NEWSLETTER #144
Ethnic & World Music
Ray Barretto
->
Various Artists
| CUBA |
RAY BARRETTO |
Fania 130 073 |
Rhythm Of Life |
$13.98 |
7 tracks, 38 minutes, highly recommended
Recently departed conguero (conga player) Ray Barretto was for half a
century a percussion giant in both jazz and latin music. This mid-career
(1982) album was part of Ray's return to latin music and Fania records after
several commercially (but not musically) unsuccessful fusion albums for the
Atlantic label, so it unsurprisingly combines excellent soloing with great
latin rhythm. Throw in the expressive vocals of singer Ray de la Paz and you
have a very satisfying mixture. Highlights include Mi Dedicacion, an
homage to Ray's father's Puerto Rican homeland. (JV)
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| JEWISH/YIDDISH/KLEZMER |
EMIL BRUH |
Global Village 102 |
Klezmer Violinist And Instrumental Ensemble |
$15.98 |
A lovely collection of instrumental klezmer music performed
by violinist Emil Bruh with piano and occasional bass percussion
accompaniment. There is no booklet with biographical information but the
back cover indicates that these recordings were originally made in the
1950s. His playing ranges from sweet and lyrical to energetic and fiery as
the mood of the tune dictates - excellent!
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| CUBA |
WILLIE COLON |
Fania 130 050 |
El Juicio |
$13.98 |
8 tracks, 39 minutes, highly recommended
This 1972 album is
one the highlights of salsa trombonist/bandleader/producer Willie Colon's
gangster persona period. So, the cover appropriately depicts him testifying
on the stand with his bandmembers sitting in the jury box and his vocalist
presiding from the bench! The title of the album itself could well be
"Testifying," because the lyrics of the swinging and diverse songs it
contains run the gamut of emotions and emotional situations (including the
narration of a dream in which the singer's mother-in-law is hit by a
truck!). (JV)
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| CUBA |
WILLIE COLON
& ISMAEL MIRANDA |
Fania 130 112 |
Doble Energia |
$13.98 |
9 tracks, 48 minutes, highly recommended
This 1980 album
brings together two great salsa artists at the height of their careers and
powers-trombonist/producer/ bandleader Willie Colon and singer Ismael
Miranda, provides them with great and varied arrangements by a battery of
fine latin musical arrangers and lets the sparks fly with band's playing
propelling Miranda's vocal soaring. Unfortunately this record was not a hit
at the time of its original release, but has come to be acknowledged as a
classic since then.(JV)
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| CUBA |
FANIA ALL STARS |
Fania 130 042 |
Live At The Cheetah, Vol. 1 |
$13.98 |
4 tracks, 39 minutes, essential
If any record can be said to
have launched the salsa phenomenon of the 1970's, it was this album (and its
companion volume 2), which recorded a classic salsa show on August 26, 1971
at the New York City club the Cheetah. The film version of the concert
formed an integral part of the documentary "Our Latin Thing" (Nuestra Cosa).
This is simply one of the all time best live recordings in any musical genre
and the personnel reads like a Who's Who of latin music. The show stopping
finale, Quitate Tu (all sixteen plus minutes of it), features vocals
from six of salsa greatest vocalists. (JV)
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| JEWISH/ YIDDISH/ KLEZMER |
VICTORIA HAZAN |
Global Village 115 |
Todas Mis Esperansas |
$15.98 |
24 tracks, 73 mins, highly recommended
Beautiful collection
of 1940s recordings made in New York of Judeo-Spanish, Greek and Turkish
song by Victoria Hazan who was born in Smyrna, Turkey in 1896 - the
birthplace of Greek rembetika music. Hazan's music has the feel of old style
rembetika with expressive moaning vocals and accompaniments by violin, oud
and kanoun plus occasional clarinet. Ms Hazan sings in the languages of her
homeland - Judeo-Spanish (Ladino), Turkish and Greek. Lovely performances.
(FS)
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| AFRICA-SOUTH AFRICA |
LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO |
Blue Moon 024 |
Heavenly |
$8.98 |
13 tracks, 60 mins, recommended
This CD is a few years old,
but new to our catalog. On this the legendary South African acapella outfit
delivers another CD chock full of harmony and joy. The bulk of the material
is covers of western artists songs, many sung in duet with other famous
western artists. Of note, you get Dolly Parton joining in on Knockin' on
Heaven's Door, Phoebe Snow with Curtis Mayfield's People Get Ready,
Lou Rawls on Sam Cooke's Chain Gang, and many more The overlaying
theme of this record is the holy spirit and the human spirit, which
Ladysmith Black Mambazo sing as majestically as we would expect. Some of the
production and instrumentation is a bit off the mark, but overall the sound
is good. (JM)
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| CUBA |
HECTOR LAVOE |
Fania 130 108 |
Revento |
$13.98 |
7 tracks, 34 minutes, highly recommended
Lavoe was the
paradigm salsa singer with a tragic life to match. He was called "El
Cantante" (the Singer), which is also the name of a Marc Antony/J-Lo Lavoe
biopic (one of two Lavoe biopics scheduled to open in 2007). He sang with
Willie Colon and the Fania All Stars in the sixties and early seventies, but
was a solo act by the time of this 1985 emotionally wrenching classic (revento
means burst). The music here is quite diverse in tempo and style, but Lavoe
wears his heart on his sleeve on each track. (JV)
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| TEXAS-MEXICAN |
LYDIA MENDOZA |
Arhoolie 513 |
Recuerdos De Lydia Mendoza |
$12.98 |
15 tracks, 39 min., highly recommended
Lydia Mendoza, "the
first star of Tejano," began recording in 1928 at age 12 with her family's
group, Cuarteto Carta Blanca, and had her first big hit in 1934 with Mal
Hombre. By the 1960s and 1970s, she cut an enormous number of sides for
Falcon Records in Mexico. None of these sides (cut in the early '70s) which
feature the legendary singer accompanied by her own 12-string guitar and
with mariachis, and at times with an orchestra, have been released before in
any form, making this a particularly welcome addition to her catalog.
Arhoolie has put out 7 CDs on Mendoza, a documentary by Les Blank and Chris
Strachwitz, and a book! In the booklet notes, Strachwitz even includes a
contact number for Mendoza in case anyone would like to express his
appreciation for her unparalleled career in music. But even if she had only
recorded El Limpiabotas from this album, she would still deserve a
phone call. (JC)
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| CUBA |
ISMAEL
MIRANDA CON ORCHESTRA HARLOW |
Fania 130 103 |
Abran Paso! |
$13.98 |
8 tracks, 42 minutes, highly recommended
Because he began
his singing career as a preteen, Puerto Rican born salsa singer Ismael
Miranda was dubbed "the pretty boy of salsa." He later spent several years
singing with New York City latin pianist and bandleader Larry Harlow's
Orchestra Harlow and cut this album with that band at age 21 in 1971, just
before leaving on a solo career (branching into songwriting , Miranda wrote
five of the nine songs on this album). Both Miranda and Harlow had continued
success after the split. (JV)
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| CUBA |
ORQUESTA INMENSIDAD |
Fania 130 020 |
La Salsa De Hoy |
$13.98 |
8 tracks, 43 minutes, highly recommended
Orquesta Inmensidad
was a leading salsa band of the 1980's and a pioneer in the trend which came
to be called "salsa romantica," a softer, more ballad-oriented brand of
salsa (which in turn provoked a counter-trend of "salsa dura"-hard salsa-in
the 1990's). The band got its recording contract after they played with the
Fania All Stars in Miami in 1980 and impressed Fania producer Jerry Masucci.
This is the third of their nine Fania albums and is a sort of greatest hits
package. It is notable for the songwriting and arranging talents of
bandmembers Roberto Blades (Ruben's brother) and Raul Gallimore. (JV)
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| CUBA |
JOHNNY PACHECO |
Fania 130 075 |
El Maestro |
$19.98 |
2 CDs, 30 tracks, 118 minutes, essential
This set is aptly
named. Dominican-born Johnny Pacheco has done it all-played flute and
percussion, composed, led a band, and arranged and produced. He co-founded
Fania Records along with his divorce lawyer, Jerry Masucci. This
career-spanning collection finds him fronting the band and ranges in time
from his charanga (flute, strings, and percussion band) days of the early
1960's through the time of salsa and includes his classic collaborations
with singers like Celia Cruz and Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez. Through it all
the music stays roots-connected. (JV)
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| CUBA |
CHARLIE
PALMIERI & HIS ORCHESTRA |
Fania 130 065 |
The Heavyweight |
$13.98 |
6 tracks, 38 minutes, highly recommended
New York City-born
of Puerto Rican heritage, Charlie Palmieri was the leading latin pianist of
his day and a prime creator of the salsa musical form. In his earlier years,
he was the musical director of many famous latin orchestras (including those
of Xavier Cugat and Tito Puente), but in the 1960's he assumed the helm of
his own band. This 1978 classic combines a relentless, danceable swing with
excellent jazz-influenced solos and improvisations-many by Palmieri himself.
(JV
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| ARGENTINA |
SUNI PAZ |
Smithsonian Folkways 40532 |
Bandera Mia - Songs Of Argentina |
$15.98 |
17 tracks, 46 min., recommended
Bandera Mia ("Flag Of Mine")
finds the late 1960s-1970s protest singer (she used to open for Caesar Chavez
at rallies!) as committed as ever to her current and long-time interest:
Argentina. Some of the songs here were penned by assorted Argentine
songwriters, some (the anthemic and uplifting title track, for one, and the
beautiful and delicate Iguazu, for another) Paz composed. The booklet
notes (36 pages) are in English and Spanish and include comments on each
cut, but sadly (for non-Spanish speakers) do not contain the lyrics. You
can't have everything. What you can have is some delightful and impassioned
music of and about Argentina from a veteran performer who hasn't lost an
ounce of her musical power. (JC)
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| CUBA |
TITO PUENTE |
Fania 130 028 |
Para Lose Rumberos |
$13.98 |
10 tracks, 37 minutes, essential
Tito Puente was the king of
Mambo from the late forties through the mid-sixties, but by the time the
seventies began he was seemingly a has been as musical tastes in latin music
changed dramatically. Then a funny thing happened - Santana covered Oye
Como Va, (one of Tito's classic fifties tunes)-and suddenly he was
relevant all over again. On their third LP Santana covered another Puente
song - Para Los Rumberos - and Tito then remade it, too, and used it
as the title track of this blistering 1972 comeback album which features
re-workings of a number of classic latin tunes. (JV)
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| CUBA |
RICARDO RAY Y BOBBY
CRUZ |
Fania 130 083 |
El Bestial Sonido |
$13.98 |
8 tracks, 42 minutes, essential
In the sixties,
Brooklyn-born and Julliard-trained latin pianist Ricardo Ray joined with
vocalist Bobby Cruz to form one smoking latin soul band. As their music
evolved into salsa in the turbulent seventies, they cut this serious but
swinging classic in 1971 (it was the first album on Vaya, a subsidiary Fania
label). It melds many diverse latin music styles and genres and features
striking arrangements and lyrics, notably the consoling Guaguanco Triste
(a Ruben Blades composition). (JV)
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| CUBA |
ISMAEL
RIVERA CON KAKO Y SU ORQUESTA |
Fania 130 064 |
Lo Ultimo En La Avenida |
$13.98 |
10 tracks, 32 minutes, highly recommended
Ismael "Maelo"
Rivera was an exceptional sonero (improvisational latin singer) from his
early days in the 1950's with Cortijo's band in Puerto Rico in the 1950's
until death at age 56 in 1987. This exciting 1971 mid-career album finds him
singing with the crack band of Francesco Angel Bastar a/k/a/ "Kako." It
presents an exquisite combination of Maelo's vocals floating over the
driving latin percussion of Kako's timbales and Patato's congas in a wide
variety of latin rhythms. (JV)
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| CUBA |
SONORA PONCENA |
Fania 130 084 |
Jubilee |
$13.98 |
7 tracks, 43 minutes, highly recommended
This band was named
for its hometown of Ponce, Puerto Rico and was founded by Don Quique Lucca
in 1954. After his father's death, Papo Lucca, Jr. carried on leadership of
the band. Although its music has evolved over the years, it has always mixed
Cuban roots with many jazz elements. Its music has also always been
hard-driving, even during the salsa romantica period of the 1980's (during
which time this 1985 album celebrating the band's 30th anniversary was
cut).(JV)
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| CAJUN |
DUNICE THERIOT |
Swallow 6198 |
The Essential Collection |
$15.98 |
16 tracks, 42 mins, recommended
Dunice Theriot, who died in
1990 at the young age of 46, was a fine singer who sang Cajun music with a
country flavor and country music with a Cajun flavor. He wrote most of the
songs he recorded and had a hit in 1972 with the fine Cotton Rows
included here. Arrangements includes guitars, steel guitar and occasionally
fiddle but no accordion. I generally prefer the Cajun songs to the country
ones but they are all worthwhile. (FS)
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| AFRICA-KENYAN |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Arc Music 2030 |
Spotlight On Kenyan Music |
$13.98 |
14 tracks, recommended
Lovely collection of contemporary
Kenyan music featuring some of the finest new talents in Kenyan music who
participated in the "Spotlight On Kenyan Music" programme for the development
of Kenyan afro-fusion music, initiated by Alliance Francaise de nairobi with
the support of the Embassy of France and Total Kenya. Don't let the "fusion"
part scare you - this is strongly traditionally based music with sensuous
vocals and rhythms using traditional and contemporary instrumentation, often
featuring horns and skittery guitar. The songs include love songs, songs
dealing with the life and hardships of Kenyans as well as songs about Africa
in general. (FS)
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| AFRICA-SOUTH AFRICA |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Arc Music 1586 |
Exotic Voices From Africa |
$16.98 |
Two CDs, 30 tracks, 100 mins, highly recommended
In spite of
the generic album title this is actually a lovely collection of choral music
from South Africa. There are small and large groups, female groups, male
groups and mixed groups, sacred and secular music, unaccompanied and
accompanied performances ranging across the spectrum of South African tribal
groups. South African choral music is truly sublime. 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. Everyone knows Ladysmith
Black Mambazo and they are represented by one song here but it's a shame
that most of the other groups are little known outside of South Africa as
their music is equally affecting. There are no recording dates given but I
would imagine most of these performances are from the 80s
- the booklet has
brief notes on each of the groups featured. (FS)
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| TRINIDAD/ CALYPSO |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Castle PULSE 229 |
Kings Of Caypso |
$9.98 |
28 tracks, 74 mins, highly recommended
Wonderful collection
of calypso. There are no notes but judging from the content these tracks
were recorded in England in the 1950s. Some great topical songs including
Mighty Terror commentating on segregation in the U.S. South in Heading
North, Lord Invader on the marriage of Grace Kelly & Prince Rainier,
Terror begging to be arrested by Women Police In England and, most
surprisngly for the 1950s Terror's girl friend going off with her lesbian
lover in Patricia Gone With Millicent. Lots of other goodies
including the surrealistic Zombie Jamboree by Noel Anthony and Lord
Invader wanted to be reincarnated as a bed bug so he can bite fat women!
Lots of fun with great singing and musical arrangements. (FS)
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| JAMAICA |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Castle PULSE 825 |
Jamaican Rock Steady Party |
$9.98 |
20 tracks, 57 mins, highly recommended
In the early 60s
Jamaican music was dominated by ska. By 1970 it was reggae. In between for a
few years in the mid/ late 60s they had "rock steady" inspired by the slow,
intense dance that the "rude boys" hanging around street corners engaged in
and named by Alton Ellis's song Rock Steady (not include here,
unfortunately). Unlike ska there were fewer covers of American R&B songs and
the one example here - The Techniques version of Chris Kenner's Sick &
Tired perfectly illustrates how rock steady musicians slowed down the
tempo and gave the music a more sensuous feel. There are a lot more gems her
drawn from the Trojan and Creole catalogs featuring Ken Lazarus & The
Dragonaires, The Sealmates, The Creations, Glen Brown, Lester Sterling & The
Dragonaires (the wonderful instrumental Papa Lick), Clancy Eccles,
Lloyd & The Groovers, Ewan & Denver, Nehmiah Reid, Val Bennet and others.
Excellent sound, brief notes and a bargain price round out an indispensable
package. (FS)
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| MISCELLANEOUS |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Cristal 101 |
Chansons Creole |
$21.98 |
20 tracks, 60 mins, recommended
We have unearthed this very
odd compilation full of wonderfully odd songs. What discernable information
there is in the liner notes seems lost in translation. I tried to decipher
as best as I could, but when they described Slim Gaillard as " Bard of Jazz
without zinc, all in smart onomatopoeias," I gave up. What appears to be the
theme is Creole music, music that inspired it, and music that was inspired
by it. So you get a unique blend of Jazz, Calypso and different world musics.
There's a wonderful track by Lord Kitchener called Birth Of Ghana, a
very cool Ink Spots with That Cat Is High, and Slim Gaillard doing
his classic Yep Roc Heresy, which I have always found to be full of
"smart onomatopoeias." The Eupheme Cooper track All For You is like
Miriam Makeba meets the Shaggs while babysitting Damian from the Omen. There
a lots of other special tracks like that. Definitely one for the musically
adventurous. (JM)
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| JAMAICA/ REGGAE |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Pressure Sounds 40 |
Red Bumb Ball - Rare & Unreleased Rock
Steady, 1960-68 |
$23.98 |
22 Tracks, 61 mins, highly recommended
Rocksteady--my humble
definition: The bridge between Ska and Reggae. Ska styling slowed down to
give the musicians room to invent. "Red Bumb Ball" is a fine collection that
focuses on Derrick Morgan's productions and performances from the late
1960's. Morgan is a bit of an underappreciated figure nowadays, but one who
was very important in the evolution of Ska/ Rocksteady/ Reggae and in the
Jamaican music scene since pretty much day one. Includes first release for
Morgan's "Hop" record label Red Bumb Ball By Lloyd & Devon, which
became a huge hit that got things rolling good for the label and many
projects to come. Filled with records for his and many other record labels
from 1966 - 1968, this is chock full of great music. Derrick Morgan himself
sings I'm the Ruler, and you better believe him. (JM)
ROLAND ALPHONSO: Hop Special/ THE BLACK BROTHERS: Give Me Loving/ Lonely
World/ THE CONSUMMATES: Do It Now/ The More They Get/ AUSTIN FAITHFUL: Cry
No More For Me/ I'm In A Rocking Mood/ THE INVENTORS: Food Of Love/ LLOYD &
DEVON: Red Bumb Ball/ DERRICK MORGAN: Bad Luck On Me/ Father Killam/ I'm the
Ruler/ Prisoner In Love/ Tears On My Pillow/ The Story (I Wish I Was An
Apple)/ Do You Love Me?/ PAULINE MORGAN & THE CONSUMMATES: Give Me A Chance/
ERIC SMITH & THE LOVELETTS: I've Been Searching/ THE VICEROYS: Let Him Go
(Wrap It Up)/ Walkie Talkie/ Every Day/ Give It To Him
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| JEWISH/ YIDDISH/ KLEZMER |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Reboot Stereophonic 006 |
Jewface |
$14.98 |
16 tracks, 51 mins, highly recommended
Ethnic dialect humor
was a staple of the early recording industry and this fascinating and
delightful collection presents 16 examples of Jewish dialect humor recorded
between 1905 and 1916. The performers are both Jews and Goys and although
the CD claims "perhaps the most offensive album ever made" there is very
little here to offend anyone - the humor, though exaggerating Jewish
stereotypes are a far cry from the minstrel songs and their description of
African-Americans and the Jewish performers are engaging in self deprecating
humor that's part of Jewish culture. With that clarification the music here
is fun and delightful and in some cases still very funny almost 100 years
after they were recorded. Artists include Monroe Silver, Rhoda Bernard, The
Premier Quartet (actually the American Quartet), Ada Jones, Fanny Brice,
Julian Rose and others. Sound quality is excellent and there are detailed
notes and some beautiful reproductions of sheet music of some of the songs.
(FS)
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| CANADA |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Smithsonian Folkways 40539 |
Classic Canadian Songs |
$14.98 |
30 tracks, 72 min., recommended
Canada. The great white
north. If you're expecting songs about the mounted police and fur trappers,
well, actually yes, there are some here. But you also get a square dance, a
murder ballad, a Yiddish children's song, an Irish reel, and moose and bear
calls. The songs are so diverse that it would make a lovely parlor game to
have people try to guess the organizing principle of the album, if only
people still had parlors. Among the most charming moments is Danse Carre
by Edgar Morin, all six tracks by Alan Mills (calling to mind a sort of
Canadian Burl Ives, stylistically), The Old G. by Stanley G. Triggs.
The two Cree songs may have trouble sustaining long-term interest, but they
represent exceptions to an otherwise entertaining collection. Most tracks
were recorded in the 1950s and early 1960s, and as always with Smithsonian
Folkways, the booklet notes and photos are a pleasure. (JC)
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| EGYPT |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Topic TSCD 931 |
Women Of Egypt, 1924-1931 |
$16.98 |
16 tracks, 60 mins, highly recommended
Wonderful and varied
collection of recordings made by Egyptian women singers in the 20s and early
30s. Although Umm Kulthum (aka Oum Kalsoum, 1904-1975) is well known outside
her native country most of the other artists here are little known today
though in their day were as popular and successful as Kulthumm, selling
substantial numbers of their recordings and appearing on the stage and in
movies. Accompanied by small groups or, occasionally larger orchestras
featuring traditional instruments, they sing songs of love with a gorgeous
and passionate intensity. This collection draws on recordings housed in the
British Sound Archive and the sound quality is superb. The 20 page booklet
has background information, biographies of the performers, period photos and
others graphics. (FS)
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| CAJUN |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Valcour 002 |
Allons Boire Un Coup |
$14.98 |
16 tracks, recommended
Valcour's debut album by Cedric
Watson & Corey Ledet (Valcour 001 - $14.98) was one of the musical
highlights of 2006. Although this one isn't as good it certainly is an
entertaining selection of Cajun and Creole songs on a subject near and dear
to their hearts - drink. The songs cover ths spectrum from the joyous to the
tragic. Cedric Watson returns with two of the highlights here - the chilling
acapella Table Ronde and the soulful La Joh A Plambeau with
Cedric and his fiddle joined by Joel Savoy on guitar and Chris Stafford on
bass & drums. Other artists include Joel Savoy, Linzay Young & Richard
Burgess, Anna Laura Edmiston (a lovely version of the Marie Falcon song
Mon Bon Vieux Mari), Courtney Granger and Friends, Feufollet, The Pine
Leaf Boys (an odd version of the Nathan Abshire classic Pine Grove Blues),
The Red Stick Ramblers, Ann Savoy & Jane Vidrine, The Lost Bayou Ramblers
and others. (FS)
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| MISCELLANEOUS |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
World Music Network 1174 |
Rough Guide To Yodelling |
$14.98 |
Delightful and varied collection exploring the wide variety
of yodeling throughout the world and in a variety of different contexts. In
addition to the expected America country and Swiss yodeling we also hear
yodeling from Hawaii, Bollywood, Mexico, Mongolia, Africa and a variety of
blends of cross-cultural and avant garde yodeling. Artists include Cathy
Fink (a children's song teaching how to yodel), Christine Lautenberg,
Shelley HIrsch & David Weinstein, The Ho'op'i Brothers, Kishore Kumar,
Carolina Cotton, Gillian WElch, Kenny Roberts, Ed Sanders, baka Beyond and
more. Includes booklet with extensive notes by Bart Plantenga, author of the
book length study of yodeling "Yodel-Ay-Ee-Oooo: The Secret History Of
Yodeling Around The World."
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