NEWSLETTER #133
Ethnic & World Music
Denzil Dennis ->
Various Artists
| JAMAICA |
DENZIL DENNIS |
Trojan 80438 |
Me Nah Worry - The Anthology |
● CD $18.98 |
2 CDs, 52 tracks, highly recommended Incredible 2 disc
compilation by…who?? Denzil had many minor hits & lots of releases
starting from his leaving Jamaica for London in '62 at the age of 15.
However, he recorded under so many pseudonyms & as part of so many groups
that you wouldn't know him by his real name. With producers such as Lee
Perry, Laurel Aitken, & Robert Thompon, better known as Dandy - in fact he
was teamed with Dandy & several others as The Brother Dan Allstars, also
was in The Classics, The Freedom Singers as well as recording as Milton
Hamilton, Alan Martin & & Mark Wayne. The music is uniformly excellent -
ska, rock steady, reggae, including the wonderful title tune plus Hush
Don't You Cry/ Nothing Has Changed/ History Of Africa, etc. on such
labels as Trojan, New Beat, Down Town, Pama Supreme & Rio. (GM)
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| CUBA |
CHEO FELICIANO |
Sony Discos 87452 |
Live |
● CD $14.98 |
10 tracks, 71 minutes, highly recommended A great recent
(2002) live recording by this veteran Puerto Rican salsa singer. Jose "Cheo"
Feliciano began his career with Joe Cuba's Sextet in the sixties and sang
on hits like Bang Bang and El Pito. He went on to sing with
the Fania All Stars. In this fine set, he is backed by an all star band
and has a chance to stretch out and improvise on several longer numbers,
including his signature song, El Raton. (JV)
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| JAMAICA |
DERRICK MORGAN |
Trojan 80410 |
Moon Hop - Best Of The Early Years,
1960-'69 |
● CD $19.98 |
2 CDs, 54 trcks, highly recommended Terrific collection of
ska, rocksteady and reggae from Jamaican legend Derrick Morgan who started
performing in the late 50s and was still active up until a few years ago.
This collection features tracks from Derrick's earliest and most succesful
period - quite a few making their first appearance on CD. It opens with
the great New Orleans flavored Fat Man from 1960 and ends with the
skinhead anthem Moon Hop from 1969 and along the way we hear tracks
like The Hop/ Housewives Choice/ Blazing Fire/ I Found A Queen/ I Am A
Blackhead Again/ Around The Corder/ It's Alright (a rock steady cover
of The Impressions hit)/ Kill Me Dead/ Do The Bang Bang/ HOrse Dead,
Cow Fat/ Want More/ Johnny Pram Pram and others. It features duets
with Patsy Todd, Naomi, Desmond Dekker, Pauline Morgan and George Agard.
(FS)
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| AFRICA-ZIMBABWE |
OLIVER MTUKUDZI |
Putumayo 214 |
The Oliver Mtukudzi Collection - The Tuku
Years |
● CD $13.98 |
A compilation of recordings made between 1998 and 2002 by
this superb Zimbabwean singer/ songwriter and guitarist. Some were
available on previous Putumayo issues and some are from hard to find South
African imports. Mtukudze is a powerful and melodic singer who plays
guitar in that distinctive skittery Zimbabwean style and is aompanied by a
superb group musicians with occasional use of keyboards and sax and
soulful backup vocalists. His songs deal with the triumphs and challenges
of his own people the Shona and of Africa in general. There are two live
tracks - the stunningly beautiful neria the them sonsg to a
filkMtukudzi starred and a rare performance in English Hear Me Lord
which was covered by Bonnie Raitt.
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| CUBA |
ELIADES OCHOA |
Higher Octave 12480 |
Estoy Como Nunca |
● CD $16.98 |
11 tracks, 49 minutes, essential A stunning acoustic set
from the "professor of the son." Eliades Ochoa found fame in this country
as guitarist in the Buena Vista Social Club, but fans of Cuban music have
known this singer/ guitarist/ songwriter and master of the folk music of
eastern Cuba for years before that. This CD, a wide-ranging collection of
songs, is unified by a lyrical, almost spiritual, feel and mood. (JV)
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| SOUTH PACIFIC |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
ARC EUCD 1709 |
Music Of The South Pacific- Recordings By
David Fanshaw |
● CD $22.98 |
27 tracks, 80 minutes, essential The cream of the South
Pacific recordings made by David Fanshawe on numerous expeditions from
1978-92. Wide diversity of mostly traditional sounds -not tourist music
--from the many archipelagos in the South Pacific. (Polynesian,
Melanesian, & Micronesian island chains + New Guinea). Chants & choral
voicings, percussion (bamboo, wooden, stone, shark skin drums, etc),
stringed instruments, nose flutes, mouth instruments, conch shells,
panpipe and vocal polyphony, natural sounds of ocean, etc. performed in
various configurations and styles. Even includes a more modern piece by a
"flip-flop band" - using discarded beach sandals and fuzz tone! Most if
not all of these recordings have been released on various other Fanshawe
recordings, but this is a great cross section, and it excludes some of the
self-indulgence that detracts from some of the others, though the 68 page
booklet may be a bit excessive. The sounds of the sea on a CD. Released
mid 2002 (JVI)
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| SOUTH PACIFIC |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
ARC EUCD 1743 |
Pacific Chants - Polynesian Himene - The
"Singing Reel" |
● CD $18.98 |
22 tracks, 69 minutes, very highly recommended Outstanding
recordings of a variety of "Polynesian gospel music" - gorgeous and unique
choral music combining indigenous rhythm and polyphony and gospel music
brought by Protestant missionaries. Himene tarava, from the Austral and
Society Islands (incl. Tahiti) has a strong rhythmic element, enunciated
by countersinging /yodeling/ falsetto and gutteral vocal techniques (which
were "sanitized" out of the music on some western releases such as
"Tahitian Choir") and has such a strong tonal center that it sounds as if
it were constantly climaxing. Imenetuki, from the Cook Islands has a more
modal sound with males singing gutteral rhythm. Both seem to evoke the
glow of the rainbows, echoes of the ocean, and the sounds of the coral
reefs (5 brief recordings of pure coral reef sounds are included in CD).
These recordings should not be confused with the straightforward
imitations of hymns often heard in Polynesia; all the forms on this CD
have distinctive indigenous characteristics. One Tahitian otea drum dance
and a conch shell piece are also included. Released 2002 (JVI)
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| CAJUN |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Arhoolie 327 |
Cajun Champs |
● CD $12.98 |
Collection of 22 great recordings of Cajun music drawn
from Arhoolie's extensive catalog of Cajun recordings. Since Arhoolie has
recorded and reissued some of the best in Cajun music this disc features
some of the best of the best and features recordings from the 50s to the
present day. i
NATHAN ABSHIRE: Cannon Ball Special/ Ma Negresse/ DEWEY BALFA: Petite
Fille De La Campagne/ HARRY CHOATES: Allons A Lafayette/ OCTA CLARK: La
Valse De Soleil Couche/ LUDERIN DARBONE'S HACKBERRY RAMBLERS: Crowley
Waltz/ JOE FALCON: Creole Stomp/ ISOM FONTENOT: Madeleine/ WADE FRUGE: La
Vieille Chanson De Mardi Gras/ Wade's Blues/ CHUCK GUILLORY & PAPA CAIRO:
Grand Texas/ CYP & ADAM LANDRENEAU: La Valse De Minuit/ BREAUX LEBLANC: La
Branche De Murier/ FLOYD LEBLANC: Louisiana Stomp/ D.L. MENARD: En Bas De
Chene Verte/ AUSTIN PITRE: Contredanse/ Jolie Blonde/ CHEESE READ: T'es
Petite, Mais T'es Mignone/ MARC SAVOY: One Step A Chaumont/ THE SAVOY
FAMILY BAND: Sam's Big Rooster/ THE SAVOY-DOUCET CAJUN BAND: Amede Two
Step/ LAWRENCE WALKER: Boscoe Stomp
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| TEJANO |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Arhoolie 342 |
Accordion Conjunto Champs |
● CD $12.98 |
A 21 track collection of Norteno music which features of
the greatest accordion players. About half the tracks are drawn from
Arhoolie's vast catalog of Tejano music and the rest from rare singles.
Most of the recordings are from the 40s trough the 70s and includes
Narciso Martinez, Paulino Bernal, Juan Lopez, Fred Zimmerle, Santiago
Jimenez, Santiago Jimenez Jr., Tony De La Rosa, Euegenio Abrego, Valerio
Longoria, Leandro Guerrero and more.
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| CUBA |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Concord Jazz 5302 |
Colors Of Latin Jazz - Soul Sauce! |
● CD $8.98 |
11 tracks, 51 minutes, highly recommended One of six sets
in Concord's "the Colors of Latin Jazz" series, this CD tends towards the
funky end of the Latin Jazz spectrum and features well-known songs like
Cal Tjader's irresistible title track, Guachi Guaro (Soul Sauce,
and Mongo Santamaria's Watermelon Man (Mongo is guesting with
Poncho Sanchez' band on this version) as well as others by artists in
Concord's extensive roster of latin musicians, which includes Ray
Barretto, Pete Escovedo, and Tania Maria.(JV)
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| CAJUN |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
JSP JSPCD 7726 |
Cajun Early Recordings - Important Swamp
Hits Remastered |
● CD $28.98 |
Four CDs, 102 tracks, highly recommended Four CD box set
featuring a wonderful cross section of 102 recordings of Cajun music
recorded between 1928 and 1938 by some of the music's great pioneers. The
first disc features 16 tracks by Cajun accordion pioneer Joe Flacon
including his first recording from 1928 of Lafayette. It also
includes tracks by fiddler Leo Soileau with singer and accordion player
Mayuse LaFleur from 1928, 1929 recordings of Dennis McGhee and Sady
Courville on twin fiddles and two sides by African-American Creole
musician Amede Ardoin. The second volume is devoted to the Breaux family
featuring 11 tracks featuring the vocals of the wonderful Cleoma Breaux
accompanied by her hsuband Joe Flacon plu 14 tracks by Cleoma's brother
Amedee Breaux with brother Orphy Breaux on fiddle and Cleoma on second
fiddle or Clifford Breaux on guitar. 20 of the tracks on the third volume
are devoted to the great Cajun fiddler Leo Soileau in a variety of
settings including duos with accordion player Moise Robin or fiddler Allus
Soileau as well as various small groups with guitars and occasional piano.
This volume feature all six of the early recordings from 1929 and 1935 of
the fine and influential singer, accordion and fiddle player Lawrence
Walker. The fourth disc features 25 tracks recorded between 1935 and 1938
by the brilliant and versatile Hackberry Ramblers. (FS)
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| MISCELLANEOUS |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Manteca 009 |
From An Early Age: The Incredible Music of
the Gypsies |
● CD $12.98 |
14 tracks, essential Absolutely kick-ass sampler of Gypsy
music by fourteen different artists/ensembles recorded over the past
thirty years or so. The Gypsy musical tradition, that dates back back at
least a thousand years, has in the last century forked in much the same
way the African American musical tradition has -- one road in the jazz
direction, the other, as this disc's compiler Garth Carwright puts it,
into the Balkan blues. Which is not to say that these styles don't
overlap, but this sampler celebrates the gutsy, exuberant, dance your feet
to pieces end of the spectrum. Plenty of brass, plenty of soulful string
music in the same musical neighborhood as rembetika, and some rip your
heart out vocals -- case in point, Czech Gypsy singer Vera Bila pours out
"When I'm Getting Drunk" (Te Me Pijav Laches Rosnes). Performers include
Taraf De Haidouks, Muzsikas, Erkose Ensemble, Musafir-Amsafar, Phoebe
Smith, and others. (NSN)
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| MEXICO |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
RCA (Mexico) 90914 |
Las Classicas Rancheras, Vol. 2 |
● CD $18.98 |
2 CDs, 50 tracks, 151 minutes, highly recommended Half a
hundred ranchera hits from the past half century compiled by Mexican BMG
featuring everyone from enduring stars like Lola Beltran and Jose Alfredo
Jimenez to one hit wonders who faded away quickly. If you know this music
only from Arhoolie collections of more recent Texas recordings, this
collection offers you a easy way to delve more deeply into this moving
style of Mexican music. (JV)
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| CUBA |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
RCA (Mexico) 97885 |
Coleccion - Lo Mejor De La Musical
Tropical |
● CD $13.98 |
2 CDs, 40 tracks, 115 minutes, highly recommended This
collection presents forty great examples, in a variety of styles (son,
mambo, cha cha, cha, etc.), of classic Cuban music from the 1950's and
1960's from the vast RCA record vaults and serves as a good introduction
to this influential and now revived form of music. It includes great stars
like Tito Puente, Benny More, and Perez Prado as well as many fine, but
less well known, performers. (JV)
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| JAMAICA |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Trojan 80426 |
Trojan Carnival Box Set |
● CD $16.98 |
3 discs, 50 tracks, recommended Trojan is finding all
kinds of excuses to categorize their countless budget box sets, which is
just fine by me! This set includes songs which would be popular around
Carnival time, before Easter, many featuring the sound of Carnival - steel
drums. These are mostly happy, upbeat tunes including Neville Willoughby -
I Love Jamaica, Derrick Morgan - Festival 10, The Techniques
- Drink More Wine, & Tinga Stewart - Play De Music. You all
know I love reggae covers & this set has the most unique I've seen yet!
How about The Fab 5 Inc doing Benny Bell's Shaving Cream? Or Count
Prince Miller's version of Mule Train? (GM)
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| JAMAICA |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Trojan 80432 |
Muzik City - The Story of Trojan |
● CD $44.98 |
4 discs, 102 tracks, essential Yeah, it's ANOTHER Trojan
box set (well, this one's a "book" set - 4 discs in a hardcover book, with
a 52 page book as the liner notes). However, this one's a bit different!
The 1st discs has 27 tracks from The Early Days (68-71), many have been
reissued countless times, but there's still plenty of lesser-known gems
(Dandy - Reggae In Your Jeggae, The Coloured Raisins - One Way
Love). The 2nd disc has 25 tracks from their prime, 1971-2003, with
all the greats here - Prince Far I, Judge Dread, Lee Perry, The Ethiopions,
along with such tracks as Ram Goat Live by Pluto Shervinton. By the
3rd disc, however, we hit pay dirt - starting with the 1st Trojan record,
Judge Sympathy by The Duke Reid All Stars from '67, the rest of the
disc has "Rarites & Oddities" ranging from wonderful flops like the one
described as "the worst record to come out on Trojan", Tribute To Jimmy
(sic) Hendrix by Jimmy Lindsay, to rarities like singles by Americans
Doris Troy & Clyde McPhatter. And wait till you hear Yodel Reggae
by Leroy Gibbs! The final disc has "Rare & Unreleased Gems" - the few
things that were previously released never came out outside of Jamaica,
includes tracks by Lee Perry, John Holt, Tommy McCook & The All Stars & I
Roy. Fabulous book includes detailed liner notes, info on each track, a
Trojan timeline, & a list of ALL 40 of the the Trojan labels, with all
pics in color. (GM)
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