NEWSLETTER #137
Ethnic & World Music
Los Alegres De Teran ->
Various Artists
| NORTENO |
LOS ALEGRES DE TERAN |
Arhoolie 9048 |
Gradaciones Originales (Original
Recordings), 1952-54 |
● CD $9.98 |
15 tracks, 43 mins, recommended
Featuring the wonderful "dueto"
of Tomas Ortiz (v., baja sexto) and Eugenio Abrego (v, accordion), who are
joined at various times by Spiros "Pete" Arfanos (b.) or Mario Saenz (b.),
this disc collects some of their early '50s Falcon Records output, taken
from the master tapes and never before reissued in any form. EMI of Mexico
apparently bought nearly all the Falcon "norteno" LP masters, but in 2000
Arhoolie's Chris Strachwitz managed to scoop up the non-LP masters. As a
result, instead of reissuing hits such as Carta Jugada, this
collection focuses on the lesser known (but just as influential and
pleasing) early material. Los Alegres De Teran are said to have recorded
over 100 LPs, and it's easy enough to believe. Every song here is a dance
floor summons. (JC)
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| CAJUN |
BEAUSOLEIL |
Shout Factory DVD 34210 |
Live From The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage
Festival |
DVD
● CD $19.98 |
DVD, 100 minutes, highly recommended Watching Michael Doucet and Beausoleil play at the 2002 Jazz Festival confirms that
although the audience is clearly joyful, no one is having more fun than
the musicians themselves. Maybe that's how they have been able to stay
together so long. Michael Doucet formed Beausoleil in 1975 and since then
they have become the greatest Cajun band, period. This performance draws
from originals and classics of the form, and Beausoleil makes every moment
danceable and engaging. The DVD is worth it just for the "extra features,"
which include two music videos, an extra song, and interviews with the
entire band, although some of them are annoyingly edited. Nice. (JC)
|
| CUBA |
WILLIE BOBO |
Vampisoul 016 |
Do That Thing/ Guajira |
● CD $19.98 |
12 tracks, 30 minutes, highly recommended
A pupil of Mongo Santamaria, Latin percussionist Willie Bobo was born William Correa in New
York City in 1934 ("Bobo" was a name given to him by jazz pianist Mary Lou
Williams). He broke into the music business with Machito's Afro-Cubans in
the early fifties and went on to play and record with jazz artists such as
George Shearing and Stan Getz. In the 1960's he moved more into the latin
soul and pop fields, while still keeping a foot in jazz. This reissue of a
1963 Tico album has twin names because one side of the LP contains jazz
tunes and the other Latin. (JV)
|
| MIDDLE EAST |
THE ISRAELI
ANDALUSIAN ORCHESTRA |
Magda 0022 |
Maghreb 1 |
● CD $22.98 |
Concert recordings of Jewish Moroccan music performed by
the Israeli Andalusian Orchestra, recorded in 1999. This musical tradition
began in Andalusia, the medieval civilization that flourished on the
Iberian peninsula between the ninth century and the fall of Grenada in
1492. A rich synthesis of Arab, Jewish, and Christian cultures, the
culture of Andalusia survived among the Sephardic Jews of the Maghreb
(Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya) for centuries. When the Sephardim
joined the worldwide Jewish migration to the newly-established state of
Israel, they found their cultural traditions marginalized by those of the
more numerous Ashkenazi immigrants, and this Andalusian musical tradition
nearly died out. It has been revived, ironically enough, by Russian Jewish
immigrants who began arriving in the late 1970s. Their musical traditions,
particularly their violin music, married magically well with traditional
Moroccan string orchestras (kanun, oud, kamantche), and the result
includes the wonderful music on this CD. Vocal soloists Abdesalam Safiani
(who is a Moroccan Arab) and Emil Zhiran (an Israeli) are spectacularly
accompanied by a string orchestra including violins, siolas, cello,
guitar, banjo, and mandolin as well as the traditional Middle Eastern
stringed instruments, with tar and other percussions and accordeon.
Haunting melodies in a harmonious cultural blend -- I hope the regional
politics can blend as beautifully soon! (NSN)
|
| MEXICAN |
MARIACHI LOS
GAVILANES DE OAKLAND |
Arhoolie 9050 |
AND: Corrido Del Mono |
● CD $9.98 |
12 tracks recorded in 1990 by this fine 10 piece mariachi
ensemble from Oakland, California led by guitarron player Guadalupe
Madrigal.
|
| REGGAE |
BOB MARLEY & THE
WAILERS |
Silverline 284537 |
African Herbsman |
● CD $19.98 |
CD/DVD (DualDisc), recommended
The compelling reason to
pick up this oft-reissued album originally released in 1973 is the 10
bonus tracks on the DVD side (it's a double sided disc with CD on one side
and DVD on the other) such as Memphis and Copasetic (All In One
Version) by The Upsetters and Grooving Kingston 12 (Trenchtown Rock
Version) by Marley and The Wailers. The DVD also offers more extensive
"liner notes" than the booklet, but reading off the teevee or computer
screen is not everyone's idea of a good time. Otherwise, the DVD part
offers little. Still, the music should be enough, catching, as it does, a
transitional period in the development of Bob Marley and the Wailers as
they team up with The Upsetters under producer extraordinaire Lee
"Scratch" Perry. It was soon after these sides that Island Records
discovered Bob and the rest of the world soon followed. (JC)
|
| CUBA |
ORQUESTA RIVERSIDE |
Tumbao 109 |
De Bayamo A Pinar Del Rio |
● CD $14.98 |
22 tracks, 61 minutes, highly recommended
Orquesta
Riverside was one of the better all-white Cuban bands of the post-World
War II era. Formed in Havana in 1938, they were for many years a radio
favorite. They played in a jazz-influenced style and were popular with
tourists as well with Cuban natives. They reached their greatest
popularity under the direction of alto sax player Pedro Vila and were best
known for the musical talents of clear-voiced singer Tito Gomez and
pianist/arranger Pedro "Peruchin" Justiz, all of whom are prominently
featured on the 1953-1959 recordings found on this CD. (JV)
|
| CUBA |
PEREZ PRADO |
Proper INTRO 2041 |
The Mambo King - A Proper Introduction To
Perez Prado |
● CD $9.98 |
24 tracks, 71min., recommended
In 1940, before his mambo
coronation, Cuban-born Perez Prado became the pianist and arranger for the
famed Orquestra de la Playa (an outfit that would also included Miguelito
Valdez), replacing Anselmo Sacasas. This introduction to Prado's work
collects songs recorded between 1947-52 (the period just before mambo
madness struck the Americas and left Prado a hugely popular practitioner
of the form), including several recorded for the Seeco label before Prado
signed with RCA. His orchestra was known for their piercing brass section,
whose electrifying horns cut through the punching rhythm section like a
cleaver through meat. The enthralling music attacks at the toes, almost
forcing listeners to mambo in self defense. Tracks include Mambo #5,
Que Rico Mambo, Cereso Rosa, Mambo A La Kenton, Al
Compas Del Mambo, Electriccidad, Rica, No Me Quieras
Tanto, Actopan, Timba, Timba, Mi Cazuelita, and
more. (JC)
|
| REGGAE |
RICO |
Trojan 80505 |
Trombone Man - Anthology, 1961-71 |
● CD $18.98 |
2 CDS, 52 tracks, highly recommended
Known mostly by just
his 1st name, Rico Rodriguez has always been here. The #2 trombone man to
Don Drummond, Rico was a heavy sessioner including appearing on the
original '67 version of Message To You Rudy. Then in the 80s when
The Specials covered Rudy, Rico guested & ended up joining the
group. Now he's part of UK late night TV host Jools Hollands band! This
set covers his early career with most of the sides coming out under his
own name! The exception is the early tracks by Duke Reid's All Stars & The
Drumbagos, but after that it's Rico's Rudies, Rico & Joe's All-Stars done
with producer Joe Mansano & Rico & The Des All-Stars done in the early 70s
for Bush Productions. This set includes the entire "Tribute To Don
Drummond" LP, made after Don' death in '69. (GM)
|
| REGGAE |
MAX ROMEO |
Trojan 80455 |
Wet Dream - The Best Of Max Romeo |
● CD $13.98 |
25 tracks, 71 mins, highly recommended
Max Romeo's 1968
single entendre Wet Dream burst on the scene, so to speak, and made
him famous and infamous, depending on who was asked. The song launched
many others with less than disguised sexuality by Romeo and others, and
yet Max Romeo's early career was more about politics than prurience. Sides
reissued here, recorded between 1967-75, include an early pair cut with
the Emotions (Kenneth Knight, Lloyd Shakespeare): I Don't Want To Let
You Go and Soulful Music. His recordings issued during the 1972
election in support of Michael Manley are represented by a reworking of
Rastafarian tradition Let The Power Fall On I and No Joshua No.
Included are the Lee "Scratch" Perry-produced Public Enemy Number One,
The Coming Of Jah, and Three Blind Mice. A pleasing sample
of Romeo's early work. (JC)
|
| CUBA |
SEPTETO CAUTO |
Tumbao 113 |
Congo Se Divierte |
● CD $14.98 |
14 tracks, 42 minutes, highly recommended
Septeto Cauto
was an important transitional band in Cuban music between the era of small
string bands (or "conjuntos") in the 1920's and the big band era of the
1940's and 1950's. Their lineup added a trumpet to the string and rhythm
of the conjunto style. They were especially notable for three famous
singers they produced: Alfredito Valdes, Cheo Marquetti, and Beny More
(the first two of whom sing on most of the 1937-1940 Havana recordings on
this CD - More did not join the band until 1943). (JV)
|
| CUBA |
SONORA MATANCERA |
Tumbao 114 |
La Ola Marina |
● CD $14.98 |
20 tracks, 57 minutes, essential
Organized in the Cuban
province of Matanzas in 1924, Sonora Matancera has become an institution
in Cuban music, evolving through the stages of musical development in the
decades that followed. The group is known for its solid, earthy playing as
well as for the many famous vocalists who have fronted the band (most
notably, Celia Cruz). In these 1944 recordings, the featured vocalist is
Bienvenido Granda. (JV)
|
| CHINA |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
DejaVu Retro R2CD 4288 |
The Music of China |
● CD $12.98 |
Budget 2-CD set is a sweeping introduction to Chinese
music. Disc One is all instrumental and tremendous fun to listen to. 16
selections, all performed on a variety of traditional instruments. Now,
China is a big place with a lot of people in it, but you're not going to
get any detail of who the musicians are and where they come from with this
set; as is standard with the DejaVu Retro packages, the notes are
practically nonexistent, although there are descriptions of the
traditional instruments by name, which is useful. Unless you're an
aficionado, it's helpful to listen to Disc One to get your ears ready for
Disc Two, which offers Chinese opera -- vocal music with orchestral
accompaniment, some on traditional instruments, some on what we in the
west are accustomed to think of as orchestral instruments, and some on
what sounds like a synthesizer. There are six selections of traditional
Beijing opera, six with a more occidental sound by artists from the
National Opera, and a final six identified as modern Beijing opera. I find
the modern pieces the most accessible, but it's all fun to listen to. (NSN)
|
| AFRICA-SOUTH AFRICA |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Dejavue Retro 4299 |
Spirit Of The Zulu |
● CD $12.98 |
Two CD set previously available on the Eagle label
featuring recordings of South African made by the South African
Broadcasting Archives between 1959 and 1994. The first disc on this set
features music of the Zulu and the second one features music by the North
Sotho people. Booklet has generally notes on the music but no details on
the artists.
|
| ARGENTINA |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
El Bandoneon 102 |
Lo Esencial Del El Bandoneon |
● CD $14.98 |
20 tracks, highly recommended
Introduction to some of the
treasures of vintage Argentinian tango music from the 20s through the 40s
drawn from El Bandoneon's catalog of nearly 150 CDs (all available through
Roots & Rhythm). Among the legendary artists featured here are Carlos
Gardel, Libertad Lamarque, Carlos Di Sali, Alfredo De Angelis, Nelly Omar,
Anibal Troilo and more. Beautiful and varied music with generally fine
sound. In addition set includes thick 90 page booklet with full color
photos of all the albums available on the label along with track listings.
(FS)
|
| CUBA |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Putumayo 213 |
Salsa Around The World |
● CD $14.98 |
12 tracks, 51 minutes, highly recommended
Like Reggae,
Salsa has become a world music over the past several decades. As a result
(as this CD evidences), today there are professional Salsa bands in
unlikely places all over the world. Some, like Italy's Havana Mambo (who
contribute Malanina to this CD), are comprised of Cuban immigrants,
but others, like Scotland's "Salsa Celtica" (who contribute El Sol de
La Noche to this CD), are local musicians (in this case folk and jazz
players) who have caught the Salsa bug. First rate Salsa is played here by
bands from India to Finland and from Greece to Japan. (JV)
|
| MISCELLANEOUS |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Trikont 326 |
Stranded In The USA - Early Songs Of
Emigration |
● CD $21.98 |
Wonderful collection of 26 recordings of ethnic music from
the late 20s to early 50s on the subject of emigration to America and
immigrants experiences here. Includes Irish, Serbo-Croation, Trinidadian,
Polish, Jewish, German, Italian, Greek, Puerto Rican, Ukrainian, Finnish,
Austrian music and more. Includes two booklets with extensive notes in
English and German including annotation for all the tracks and German and
English lyric transcripts.
|
| REGGAE |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Trojan 80467 |
Trojan Battlefield |
● CD $13.98 |
24 tracks, highly recommended
This set spotlights the
piano & production career of Beckford, one of JA's more influential early
pianists, singers & producers. You probably never even heard of him, but
his nickname, Skavoovie, gave name to the early music! He's heard here
with bands such as The Charmers, The King Pioneer All Stars & under his
own name (with the classic Mr. Down Presser), as well as being behind
early recordings by Frederick Hibbert who later became known as Toots, &
Bail Gabbidon who later started Steel Pulse. Infectious 60s music. (GM)
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