NEWSLETTER #131
Ethnic & World Music
Moh Alileche -> Ecos De Borinquen
| AFRICA-ALGERIA | MOH ALILECHE | Flag Of Freedom 003 | The Source Of Water (Taawit) | ● CD $16.98 |
| 9 tracks, recommended. Excellent Amazigh music of Kabylia,
Algeria. Variety of warm, rich, often lively music with a fine small group.
Much like other music of North Africa & the Middle East, but with its own
distinguishing flavor. Alileche is an excellent singer and a master of the
mondol, a five double-silk-stringed lute of Kabylia. Most instrumentation
characteristic of the region (primarily bendir, dumbek, tambourine, qanun,
violin, banjo, ney). The indigenous Amazigh (aka Berber), long oppressed by
Arab & French, currently face a human rights crisis at the hands of the
Algerian government. Alileche's compositions combine sounds of the Amazigh
tradition with lyrics of their struggle; delivered with a passion which
transcends language barriers. (JVI) |
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| AFRICA-SOUTH AFRICA | VARIOUS ARTISTS | African Cream 013 | Archive Africa - Jazz, Jive & Jibe | ● CD $17.98 |
| Pretty much straight ahead jazz performed by various South
African groups recorded in the 50s and 60s including Miriams Trio with Theo
Bophela, Gordon Mfandu Trio, Los Vbros Featuring Francis Kekane, Chris
MacGregor & The Blue Notes, The Cool Cats, Dollar Brand & Sathima Benjamin,
Pat Matchikiza Trio, The Rhythm Aces and others. |
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| AFRICA-SOUTH AFRICA | VARIOUS ARTISTS | World Music Network 1099 | Rough Guide To South African Gospel | ● CD $14.98 |
| 22 tracks, 73 mins, essential. Simply beautiful and
mesmerizing music. Gospel music is one of the most popular music forms in
South Africa and this collection shows why. Most of the performances are by
groups ranging from quartets to large choirs - some unaccompanied, some with
just rhythm percussion sounds and others with small instrumental groups
playing in the style of mbaqanga. The songs have consistently beautiful
melodies and the vocal harmonies are simply stunning - dense and layered
with different vocal lines going on the same time - it's hard to describe
but the effect is spine chilling. The performances here were recorded
between 1961 and 1994 and are sung in the Zulu, Sotho and Xhosa languages
except for the Kings Messengers Quartet whose beautiful reading of the
gospel song There's Room Enough brings to mind the great
African-American acapella quartets of the 40s and early 50s. A number of the
songs have passages of wordless chanting which only adds to the beauty of he
performances. This glorious set was compiled and annotated by South African
music expert Rob Allingham. (FS) |
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| AFRICA-UGANDA | VARIOUS ARTISTS | Smithsonian Folkways 40504 | Abayudaya - Music From The Jewish People Of Uganda | ● CD $15.98 |
| Fascinating album featuring recent recordings of this small
community of Africans who practice the Jewish religion. The music blends the
rhythm and harmonies of African music with traditional Hebrew prayer. |
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| ASIA | VARIOUS ARTISTS | Topic 921 | Before The Revolution | ● CD $16.98 |
| 23 tracks, 67 minutes, highly recommended for adventurous
ears. First off, these 1909 recordings ARE quite listenable, though
certainly not hi-fi; and the amazing music on this CD is a must for anyone
with a serious interest in music of these regions as it existed before "the
Soviet Union changed lives and music forever". Sounds from the Caucasus
(which now includes several Russian Federation republics - Armenia,
Chechnya, etc.--between the Black and Caspian Seas) have many similarities
to musics of Eastern Europe and the Near East. Many small choirs and various
ensembles. Central Asia has some of the world's most striking music, and
despite very non-western aesthetic values, some exotic forms have a devoted
following worldwide (esp. the relatively mellow sounds of Tuvan music).
Harsh, wailing sounds are prevalent in much Central Asian music (some may
consider it "ear-wrenching", but legend has it that one of the Sufi Zikr
ritual performers on the CD induced such ecstasy in participants that they
often died!); but mellow lutes and classical forms are also common - the
area covered here includes the Turkic states of the region and goes all the
way to Afghanistan & the Chinese border. Many of these mind-blowing sounds
were gone before modern recording technology arrived. With informative
booklet. (JVI) |
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| CAJUN | KEVIN NAQUIN & THE OSSUN PLAYBOYS | Swallow 6175 | Bayou Groove | ● CD $15.98 |
| 15 tracks, 52 mins, recommended Talented group of young
Cajun musicians (age ranges from 16 to 25) led by singer/ accordion player
Kevin Naquin performing a selection of traditional favorites along with a
few originals. 17 year old guitarist Ashley Hayes is also a fine vocalist
and when the two harmonize they sound particularly fine and fiddler Louis
Dronet is also an asset. At times the bass and drums are a little heavier
than I like but this is definitely a worthwhile group. Among the highlights
are a beautiful rendition of La Valse Du Grand Bois and a spirited
rendition of Chanson De Mardi Gras. |
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| CAJUN | STEVE RILEY & THE MAMOU PLAYBOYS | Rounder 6084 | Bon Reve | ● CD $15.98 |
| New album by this fine group is a selection of mostly
traditionally oriented material. |
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| CUBA | RICO'S CREOLE BAND | Fremeaux 5050 | Cuba In Paris, 1947-1951 | ● CD $24.98 |
| Two CD set with 36 tracks by this great band that first
introduced Paris to Cuban music in the 20s. |
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| EGYPT | ASMAHAN | Buda Musique 82217-2 | Le Coeur A ses Raisons 1935 - 1944 | ● CD $14.98 |
| Only available recordings of superb Egyptian singer who died
tragically at the age of 26 in 1944 and was considered by many as a
potential rival to Oum Kalthoum. |
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| ITALY | VARIOUS ARTISTS | Pias PIASG 001 | Omerta, Onori e Sangu | ● CD $19.98 |
| Second volume of songs about the Calabrian Mafia and their
code of "Omerta, Onuri e Sangu" - "Discretion, Honour and Blood". Once again
the beauty of the music marks a stark contrast to the frequent
bloodthirstiness of the lyrics. Booklet includes introductory notes in
English and lyric transcripts in Italian, English, French & German. |
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| MEXICO | JOS GUTIRREZ & LOS HERMANOS OCHOA | Smithsonian Folkways 40505 | La Bamba: Sones Jarochos from Veracruz | ● CD $15.98 |
| 21 tracks, 68 minutes, very highly recommended Title may be
misleading, as "La Bamba" has been performed in so many different styles.
Son Jarocho is the traditional music from Veracruz, Mexico, on the Caribbean
Coast of the southern Yucat n peninsula. These are some of the very finest
recordings I have ever heard of this joyous, fiery, rhythmic music which
combines outstanding elements of Spanish, African, and Caribbean culture.
Performed with overflowing enthusiasm by wonderful musicians, showcasing
their great improvisational skills, both vocal and instrumental.
Instrumentation includes Arpa Jarocho (regional folk harp) and regional
variations on guitar (requinto, jarana, and (bass) jarana tecera).
Informative booklet included. (JVI) |
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| NORTENO | RAUL "EL RUCO" MARTINEZ | Arhoolie 9029 | Dueto Alegre- Historic First Recordings, 1948-1956 | ● CD $9.98 |
| 21 tracks, 58 minutes, recommended Great and varied tracks
by pioneering Tex-Mex accordion master, vocalist, and composer Ra£l "El Ruco"
MartĦnez, on most tracks with "Dueto Alegre" w/ bajo sexto & vocals by Juan
Gonz lez. Ra£l, along with his nephew Narciso MartĦnez, were among the first
to popularize accordion in M£sica Tejana. Influences from Western Swing
fiddling and other stringband music of the region. The variety, and the duo
format rather than a full conjunto with drums etc. showcase many of the
subtleties and idiosyncrasies that have been streamlined out as Tex-Mex
music has become more stylized; doesn't get into a groove as other Tejano
music may, but more interesting. Typical repertoire of mostly polkas,
waltzes, corridos (ballads), & folksongs (canciones). Only reservation I
have is vocals, while wonderful on some tracks, are inconsistent, even
ragged at times. Part of the problem is bad sound on a few tracks, which
sounds like microphone distortion and thus is worst at vocal climax points.
Tracks were originally recorded by various regional labels, some with
excellent sound, mostly remastered from original 78's. (JVI) |
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| NORTENO | MINGO SALDIVAR Y SUS TREMEDOS CUATRO ESPADAS | Rounder 6105 | A Taste Of Texas | ● CD $15.98 |
| 12 tracks, 40 minutes, good As Mingo says, his music relates
to life itself, especially for hard working, beer drinking, truck driving
people. Tex-Mex (Tejano) based, incorporating regional elements including
country, western swing, rockabilly, Cajun, and Blues/ R&B (esp. harmonica
and Mingo's soulful & powerful vocals, in Spanish and English). Mingo (also
a songwriter and accordion player) is joined by a typical conjunto lineup
with bass, bajo sexto, & drums, plus harmonica. Now in his mid 60s, Mingo
was a migrant earlier in life, won a NEA National Heritage Fellowship in
2002, & now has become a worldwide emissary bringing his music to a wider
audience. Booklet includes lyrics. (JVI) |
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| PUERTO RICO | ECOS DE BORINQUEN | Smithsonian Folkways 40506 | Jibaro Hasta el Hueso | ● CD $15.98 |
| 16 tracks, 67 minutes Beautifully performed JĦbaro music -
traditional music of the campesinos of Puerto Rico; a sung poetry set to
(usually) a seis rhythm. The sound is Spanish and Afro-Caribbean; less
strongly African than most Cuban music, but similar to guajiras; lovely and
lilting with a more snakey rhythm. All-acoustic instrumentation of conjunto
jĦbaro includes 2 cuatros (10 string guitar), guitar (no bass in this
group), bongos, and guiro - an indigenous Taino Indian derived gourd rasp &
scraper. Wonderful soulful vocals, female & male lead. The group, led by
singer/ composer Miguel Santiago DĦaz, has won National Trovador contest for
best jĦbaro group in Puerto Rico. As a connoisseur of JĦbaro music, I feel
these studio recordings are slightly below the best I've heard in terms of
vitality; but they are more relaxed and virtuoso, emphasizing the Spanish
elements. Informative booklet. (JVI) |
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