose. It is this sense of purpose as well as his amazing lyrical gift, which has made him a beacon for other artists as well as those dedicated to global change.

More about the festival at: Earthdance 2008 Festival in Northern California

Nominations for the 10th Annual Native American Music Awards Announced

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 09:50:58 -0400

New York (USA) - Nominations for the 10th Annual Native American Music Awards (NAMA) were announced this week by The Native American Music Association & Awards, reflecting the combined votes of the NAMA Advisory Board Nominating Committee Membership. This year is a monumental year for the organization which will now have nominated an estimated 1500 artists and honored 300 winners over the past decade.

A new limited edition “NAMMY” will be introduced this year commemorating the organization’s 10th Anniversary year. The 10th Annual Native American Music Awards will be held on Saturday, October 4, 2008 at the Seneca Entertainment Center in the Seneca Casino & Hotel in Niagara Falls, New York. Tickets for the 10th Annual Native American Music Awards are on-sale now through all ticketmaster outlets. The Awards show will again be broadcast on MHZ Networks in November to an estimated 30 million cable households.

New up-and-comers were nominated alongside established artists in a diverse array of 30 music categories. Blackfire, Blackfoot, Brule & AIRO, The Blessed Blend, The Crow Girls, and The Red Corn Band lead with three nominations each.

Tied with two nominations each are; Blu, Carroll Medicine Crow, Cherokee National Youth Choir, Cheryl Bear, Chief Seattle Speaks, Delbert Blackhorse, Douglas Blue Feather, Dream Scape, Eagle & Hawk, Producer Ed Stasium, Edmund Bull, Fara Palmer, Gilbert Begay Sr, Golana, Injunuity, J.C. Campbell, Jim Boyd, Ken Quiet Hawk, Medicine Dream, Native Roots, Nightshield, Primeaux & Mike, Pura Fe’, R Carlos Nakai, Rain Song, Red Feather Woman, Rezhogs, Robert Mirabal, Sotiw, Star Nayea, Stevie Salas, Tanya Brown, Terri Rivera Piatt & Lancy Goodman, Terry Lee Whetstone, Tiger Tiger, Tracy Bone and Walter Ahhaitty & Friends.

Nominated in the field of Record Of The Year are; Blackfire’s (Silence) Is a Weapon, Northern Cree & Friends’ Calling All Dancers, Vol. 6, Thee Express’ Express Yourself, Golana’s Mirror Lake, Brule’ & AIRO’s Live At Mt. Rushmore and Blackfoot’s Train Train.

This year's Song Single Of The Year nominees represent more musical works within the Pop/Folk genres that feature distinctive Native American elements; All Colors Together by RainSong Terry & Darlene Wildman, Broken Dreams by Nightshield, Going To Gathering by The Blessed Blend, Hey Cuzzin’! by Cheryl Bear, Sleep Is The Ocean by The Crow Girls, and Way of the Warrior by Medicine Dream.

"These nominations throughout our 30 music categories truly reflect a diverse and impressive range of new and established talent from our community," said Awards President Ellen Bello. "We are looking forward to a spectacular Awards celebration running the full spectrum of today’s most popular contemporary and traditional Native American music initiatives.” Special Recognition Awards will also be given to internationally acclaimed artists; Janice Marie Johnson of A Taste of Honey, Pat Vegas & Redbone, Felipe Rose of the Village People and Rickey Medlocke of Blackfoot and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Voting ballots to select the final winner in each category will be mailed to all Advisory Board voting members. Voting ballots are also available to the general public on the websites listed at the end of the article.

For a complete list of official nominees for the 10th Annual Native American Awards see below:

BEST WORLD MUSIC RECORDING

Celebrate – Native Roots
Dream Scape: Spirit Maiden – Dreamscape
Going Home – The Gathering
Journeys Through the Mist – The Blessed Blend
Sketches In Time – Derek Mortland, Michael Joseph
Sounds of Beauty – Estun – Bah

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Carroll Medicine Crow – Homeland Security
Delbert Blackhorse – The Four Directions
Jim Boyd – Blues To Bluegrass
Johnny Whitehorse – Totemic Flute Chants
Stevie Salas – Sun and the Earth, Vol. 1
Terry Lee Whetstone – The Best of the Best

BEST BLUES RECORDING

Deep Downtown – Jimmy Wolf
Goin' for It – Terry Tsotigh
Graywolf Blues Band – Graywolf Blues Band
Hold the Rain – Pura Fe’
Levi Platero – Levi Platero & The Plateros
Sir Harrison and the Blues Kings – Sir Harrison & The Blues Kings

BEST COMPILATION RECORDING

Calling All Dancers, Vol. 6 – Northern Cree & Friends
Heart of the Bitterroot – Various
Navajo Christmas – Todi Neesh Zhee Singers
Old Style Round Dance Songs – Various
The Best of the Best – Terry Lee Whetstone (2)
The Native Hip Hop Hour Volume One – Various

DEBUT ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Blu – Rez Life
Cheryl Bear – Good Road
Chucki Begay – Songs From My Heart
Ghosthorse – Ksa
Gilbert Begay Sr – Traditional Navajo Shoe Game Songs
Slavior - Slavior

DEBUT GROUP OF THE YEAR

191 N. – 5 Bucks Gas
Injunuity – Unconquered
Moon Lodge Singers – Cultural Legacy: Fights Alone
Pimadiziwin Singers – Save the Last Round Dance for Me
The Breeze Band – The Breeze Band
The Crow Girls – Sleep is the Ocean

BEST FEMALE ARTIST

Fara Palmer – Phoenix
Nicole – Deep Dreams
Pura Fe’ – Hold the Rain
Radmilla Cody – Precious Friends
Star Nayea – Silenced My Tongue
Tracy Bone – No Lies (2)

BEST FOLK RECORDING

Blue Moon – Terri Rivera Piatt & Lancy Goodman
Nikawiy Askiy – Sandy Scofield
Red Lodge – Danielle Egnew
Where The Green Grass Grows – The Crow Girls (2)
Wind of the North – Violet Naytovhow
Wolfgirl – Arlette

FLUTIST OF THE YEAR

Jan Michael Looking Wolf – Unity
JJ Kent – I Am Red
Moontee Sinquah – Freedom
Tim Yett – Creating Sacred Space
Tommy Wildcat – Red Fire People
Xavier Quijas Yxayotl – The Color of Morning

GROUP OF THE YEAR

Blackfire – (Silence) Is A Weapon
Brule’ & AIRO – Live At Mt. Rushmore
Eagle & Hawk – Red Road Stories
Native Roots – Celebrate
Primeaux & Mike w/Xavier Quijas Yxayotl – The Color of Morning
The Red Corn Band – Still No Good (2)

BEST HISTORICAL RECORDING

Chief Seattle Speaks 1854 – Red Hawk
Journeys Through the Mist – The Blessed Blend (2)
Oklahoma Style – Walter Ahhaitty & Friends
Omeigwessi Reel Metis: A Tribute To Walter Flett – Omeigwessi Ensemble
Precious Memories – Cherokee National Youth Choir

BEST INSTRUMENTAL RECORDING

Dream Scape: Spirit Maiden – Dream Scape
Mirror Lake – Golana
Sacred Land – Johnsy G The Whisper
Spirit Progression – Larry Redhouse
Unconquered – Injunuity
York Boats & Legends – Ryan D’Aoust

BEST MALE ARTIST

Clinton Denny – Prayers for My Fathers
Edmund Bull – Follow Your Dreams
Exitwound: The Native Axeman – After the Storm
J.C. Campbell – Lazy James
Johnny Mike – My Spirit Soars
Ken Quiet Hawk – The Story Tellers

BEST NATIVE AMERICAN CHURCH RECORDING

A Vision of Spiritual Blessing – Merlinda Woody
First Light – Cheevers Toppah & Kevin Yazzie
Humble Prayers – Denise Becenti
Mourning Praise Unto Our Creator – Meewasin Oma
New Beginning – Janelle Turtle
The Four Directions – Delbert Blackhorse (2)

BEST NEW AGE RECORDING

Crown of Stars – Blue Feather, Dunlap & Henke
Deep Dreams – Nicole (2)
Homeland Security – Carroll Medicine Crow (2)
Kokyo – Devin Village Stone /Kiwamura
Points of Origin – Anthony Wakeman & Mr Soon
Voyagers – R Carlos Nakai, Udi Bar-David, Will Clipman

BEST POP RECORDING

Eye of the Tiger – Tiger Tiger
In the Blood – Robert Mirabal
Love Birds – Archie Cavanaugh
Phoenix – Fara Palmer
The Outsiders – Rezhogs
Tribal Trance – Socie Sal*censormode*er

BEST POW WOW RECORDING

5 Bucks Gas – 191 N. (2)
Blue Scout – Tha Tribe
Hear the Beat – Blackfoot Confederacy
Honoring Women Veterans – Zotigh Singers
Oklahoma Style – Walter Ahhaitty & Friends
The Elk Way – Elk Soldier

BEST PRODUCER

Adrian Brown, Tim Sampson, Jonathon Joss – Still No Good
Douglas Blue Feather – A Crown Of Stars
Ed Stasium – (Silence) Is A Weapon
JC Campbell, Tracy Bone, DJ St Germain- Lazy James
Kelly Parker – Follow Your Dreams
R. Carlos Nakai, Udi Bar-David, Robert Doyle – Voyagers

RECORD OF THE YEAR

(Silence) Is A Weapon – Blackfire
Calling All Dancers – Northern Cree & Friends
Express Yourself – Thee Express
Mirror Lake - Golana
Live At Mt. Rushmore – Brule’ & AIRO
Train Train – Blackfoot

BEST ROCK RECORDING

(Silence) Is A Weapon – Blackfire
Blues To Bluegrass – Jim Boyd
Learning To Fly- Medicine Dream
The Sun & The Earth – Stevie Salas
Train Train – Blackfoot
Wanted Alive – XIT

SONG/SINGLE OF THE YEAR

All Colors Together – RainSong Terry & Darlene Wildman
Broken Dreams – Nightshield
Going To Gathering – The Blessed Blend
Hey Cuzzin’! – Cheryl Bear
Sleep Is The Ocean – The Crow Girls
Way of the Warrior – Medicine Dream

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

Alex E Smith, Cheevers Toppah, Nitanis “Kit” Landry – Harmony Nights
Derek Mortland, Michael Joseph – Sketches In Time
Lee & Stephen Tiger – Eye of The Tiger
Michael Jeans – Leather & Feathers
Star Nayea – Silenced My Tongue
Vince Fontaine, Lawrence Mullhall – Red Road Stories

BEST SPOKEN WORD RECORDING

Artificial Red – Randy Kemp
Chief Seattle Speaks 1854 – Red Hawk
Distant Drums – Red Feather Woman
Tales >From The Lodge – Debra Morningstar
The Story Tellers – Ken Quiet Hawk

BEST TRADITIONAL RECORDING

Brand New Day – Tanya Brown
My Father’s Fire Dance Songs – Mary Smith
Po'li – Clark Tenakhongva
Rezmerized – Ryon Polequptena
Traditional Navajo Shoe Songs –Gilbert Begay Sr
Waiting With The Cellular – Navajo Nation Singers

BEST RAP HIP HOP RECORDING

Blest With Skills – Blest One
I Am Universal – Buggin Malone
Loved & Hated – Nightshield
Native American Hustle – Dago Braves
Paranormal: The War Within – Maniac The Siouxpernatural
Rez Life – Blu (2)

BEST SHORT FORM MUSIC VIDEO

Brave New World – Robert Mirabal
Dirty Water – Michael Bucher
Drinking Song – Rezhogs
The Enlightened Time – Jana
Times We’ve Had – NDN
Vision Quest - AIRO

BEST LONG FORM MUSIC VIDEO

Eye of the Tiger – Tiger Tiger
Live At Mt Rushmore: Concert For Reconciliation of the Cultures – Brule’ & AIRO
Live In Concert – Michael Searching Bear
Our Land Our Life- Joanne Shenandoah
The 8th Fire – Andy Pickard, Cindy Pickard, Tom Bee
Train Train – Blackfoot

NATIVE HEART

Ed Stasium – (Silence) Is A Weapon
Jeff Ball – The Shape of Light
Jonny Lipford – Transitions: Out of the Flames & Into The Wind
Peter Kater – Sacred Earth: Wind of the North
Richard Stepp – The Sacred Journey
William Hoshal – A Rumor of the Sun

BEST COUNTRY RECORDING

Follow Your Dreams – Edmund Bull
Mysterys – QuaTiSi
No Lies – Tracy Bone
Still No Good – The Red Corn Band
Crystal Shawanda – Crystal Shawanda

BEST GOSPEL/INSPIRATIONAL RECORDING

Heartbeat of the Creator – Kelly Montijo Fink
I’ve Come Too Far To Look Back – Thelma Emerson
Journeys Through the Mist – The Blessed Blend
Precious Memories – Cherokee National Youth Choir
Rise Up & Dance – RainSong: Terry & Darlene Wildman
Singing Heavenly & Free – Joe Tohonnie Jr

Vote now: www.votenative.com or www.nativeamericanmusicawards.com

Photo 1 - R Carlos Nakai, Photo 2 - Pura Fe

Umalali - Live in Concert at WorldBeat Center in San Diego

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:30:02 -0400

WorldBeat Cultural Center in San Diego (California) pays homage to Andy Palacio's activist legacy with performances by Umalali (Garifuna for voice) which adds four powerful women's voices to the potent 8-member Garifuna Collective. This multi-generational (from ages 25 to 80) ensemble's compelling polyrhythms, memorable melodies and soaring voices reflects both West African and Caribbean heritages. It defines and maintains the threatened music of the Garifuna community - from Belize, Honduras and Guatemala - by treasuring and respecting their traditions, but within a modern context.

Descendents of shipwrecked African slaves who intermarried with the Carib and Arawak Indians of the Caribbean, the Garifuna people live primarily in small towns and villages on the Caribbean coast of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.

Umalali: The Garifuna Women's Project expands on the story of this fascinating community, which is struggling to retain its language, music and traditions in the face of globalization. the group blends the rich vocal textures of Garifuna women with echoes of rock, blues, funk, African, Latin and Caribbean music.

Wednesday, Aug 27th @ 8:00pm
$12 adv.
WorldBeat Center
2100 Park Blvd. San Diego, CA 92101

Buy the CD:

In North America: Umalali - The Garifuna Women's Project
In Europe: Umalali - The Garifuna Women's Project

Get concert tickets

City of Chicago Celebrates in 2008 the 10th Anniversary of World Music Festival: Chicago

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:15:32 -0400

Chicago is gearing up to showcase the best of today's international music at the 10th Annual World Music Festival: Chicago 2008. This year the festival takes place September 19-25, 2008. The city wide, multi-venue, one-week festival has attracted nearly 500,000 people from Chicago and beyond since its inception in 1999. Organized by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA), the Festival, which showcases both traditional and contemporary music from diverse cultures across the world, has presented more than 500 artists and ensembles from more than 50 countries in its 10-year run.

The 2008 edition features more than 70 events at 21 venues, of which 38 are admission free. The line-up includes more than 65 artists representing 39 countries, including 30 artists that will make their Chicago debut at the Festival. As part of the "One World Under One Roof" closing night event at the Chicago Cultural Center (September 25, 6 - 11 pm), the Festival is debuting an International Market Place, featuring more than 30 arts, crafts and food vendors and more.

“When the Festival began, it was one of the only international music festivals in the country, “ said DCA Senior Program Director Michael Orlove. “Ten years later, we are still proud to continue our mission of providing accessible and affordable music programming to the City of Chicago through this exciting Festival.”

“World Music Festival has debuted so many international artists to Chicago audiences,” said DCA Program Coordinator Brian Keigher. “Groups like Gogol Bordello, Lila Downs, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Yerba Buena, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Balkan Beat Box, Antibalas and more have not only played the Festival, but have returned to Chicago many times because there’s an audience for them here now.”

For more information, call the World Music Festival Hotline at 312.742.1938 or visit www.CityofChicago.org/WorldMusic.

17 North Parade Releases Early Dancehall on Selector’s Choice- The Powerhouse Productions Volumes 1-4

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 01:38:44 -0400

Reggae label 17 North Parade has put together the most comprehensive collection to date from the legendary George Phang’s Powerhouse label. Taken straight from the studio archives, Selector’s Choice – Powerhouse Productions Volumes 1-4 feature rare classic material that played a crucial role in the evolution of dancehall. Organized by riddim, these must-have selections define the critical period between the heady days of roots reggae and the evolving ‘80s dancehall.

Entering the business in the early 1980s, before the advent of digital riddims, Phang was one of the first producers to unite instrumentalists possessing strong roots credentials—most notably the Riddim Twins, Sly & Robbie—with dancehall vocal pioneers. Mixing roots vibes with dancehall innovation, Phang set a tone for the 80s that reverberates powerfully to this day with Powerhouse hits still mashing up the dance as well as holding a permanent grasp on the collective memory of dancehall fans worldwide.

Beginning with Half Pint’s dancehall classic, Greetings, and Barrington Levy’s Money Move, Phang continued to score hits with Frankie Paul’s Tidal Wave, Roll Call from Tenor Saw, Sugar Minot’s Buy Off The Bar and Galong Galong Galong from Yellowman, not to mention countless others. For the first time, Selector’s Choice – Powerhouse Productions Volumes 1-4 puts them all within easy reach.

The quality as well as the quantity of hits Powerhouse strung together between 1984 and 1989 underscore its legacy and critical place in reggae collections everywhere. The 160 tracks featured in this 8-disc compilation (and sold separately on four double-discs), including foundation riddims such as Final Mission, Answer and Lecturer, are a roadmap to Phang’s genius.

For those curious about the changeover from roots reggae to dancehall, this unparalleled set of Powerhouse productions will undoubtedly help make the transition understandable. The sets are specially packaged with new liner notes and photos.

Buy the CDs:

In North America: Power House Selector's Choice Vol. 1, Power House Selector's Choice Vol. 2 , Power House Selector's Choice Vol. 3, and Power House Selector's Choice Vol. 4

Ubiquitous Grooves

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:17:32 -0400

NOMO- Ghost Rock (Ubiquity Recordings URCD230, 2008)

The Lions- Jungle Struttin' (Ubiquity Recordings URCD222, 2008)

Headquartered just down the road from me in Southern California, the Ubiquity label can always be counted on to put out music that expands the mind and moves the feet, be it soul, rare groove, funk, jazz, electronica, hip hop, breakbeats, fusion or something uncategorizable. Two of their recent releases give a cutting-edge jolt to familiar genres -Afrobeat and reggae- with characteristically fine results.

Not that NOMO, a Michigan-based outfit, is a traditional Afrobeat band in the Fela Kuti sense. There’s more than a suggestion of Afrobeat in their churning percussion and blazing horns, but many of the tracks on Ghost Rock are overlaid with futuristic sounds that often comprise the better part of the melody without dampening the more earthy kick of unfailingly tight and swinging beats.

Despite their use of synthesizers, electronically treated instruments and even the sound of a brainwave monitor on the opening track, they know when a human touch is needed. So when they put jazzy solos, rockish guitar or far-off strains of mbira or gamelan atop the underlying funk, they do it with an expertise that compliments the flair of the more eccentric sounds and narrows the gap between experimental and traditional music. And with guest players like Hamid Drake and Adam Rudolph (formerly of the groundbreaking Mandingo Griot Society), they’re in good company. If this is where Afrobeat is headed, we should all be along for the ride.

The Lions, a collective of Los Angeles players led by former Antibalas trumpeter Todd Simon, could likewise easily be described as a band specializing in instrumental reggae. Jamaican riddims are what mainly fuels Jungle Struttin,' though by the time the title track rolls out a smooth funk attack, it’s clear there’s other forces at work. That said, you couldn’t ask for better than the Lions’ rough, tough brand of reggae- it’s full of dub inflections, smoky horns, choppy guitars, quirky accents from keyboards and percussion and the sort of drums and bass team that would be in demand in Kingston, Jamaica at any time in the last four decades.

The obvious (and positive) influence of such great Jamaican studio sound-crafters as King Tubby is solidly present as well. But these cats like to mix it up a bit, doing so with great skill on “Cumbia del Leon,” which adds a Colombian bounce, the Augustus Pablo-like “Lankershim Dub” and through the addition of vocals that have a just-walked-up-to-the-microphone freshness on “Ethio-Steppers,” “Sweet Soul Music” and a cover of “Think (About it).” This band is entitled to a bit of strutting, given the very high quality of the work they’ve done here.

Buy the CDs:

In North America: Ghost Rock and Jungle Struttin'
In Europe: NOMO- Ghost Rockand Jungle Struttin'

Earthdance 2008 Festival in Northern California

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 02:19:59 -0400

The 12th anniversary Earthdance Festival will take place on September 12th, 13th, and 14th at the renowned Black Oak Ranch, a property rich in native history and old growth oak trees. For 2008, Earthdance Northern California will unite with over 400 locations in 65 countries across the world to create a conscious global festival.

The Earthdance Northern California Festival will bring together an unprecedented line-up of conscious musicians, visual artists, DJ's, speakers and activists, who believe in a sustainable future for our planet. Working with the theme of "unity in diversity", the festival will host 5 music stages and will feature high profile conscious artists from many genres of the international music scene, including World, Electronica, Hip Hop, Folk and Jazz. One of this year's highlights will be an indigenous elder's council, made up of indigenous elders from many nations, who will share wisdom and sacred ceremony.

2008 Artist Sneak Peak:

Michael Franti and Spearhead
Digable Planets
Neko Case
Kinky
Anthony B
Ivan Neville's Dumstaphunk
JJ Grey and Mofro
K'Naan * just added *
Praang (featuring Steve Kimock, Travis, Hann, Janover)
Buckethead
Queen Omega
Wisdom
Goddess Alchemy Project
Blame Sally
Moonalice
Lafa Taylor
Soul Majestic
Yosi Fine
Lynx with Janover
Tina Malia
Hill Country Revue
Youssou Sidibe

Website: www.EarthdanceLive.com

The Rough Guide To Latin Street Party

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 01:40:26 -0400

San Francisco (California), USA - The Rough Guide to Latin Street Party is a collection of Latin street beats that represents both mainstream and alternative visions of música bailable (dance music). From retro cover versions of classics recorded faithfully in analog to digital mash-up remixes, Rough Guide to Latin Street Party has it all for a Latino sound system: salsa, merengue, bachata, cumbia, reggaetón, Latin soul, and all points in between.

In a ‘rum-fuelled' recording session at Candela Studios in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 2005, international DJ/producer/musicans Quantic and Nickodemus wanted to make a tune that combined house and Latin, breakbeat and jazz, with a tempo that sped up from 95bpm to about 118. They sped up the original beat they were working on for another tune and asked the members of Candela Allstars to continue grooving to the rhythm track, with excellent results.

A fascinating mix of ‘street' beats and Caribbean spice comes from Los De Abajo that takes its name from a classic novel about the Mexican Revolution. The group fervently believes that change comes from the ground up. Also into blending styles, Sidestepper came about when UK producer Richard Blair took a trip to Bogotá, Colombia. While transforming the club scene there, Blair formed creative relationships with the country's young musical innovators. Upon his return to London, Blair adopted the DJ handle ‘Sidestepper' and immersed himself in the burgeoning drum and bass scene, and several groundbreaking albums later he has forged an interesting hybrid of Jamaican, UK and Latin styles.

Many R&B and funk classics of the 1960s and 1970s have the Latin clave beat in their DNA; pianist Alex Wilson and expressive soul diva Lauren Dalrymple make these connections explicit in their smoldering interpretation of Bill Withers' massive hit ‘Use Me'. For all of those who thought authentic analogue salsa dura was in hiding and Latin jazz had gone all smooth, here's the real deal: the new album by Gilberto ‘Pulpo' Colón Jr, a man who as Héctor Lavoe's pianist for sixteen years needs no introduction. The session musicians and arrangers are also topnotch.

Colombia's ‘heavy salsa' ambassadors Sonora Carruseles came about as a reaction to the overly smooth and pop-oriented salsa romantica taking over in their native country and emanating from Miami/New York in the mid-1980s.

The New York-born Dominican immigrant diaspora of late has been shaking up the world of traditional bachata and merengue. Since their massive 2002 hit ‘Obsessión', Aventura has been turning heads with its genre-bashing take on the once purely acoustic and marginalized form of bachata, steadily gaining fans and awards in the wake of their intense touring. The group is formed by the four Santos brothers. Brothers Rafa, Luis and Toño Rosario, AKA Los Hermanos Rosario have come a long way since their humble beginnings in Higüey, and after thirty years in the business they are still filling stadiums and creating infectious merengue.

Ricardo Lemvo and his Makina Loca are essential to any global street party, and his fifth album, Isabela, is one nonstop intercontinental fiesta. On ‘Mentirosa', an intense charanga—rap hybrid, we are treated to the special talents of composer and vocalist Jesús A. Pérez ‘El Niño', whose distinctive Cuban flavorings of authentic Spanish language soneos (improvised singing), flute and piano serve to complement Ricardo's sweet Lingala.

This compilation also features The Pimps Of Joytime, Chiqui Rodríguez, José Alex y Los Trotamundos, Chale Brillante Y Su Gambino, Magic Juan Featuring Puerto Rican Power and Jesús Pagan y Su Orquesta

Buy the CD:

In North America: Rough Guide to Latin Street Party
In Europe: The Rough Guide to Latin Street Party

Renowned Irish Band Dervish to Bring the Spirit of Irish Music "Sessions" to American Airwaves for the First Time

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 01:08:50 -0400

Sligo, Ireland ? The Irish music "session" – regularly connected with the great pubs of Ireland and the wild beauty of the west of Ireland – is now set to take a new path on American airwaves. Renowned Irish traditional band Dervish will bring the sounds of a spirited Irish session to American public radio audiences through a weekly radio program, "Irish Heartbeat with Dervish." The program goes into production this month at the band's Sligo studios in the West of Ireland.

Hosted by Dervish's charismatic lead singer Cathy Jordan, the program will feature guests from among Ireland and the United State's top traditional and roots musicians, as well as noted figures from Ireland's literary and wider arts world. Already confirmed are Matt Molloy (of The Chieftains) with John Carty, Moya Brennan of Clannad, The Celtic Tenors, Irish rock band The Saw Doctors, singer Susan McKeown, fiddler Frankie Gavin (De Dannan), and leading traditional groups Danú and Téada. Many others are in discussion.

Spellbinding music, exciting collaborations and engaging conversations with guests will all be part of "Irish Heartbeat with Dervish." Listeners will get a true sense of sitting close in a music session at a pub or party in Ireland—a memorable experience with lively instrumental tunes traded back and forth, moving songs, chat, laughter, and always a great sense of fun, or as the Irish say, "craic" (prounounced crack).

"Irish Heartbeat with Dervish" will launch initially on flagship station WCMU-FM (an NPR-affiliate in Michigan) and its seven-station network later this year, and will be offered to over 800 public radio stations across the country. A Christmas special is in the works, with plans for a St Patrick's Day show as well as broadcasts from some of Ireland's major festivals and landmarks. The program's website irishheartbeat.ie has just been launched, and will be regularly updated with program and guest information, audio clips, and more. (For now, information can be found at the band's website, dervish.ie.)

Radio Telefís Éireann (RTE), Ireland's public service broadcaster, has committed to "Irish Heartbeat with Dervish" and plans to begin airing the program there on its new digital audio channel later this year.

The program is the brainchild of Dervish co-founder and accordion player Shane Mitchell. "We wanted to capture the character and spirit of a pub session, which is the natural home of our music," he says. "We came up with the idea of a regular radio show with guests jamming with the band, to send to America. I must say I've never seen the band so excited about a project!" The members of Dervish will make up the program's house band.

Together since 1989, Dervish is considered one of the Irish music world's leading performers. The six-member group has released 10 albums and two DVDs on their own Whirling Disc label, and have received numerous awards including "Trad Band of the Year" for 2007 by Hot Press (Ireland's top music publication) and Irish Music Magazine's "Band of the Year" a decade earlier. Michael Flatley (Riverdance, Lord of the Dance) called them the "best band in Ireland."

The Queen of World Music Goes Acoustic

Sat, 23 Aug 2008 02:57:14 -0400

Natacha Atlas

Ana Hina (World Village, 2008)

Natacha Atlas is one of the most charismatic and creative artists in the world music scene. With every new recording she has managed to stay fresh and appealing. Atlas' new CD, Ana Hina takes her in a new direction. Left behind are the flirtings with R&B and electronica. Instead, she has turned her attention to acoustic Arabic music.

For this project, Natacha Atlas called British musical director and arranger Harvey Brough. the cast of international musicians is impressive. The participants in the album include Clara Sanabras (Spain) oud and voice; Natacha’s cousin Aly el Minyawi (London via Cairo ) percussion; Andy Hamill (Scotland) double bass; Gamil Awad (a star in Egypt who played on some of this repertoire the first time around) on accordion, soloing in the Nubian style.

The material in Ana Hina includes new versions of songs by popular Egyptian and Western artists (Fairuz and the Rahbani Brothers, Abdel Halim Hafez, and Nine Simone) as well as original pieces by Atlas and her musicians.

This another musical gem by one of world music's finest artists.

Two American concerts are scheduled for November:

Nov. 6 San Francisco Jazz Festival – Herbst Theatre, San Francisco
Nov. 9 The El Rey – Los Angeles

Buy the CD or download:

In North America: Ana Hina
In Europe: Natacha Atlas