World Music

There is so much great stuff out there right now, as this is a seperate thread I hope you don't mind if I repeat some of my recent postings.

I'm very much focused on Africa right now and Mali has some fantastic artist - there is Toumani Diabate, but my first recommendation is a femal voice from Mali ~ Rokia Traore

He may be considered a bit westernized to strictly qualify, but Richard Bona deserves a mention. A bass player and vocalist I first heard him played by my local dealer and was blown away.



His 2001 album 'Reverence' is a good place to start, but if you like that you'll soon buy the other 3 which are equally excellent.

Off to check out Rokia Traore...

Ian

Will have to check out Richard Bona, Lontano mentioned him to me as well the other day.

For today I'm staying with great femal African voices, this time from the Ivory Coast ~ Dobet Gnahore

quote:

For today I'm staying with great female African voices

I've a very big World collection, probably 50% from Africa. If you want to stick with female voclaists check out Oumou Sangare, Angelique Kidjo.

I cannot rate the Sterns Music site too highly; a huge selection and you can listen to almost everything (in full) before buying. Don't forget the Real World Music site either. Peter Gabriel's label almost never disappoint.

I must say Richard Bona left me cold (too jazzy, too smooth) but I cannot leave any World Music thread without plugging a few of my favourites.

These three on Real World

Renee Ongala: Songs for The Poor Man
Geoffrey Oryema: Beat The Border
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: Musst Musst (everyone should own this album-utter genius)

and on World Circuit

Ali Farke Toure and Ry Cooder: Talking Timbuktu
Toumani Diabate: The Mande Variations.

I could continue!

Bruce

Of course I know what people mean by "world music," but it's actually a Western-centric perception. For me, all music is world music.

Here are just a few of my favorites:


Milton - Milton Mascimento



Joyful life-affirming Brazilian singer/songwriter with Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock and Brazilian band. Music doesn't get any better.


Soro - Salif Keita



Tuneful, bittersweet grooves, like a North African Weather Report with voices. Soulful sophistication.


Weaving My Ancestors' Voices - Sheila Chandra



Her ancestors' voices are Carnatic and Celtic; her voice is liquid gold, and her imagination is fertile. On Peter Gabriels' Real World label.


Raga Rasa: That Which Colors the Mind - Kartik Seshadri



Ravi Shankar is a wonderful musician with a great legacy, but Seshadri has a less "twiddly" almost funky style. Deeply soulful and sublime.

All best,
Fred

quote:

Originally posted by Bruce Woodhouse:

quote:

For today I'm staying with great female African voices

I've a very big World collection, probably 50% from Africa. If you want to stick with female voclaists check out Oumou Sangare, Angelique Kidjo.
Bruce

Like your recommendations, am not familiar with Oumou Sangare, will have to check it out.

Lontano and I had the pleasure of seeing Cesaria Evora - a Cape Verdean- a few month back here in Sydney. Here is her 1995 S/T album.



Cheers ... Oliver

quote:

Originally posted by fred simon:
.... "world music," but it's actually a Western-centric perception. For me, all music is world music.
All best,
Fred

Very true Fred, love Ravi Shankar and your other recommendations but will have to check out Sheila Chandra.

quote:

Originally posted by MilesSmiles:

Very true Fred, love Ravi Shankar and your other recommendations but will have to check out Sheila Chandra.

I didn't write it as clearly as I should have ... the raga album I'm recommending is actually not by Ravi Shankar but by sitarist Kartik Seshadri. I was trying to explain why I prefer his playing to Shankar's. Sorry if there was any confusion.

All best,
Fred

Someone mentioned Cesaria Evora, a wonderful singer.

I strongly recommend her 1992 album Miss Perfumado. All her albums are good, but this is one of her very best, my own personal favorite, and it's widely considered one of the finest in the morna genre.






All best,
Fred

From the CUMBANCHA label web site:

While recent headlines are dominated by news of conflict and war in the Middle East, an Israeli musical collaborative has achieved success by looking beyond intercultural differences and celebrating the value of diversity. With its blend of traditional Ethiopian folk music, Arabic poetry, Yemenite chants, Biblical psalms and Caribbean rhythms.

One of my favorite more recently released albums ... Cheers Oliver

Miles-that looks interesting, might check it out. Have you heard of 'The Garifuna Womens Collective' on the same label? Full of soul and naturally joyful singing.

Bruce

quote:

Originally posted by Bruce Woodhouse:
Miles-that looks interesting, might check it out. Have you heard of 'The Garifuna Womens Collective' on the same label? Full of soul and naturally joyful singing.

Bruce

Bruce I have the Garifuna Womens Collective album and it is very good indeed. This is an interesting label and MilesSmiles and I have been buying up most of their releases.

I enjoyed this one also.

Andy Palacio sadly recently died.

tribute

quote:

Originally posted by Diccus62:
Andy Palacio sadly recently died.

tribute

Thanks - did not know that

quote:

Originally posted by Diccus62:
Andy Palacio sadly recently died. tribute

... did not know that either, very sad at his age. RIP Andy.

I recommend Modeste.

You can listen to samples of him on the Stern Website

Peter

Hi,

some more:
Basekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba - Segu Blue
Amadou & Miriam - Dimanche a Bamako
Baaba Maal - Missing You
Baaba Maal - Bayoo
Tinariwen - Aiman Iman: Water is Life
Salif Keita - Mouffou
Salif Keita - M'Bemba
Orchestra Baobab - Specialist All Styles
Toumani Diabate & Ballake Sissoko - New Ancient Strings
Ali Farka Toure - The Source
Ali Farka Toure - The River
Richard Bona - Tiki
Cheikh Lo - Lamp Fall

and some "Real World label":
Estrella Morente - My Songs and a Poem
Daby Toure - Djam
Tama - Nostalgia
Nusrat Fateh Ali khan - Night Song

regards
rui

... got this one today from the clear out bin ...

Afro Celts Sound System, kinda self explanatory.

quote:

Originally posted by munch:
If you wont some world music?
Look on Peter Gabriel's site there is loads of good music on cd and vinyl on there.

Munch,

Anything in particular you recommend?

Mustt Mustt
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

quote:

Originally posted by Mario:

Mustt Mustt
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

Mario, great recommendation. I like him a lot but don't have this one - well, it will be on the wishlist now.

My mom played this record all the time in the 70s (wish I still had the vinyl) and now I bought it as an XRCD.

"Esther" - Esther Ofarims ATR XRCD 01
Esther Ofarims (Author), Chamber Orchestra of Munich Philharmonic (Performer)

Like others that have commented the labelling of 'World Music' bugs me.
I guess it's because 'WM' doesn't really mean anything IMHO.
I've found myself avoiding the term, & when someone asks “who's that?” I explain the detail rather than say “it's WM.”

My ears were well & truly opened when I 1st went to a WOMAD festival in 1985.
I attended because there were various bands like New Order, The Pogues, The Fall, etc playing. It really opened up my mind in general & musical interests specifically, & I'm still grateful to 'em.



My favourites, both artist & record ...

Toumani Diabate
Malian Kora genius; if you only have room for one in your collection this is the one!





Ali Farke Toure – Another Malian genius.
Ali took traditional Mailian music & played it on the electric guitar.
His music is famously described by Martin Scorsese as the D.N.A. of the blues with good reason.





Also well worth the money is the collaboration by Ali & Toumani




Sabri Brothers - Qawalli ensemble, so along the lines of Nusrat Fatah Ali Khan and ensemble, but my favorite due to their instrumentation.
Amazingly 'Ya Habib' (image below) is still Real World's best selling record,
although it was released in 1993!





However I do own eight Nusrat records, so here's my pick ...
Night Song - Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan & Michael Brook





Baaba Maal
Senegalese master mixes a fantastic contemporary sound fusing electronic with dance and traditional music.





Olodum aka Banda Olodum
Afro-Brazilian cultural group from Bahia, Brazil.
Afro-Caribbean rhythms and mixed them with the Brazilian samba.
I've seen them live many times, but sadly I've always found their records disappointing,
so can anyone recommend one?



Ayub Ogarda
From Kenya he plays the nyatiti, a stringed instrument reminiscent of the lyre.

'En Mana Kuoyo' on Real World





Shu-De
Throat singers from Mongolia. Like Marmite I'm sure this is a love or hate thing!

'Voices from the Distant Steppe' on Real World




I could go on, & on, & on ...



I will just add the WOMAD festivals are great!
Very friendly, both for children & grown-ups.
Of course an amazing mix of music on offer,
& the line-up this years at Charlton Park event is epic.