NEWSLETTER #132
Ethnic & World Music
Nathan Abshire -> Various Artists
| CAJUN | NATHAN ABSHIRE & THE BALFA BROTHERS | Ace CDCHD 329 | Pine Grove Blues/ The Good Times Are Killing Me | ● CD $21.98 |
| Back in stock in very limited quantities. Two fantastic LPs
on one 24 tracks CD by one of the all time greatest Cajun singers and
accordion players. Nathan's music deep and intense with heartfelt vocals and
striking accordion playing and was frequently accompanied by some of the
best cajun instrumentalists. The first album features
recordings made for Swallow between 1966 and 1970 on which he is
joined by The Balfa Brothers on fiddle and guitar and an unnamed but very
fine steel guitar player. Songs include a superb version of his theme song
Pine Grove Blues plus Sur La Courtableau/ I Don't Hurt Anymore/ Le
Vlase De Bayou Teche and others. The second 12 selection feature mostly
later recordings also with the Balfas and an uncredited steel player (Jay
Pelisia?). In addition to Nathan's own vocals there are also vocals by
Rodney Balfa, Dewey Balfa and Thomas Langley. Songs include Choupique Two
Step/ Nathan's Lafayette Two Step/ Tramp Sur La Rue/ J'Etais Au Balle/
Offshore Blues and others. Remastering is superb and my only complaint
is that a release this important deserves better notes. Essential! (FS) |
||||
| AFRICA-MALI | AMADOU & MARIAM | Circular Moves 7011 | Wati | ● CD $16.98 |
| The most recent album from this wonderful duo from Mali. |
||||
| CUBA | DESI ARNAZ & THE MAMBO KINGS | RCA 66031 | The Best Of Desi Arnaz & The Mambo Kings | ● CD $11.98 |
| 16 tracks, 45 minutes, highly recommended Before he (and we)
loved Lucy, Desi Arnaz was the mambo king, the flamboyant Cuban bandleader
who cashed in on the conga and mambo crazes and carved out starring roles on
Broadway, in Hollywood, and on record. His big musical idea was to mix the
fire of Machito with the lushness of Kostelanetz (yes, Andre Kostelanetz).
The result was creditable Cuban dance music suitable for American tastes.
This CD features some of Desi's best sides, cut in 1946 and 1947, just
before the second Petrillo recording ban, and featuring some fine vocals
from June Harvey and Desi himself. (JV) |
||||
| LA REUNION/ HAWAII | BOB BROZMAN & RENE LACAILLE | Riverboat TUGCD 1025 | Digdig | ● CD $17.98 |
| 15 tracks, 50 minutes, very highly recommended Brilliantly
creative and eclectic, yet never self conscious or contrived. Bob Brozman is
a virtuoso guitarist in Hawaiian & slide styles and beyond, and Rene
Lacaille is a tremendous accordionist, guitarist, and fine singer from the
Indian Ocean island La Reunion who lived in France for many years. Joined
here by Danyel Waro from La Reunion and others. In many ways this CD reminds
me of the David Grisman Quintet's classic first album on Kaleidescope, with
a "Dawgish" sound at times. String band sounds combined with the distinctive
Indian Ocean rhythms are prevalent but you'll hear much more here, hints of
Country, Western Swing, Zydeco, French chansons, eerie Oriental sounds,
inventive rhythms, jazzy improvisations, etc. These musicians play together
and know when to keep their egos in check. Even when not in the lead,
Lacaille's accordion has a great presence. Brozman is known to completely
immerse himself in the entire life and culture of the ethnic traditions he
collaborates with, and it shows. Music made from the heart and soul, not the
marketing department's calculations. Lay this baby on your "progressive
music" friends and blow their minds. Vocals not as good as instrumentals,
but solid. (JVI) |
||||
| JAMAICA | JIMMY CLIFF | Trojan 80416 | Many Rivers To Cross - The Best Of Jimmy Cliff | ● CD $13.98 |
| 25 tracks, 72 mins, highly recommended Great collection of
recordings by this reggae legend ranging from early ska sides in the early
60s when he was still a teenager to his classic recordings from the late
60s/ early 70s. It includes the beautiful title song which is deep soul
Jamaican style, the catchy Wonderful World, Beautiful People which
was his first worldwide hit, the powerful Vietnam (apparently Bob
Dylan said this was the best protest song he'd ever heard), You Can Get
It If You Really Want which was used on the soundtrack of the must see
movie "The Harder They Came" and lots more - mostly produced by Leslie Kong.
Several tracks are making their first appearance on CD. It includes an 8
page booklet with extensive notes in hard to read type. (FS) |
||||
| CUBA | XAVIER CUGAT | Columbia 85341 | The Original Latin Dance King | ● CD $11.98 |
| 26 tracks, 74 minutes, highly recommended A healthy
compilation of classic (1940's and 1950's) rumba and mambo tracks from your
parents' favorite latin band leader. As the title says, Cugie was the first
(and one of the best) of the Latin dance kings. We are only now getting old
enough to fully appreciate them. These sides present his finest bands and
strongest singers (such as Tito Rodriguez, Miguelito Valdes, and Brooklyn's
own Abbe Lane). (JV) |
||||
| AFRICA-GUINEA | SEKOU "BEMBEYE" DIABATE, DJANKA DIABATE | Dakar Sound 2003149 | Samba Gaye | ● CD $15.98 |
| Fine album of Guinean pop music recorded in 1997 and
featuring legendary Guinean guitarist Sekou "Diamond Fingers" Diabate and
his wife Djanka. |
||||
| AFRICA-SOUTH AFRICA | MIRIAM MAKEBA & THE SKYLARKS | Camden 1002 | The Best Of Of Miriam Makeba & The Skylarks | ● CD $10.98 |
| Wonderful collection of 18 tracks from 1958 and 1959
featuring the great South African vocalist Miriam Makeba when she was a
member of the great vocal group The Skylarks. The group blended jazzy
American vocal group styles with South African rhythm and melodies. Several
of the tracks feature the great South African pennywhistle player Spokes
Mashiyane. |
||||
| CAJUN | BELTON RICHARD | Swallow 6178 | The Older The Wine, The Finer The Taste! | ● CD $15.98 |
| New recordings of one of the finest and most popular Cajun
singers and accordion players of the 60s and early 70s. UNfortunately a lot
of the fire has gone out of Belton's music and although pleasant enough the
performances are somewhat bland and pedestrian. |
||||
| CUBA | VARIOUS ARTISTS | Concord Jazz 5301 | Colors Of Latin Jazz - Cubop! | ● CD $8.98 |
| 11 tracks, 58 minutes, highly recommended Cubop! (always
spelled, it seems, with an exclamation point) is the music which arose from
the fusion of bebop jazz and Afro-Cuban rhythms in the 1940's and is
associated with founders like Machito and Dizzy Gillespie. This tasty CD
collects tracks from the eighties and nineties in the style as performed by
the cream of Concord's ample roster of Latin performers, including Mongo
Santamaria, Tito Puente, Ray Barretto, and Cal Tjader. (JV) |
||||
| AFRICA-SOUTH AFRICA | VARIOUS ARTISTS | Earthworks STEW 39 | South African Gospel According To Earthworks | ● CD $14.98 |
| 17 tracks, 68 mins, highly recommended A fine selection of
South African gospel music recorded in the 80s and 90s. Though perhaps not
quite as compelling as the World Music Network collection reviewed in
Newsletter 131 there are some excellent performances here including several
by the great acapella group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the particularly fine
Holy Cross Choir featuring the splendid lead vocals of Florence Mokhethi, a
group led by "peoples poet" Mzwakhe Mbuli and others. As always the melodies
are captivating, the rich harmonies are spine chilling and the instrumental
arrangements beautifully and rhythmically underpin the vocals. (FS) |
||||
| AFRICA-MADAGASCAR | VARIOUS ARTISTS | Earthworks STEW 49 | Tulear Never Sleeps | ● CD $14.98 |
| Exciting collection of contemporary traditionally based
music from Tulear in South-West Madagascar mostly featuring exhilarating
electric guitar based combos performing in a style called Tsapiky. |
||||
| CUBA | VARIOUS ARTISTS | Empire 39071 | Artistas Originales Salsa Cubana | ● CD $16.98 |
| 18 tracks, 55 minutes, highly recommended Wonderfully
diverse survey of classic (although not always well-known) interpreters of
Cuban music. All tracks date from the mid-20th century and most were
produced by Manuel Mato (to whom this CD is a sort of tribute). Styles and
performances range from the "Cuban blues" of Bola de Nieve to the
sophisticated piano of Frank Emilio Flynn to the charanga of the Orquesta
Sublime to the smooth vocal sounds of Bobby Jimenez, who was known as the
Cuban Nat "King" Cole. (JV) |
||||
| HAWAII | VARIOUS ARTISTS | Harlequin HQCD 182 | Steeling Around The World | ● CD $16.98 |
| Fascinating collection featuring 26 tracks recorded between
1922 and 1952 featuring artists from aroudn the world putting their own spin
on Hawaiian steel guitar music. This collection features recordings from
Japan, Australia, Holland, South Africa, France, India and more. Includes 16
page booklet with extensive notes and discography. |
||||
| CUBA | VARIOUS ARTISTS | Harmless HURTCD 039 | Brown Sugar! Latin Freakbeats, Basslines & Boogaloo | ● CD $17.98 |
| 14 tracks, 56 minutes, highly recommended Another fine
collection of latin/black fusion music from New York City in the late
sixties (boogaloo) and early seventies (latin funk) before disco watered it
all down. This set includes both tracks from older established stars like
Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, and Ray Barretto paying tribute to new styles
as well as equally fine sides from less well-known young turks, like Joe
Cain and Ralph Robles. Dance tunes from times of social and political
upheaval. (JV) |
||||
| MISCELLANEOUS | VARIOUS ARTISTS | Kein Und Aber 23284 | Hot Women - Women Singers From the Torrid Regions | ● CD $18.98 |
| 24 tracks, 69 mins, highly recommended Fabulous collection
of vintage recordings of women singers mostly from the 20s and 30s compiled
by R. Crumb from his own collection. The 24 tracks includes Louisiana Cajun,
Mexican, French Carribean, Chilean, Sicilian, Greek, Algerian, Turkish, East
African, Madagascar (an amazing and eerie performance that is hard to
describe), Burmese, Hawaiian and more. Superbly remastered by Tony Baldwin
and packaged in a digipack including booklet with notes by Crumb along with
color illustrations by him of many of the performers. (FS) |
||||
| CARIBBEAN | VARIOUS ARTISTS | Putumayo 205 | Calypso | ● CD $15.98 |
| Delightful collection of traditional Calypso and
Calypso-influenced music recorded in the 50s and 60s and featuring artists
from The Bahamas, Jamaica, Grenada, Trinidad and Haiti. Includes George
Symonette, The Jolly Boys, Blind Blake & His Royal Victorians (not to be
confused with the country blues singer with the same name), King Sparrow,
Lord Beginner, Andre Toussaint, The Percentie Brothers, Delborn Johnson.
Includes 32 page booklet with notes and great photos. |
||||
| CUBA | VARIOUS ARTISTS | RCA (Latin) 97888 | Coleccion - Lo Mejor Del Cha Cha Cha | ● CD $15.98 |
| 2 CDs, 40 tracks, 115 minutes, essential Two CDs full of
classic fifties (and early sixties) Cuban Cha Cha Chas compiled by RCA
Mexico (where the cha cha was and continues to be quite popular). Featured
are some of the best pre-Castro bands, such as the Orquesta Aragon and the
Orquesta America. (JV) |
||||
| CARIBBEAN | VARIOUS ARTISTS | Rounder 1731 | Caribbean Voyage - Nevis & St. Kitts | ● CD $15.98 |
| 31 tracks, 80 minutes, very highly recommended. Ebullient
sounds of the love of life. "Roots surf music", toasting, and humor. Of the
wonderful Caribbean Voyage series featuring 1962 recordings made by Alan
Lomax, this is my favorite, and probably the most accessible as well.
Includes the wide diversity of sounds of these islands, not just creolized
popular forms--though these are the majority of the tracks, including
Africanized / creolized versions of many European dance forms (including
some wonderful stringbands w/ bamboo), sea shanties, & spirituals. All
non-commercial recordings by musicians never previously recorded, and
released for the first time on this CD. The more African call & response
forms and fife and drum bands are also represented. Homemade instruments,
many crafted from sugar cane, bamboo, coconut shells, gourds & seeds etc.
are prevalent here, as is the African and Caribbean tradition of verbal
sparring and sarcasm. Nice booklet. Released 2002. (JVI) |
||||
| AFRICA-ZAMBIA | VARIOUS ARTISTS | Sharp Wood 019 | Zambia Roadside - Music From Southern Province | ● CD $15.98 |
| 15 tracks, 69 minutes, very highly recommended. Great label
that has been re-issuing the great Hugh Tracey International Library of
African Music recordings takes a tip from Tracey's "Music from the Roadside"
series and is now releasing this and other CDs documenting the evolving
tradition in southern and eastern Africa. The music is wonderful, vibrant, &
rhythmic; diverse and rootsy. People's music often played on homemade
instruments including variations on guitar or ukelele, drums, bottles struck
with nails, rattles etc. Older musicians play thumb piano & musical bow.
Includes a couple old-tradition pieces with women's choir, balafon, thumb
piano, and vocal yelps. My favorite is the "Green Mamba" band playing music
bursting with joy and life_what I call "galloping zebra music". Great
booklet. Released 2003. (JVI) |
||||
| AFRICA-WEST AFRICA | VARIOUS ARTISTS | Sterns STCD 1094 | The Music In My Head 2 | ● CD $15.98 |
| 12 tracks, 78 minutes, very highly recommended. Equally
strong follow-up to 1996 CD. Incredibly soulful Afropop tracks. A delicious
blend of Manding vocal, strings, and percussion traditions with Cuban, jazz,
and other influences Compilation of classics and unknown gems from West
Africa, mostly from the 1970s & `80s + later recordings. The praise singing
of Manding griots is a primary influence on Black gospel and soul music, and
Manding music is a primary influence on the blues. Classics from before
things became homogenized by Paris session musicians. Includes classics by
Orchestra Baobab, Youssou N'Dour & Super Etoile de Dakar, Keletigui et ses
Tambourinis, Ousmane Kouyate, etc. Informative booklet. Released 2002. (JVI)
|
||||
| ARABIA-YEMEN | VARIOUS ARTISTS | Topic TSCD 920 | The Yemen Tihama - Trance & Dance Music From The Red Se | ● CD $16.98 |
| 15 tracks, 60 minutes, recommended for the adventurous. As
the very interesting liner notes say, the ferocious heat on Tihama is
matched in intensity by the Tibbal music in these 1982 field recordings.
Tihama is across the Red Sea from East Africa; overall sound is African and
Arabic, somewhat similar to the more percussive styles of, say, Morocco, but
more stark and primitive; yet the musicianship, (esp. drumming) is
incredibly skilled. Other instruments typical of desert areas: brilliant,
shrill, vibrating reeds and flutes that seem to "fill all the hot desert
air" & a few lyres. The "most highly developed drumming in the Arab world"
features several varieties of drums (in ensembles w/ other
instruments/vocals; and drum-only ensembles) played by outcaste itinerants
somewhat analogous to Gypsies. Virtuoso drumming is an integral part of
their healing art of appeasing and expelling evil spirits, along with
sorcery, magic, fortune telling, and snake charming (check out cover photo
of man with like 5 snakes in his mouth!) Like most trance music,
spellbinding and hypnotic, not dramatic--changes & progressions are subtle.
Music for a variety of ceremonies and rituals, from weddings to parties
where intoxicating leaves are chewed to a religious ceremony somewhat
analogous to a sundance, where dancers "must achieve an extraordinary
physical and mental state in order to endure heroic acts of penance"! (JVI)
|
||||
| JAMAICA | VARIOUS ARTISTS | Trojan 80300 | Jamaican Hits Box Set | ● CD $16.98 |
| 3 discs, 50 tracks, essential 50 hits, many that never got
out of Jamaica, with ska, rock steady, and reggae 1960-73. Where many of the
tunes that got out of Jamaica extol Jah & kaya, these range from a general
strike (Everything Crash - The Ethiopians), parental obedience (Honour
Your Mother & Father - Desmond Dekker), love songs (Dance With Me
- Winston Delano, Officially - Lloyd Parker) & of course all those
great covers including Bonanza Ska - Carlos Malcolm & His
Afro-Jamaican Rhythms, Games People Play - Bob Andy, One Night Of
Sin - Jackie Brown. Even the opening cut, Lady With The Starlight
- Ken Boothe, is a re-write of, of all things, Nat Cole's Lazy Hazy Crazy
Days Of Summer. And there's a lot of classics here too - Trenchtown
Rock - Wailers, Westbound Train - Dennis Brown, Long Shot Kick
The Bucket - The Pioneers. (GM) |
||||
| JAMAICA | VARIOUS ARTISTS | Trojan 80310 | Rough & Tough The Story of Ska 1960-1969 | ● CD $21.98 |
| Great collection featuring 57 classic sides starting with
the earliest recordings which were strongly influenced by American R&B and
showing the development of a music that was more unquely Jamaican - Laurel
Aitken, The Mellolarks, Monty & Roy, Derrick Morgan, Derrick & Ptasy,
Desmond Dekker, Baba Brooks, Lord Tanamo, Eric "Monty" Morris, The Maytals,
Don Drummond & The Skatalites, The Techniques, Sir Lord Comic & His Cowboys,
The Riots and many more. |
||||
| JAMAICA | VARIOUS ARTISTS | Trojan 80432 | Muzik City - The Story of Trojan | ● CD $44.98 |
| Four CD set celebrating the 35th anniversary of Britain's
premier reggae label - Trojan. The four CD set is presented in a handsome
5.5" x 10" book style package and features 100 tracks. The first two discs
presents 50 of the biggest hits and most influential recordings, the third
disc features 25 oddities and rarities that were issued in a an attempt to
capture a slice of the pop and soul markets and the fourth disc presents 25
previously unreleased tracks from the vaults. Includes sides by some of the
greatest reggae artists like Bob Marley & The Wailers, The Maytals, Desmond
Dekker, Jimmy Cliff, Dennis Brown, Lee "Scratch" perry and many others.
Includes 52 page booklet with extensive notes by British reggae experts
Michael De Koningh and Lawrence Cane-Honesett and loads of photos and other
memorabilia. |
||||