<![CDATA[World Music Central]]> http://www.musicratty.com/feed/a72089d65b798b401646dbd0aa22a281 Fri, 28 Nov 2008 08:20:57 +0000 iRatty Engine http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss <![CDATA[World Music Central's Best World Music CDs of 2008]]> http://www.musicratty.com/article/ea0c4d008af5922adff4566490ef21f9 http://www.musicratty.com/article/ea0c4d008af5922adff4566490ef21f9

World Music Central's contributors have released the editor's top world music picks of 2008:

Angel Romero,  World Music Central/Músicas del Mundo (USA)

Conchi (Kontxi) Diez of Músicas del Mundo/World Music Central (Spain):

Patricia Herlevi, host of The Whole Music Experience blog and regular contributor of World Music Central (USA):

 

]]> Wed, 03 Dec 2008 04:30:53 +0000 music world music central music experience blog sense world music real world cuando lebrijano canta lebrijano sharon shannon tiptons sax quartet World Music Central's Best World Music CDs of 2008 <![CDATA[World Music Central's 2008 Holiday Gift Guide]]> http://www.musicratty.com/article/54a53dcccc905770175d369705027c5f http://www.musicratty.com/article/54a53dcccc905770175d369705027c5f

The holidays are soon upon us. With the economy on shaky ground and folks feeling edgy, World Music Central has worked especially hard in finding some good deals for our readers. With many retailers looking to make any kind of sale, World Music Central readers can look forward to some decent discounts this season and some deals on shipping. I have included prices on many of these items, but it’s early yet and many retailers are getting nervous. I wouldn’t be surprised to find some super-duper sales knocking down many of these prices and free shipping offers springing up all over the place.

Let’s get started with music and our contributors’ top ten picks.

Our audio equipment picks this year include:

Apple’s iPod Touch, available in the 8, 16 and 32 GB capacities priced at $219.48, $289.48 and $379.48. With hours of song, photos and video all at a finger’s touch, this iPod’s got the goods with a 3.5-inch, multi-touch display screen with a 480 x 320-pixel resolution.

The iPod Nano with a 4 GB capacity that allows you to play hours of music or up to 5 hours of television shows, movies and podcasts comes in at a nice $113.50 price tag for those on a tighter budget.

The real steal is the Apple iPod Shuffle. Priced at $47.37, this little baby’s got a 240 song capacity that just right for the price.

Zune Player’s got some delightful treats available with the $229.51 Zune 120 GB Video MP3 Player that holds up to 30,000 songs and connects to your home wireless network. Don’t forget the Zune Pass subscription service for thousands of songs and CDs. There’s also the Zune 8 GB Digital Media Player priced at $136.45 that allows for the storage of 2,000 songs, 25,000 photos or 25 hours of video.

Looking to be a little more cost conscious, there’s some equally rated items like the SanDisk Sansa e260 4 GB MP3 Player with MicroSD Expansion Slot. Priced at $66.33, this MP3 player has 4 GB of memory, comes with FM tuner with recording capability and a voice recorder. There’s also the SanDisk Sansa Clip 1 GB MP3 Player  with a very reasonable price tag of $29.51. With up to 15 hours of play, a rechargeable battery, a FM tuner and USB 2.0 port to transfer files, this one more than reasonably priced. The SanDisk Sansa Clip 4 GB MP3 Player with its 4GB capacity, FM tuner, up to 15 continuous hours of MP3, WMA or Audible file play and rechargeable battery, is priced at a cool $59.99. With varying storage capacities, features and subscription deals, finding the right MP3 for the right price has become relatively easy, but checking out the consumer ratings is always suggested.

Looking for CD players? There are plenty of these out there with some nice prices as well. At $29.99 there’s theEmerson PD5098 Portable CD Player with AM/FM Radio that has a front load feature and an LCD indicator. You can step up to the Emerson PD6560BL Portable CD-RW Player with Digital Tuning AM/FM Stereo Receiver for $49.44. This CD player’s got a programmable memory system to program favorite tracks or preset radio stations and a stereo cassette recorder plus a remote.

Now if you are looking to upgrade your system, you might want to check out the JVC XL-FZ258BK 5-CD Changer. Priced at $121.20, this one has a 5-disc capacity, optical digital audio output and continuous play and smart random play.

For those of who are still mooning over the stacks of vinyls that have been relegated to the attic, why not join the many who are returning to the good old turntable. Sony has the Sony PSLX250H Turntable. You’ll be playing those 33-1/3’s and 45’s in no time. There’s also the very reasonable priced $62.88 Audio Technica AT-PL50 Belt Drive Turntable or the Audio-Technica AT-PL120 Professional Direct-Drive Turntable priced at $190.45. Or maybe you just want to go all out with the Audio Technica AT-LP2DUSP LP-to-Digital Recording System with USB. Priced at $85.04, this baby will let you create MP3, WAV, WMA files while removing the imperfections of the LP with software compatible to both Macs and PCs. This would be a great gift for the music junkie with a collection of LPs stashed in a corner.

In music software there’s the Music Ace Deluxe priced at $49.99 that has been designed by music professionals and comes with lessons in theory, rhythm, pitch, note reading and allows the user to compose and listen to his or her own music. There’s also Finale Songwriter priced at $42.99 allows the budding songwriter add chords, harmonies and drums and then save the whole thing to MP3 format. Harmonic Vision Music Ac or Music Maker 14 or the Super Duper Music Looper geared toward kids might be options for your gift list.

Now, this wouldn’t be any kind of gift guide if I didn’t include Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Bundle With Guitar (for PC) and versions for PlayStation 2’s or Nintendo Wii’s Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Wireless Bundle. There’s also the World Tour and Rock’s the 80’s versions. If that weren’t enough Rock Band has come out with a special edition and expansion kit for you’re rock and roll pleasure.

This year I’ve chosen a number of music releases from the label Music for Little People. There’s some great music for kids by some well-known artists that will have your wee ones up and dancing about the house.

To make their musical experience interactive you should check out some of the following musical toy gifts:

Now if you have an adult that acts like a child you might want to get the Desktop Finger Drums Kit. This tiny drum kit is just adorable for the music lover who needs a little fun at the office.

If your budget allows for some higher end items I would head over to Novica.com. They have some spectacular artwork. Musicians for Peace by artist Juan Carlos Ñañake is simply stunning. The West African Strings of Joy  by Emmanuel Tetteh Pecku is equally extraordinary. There is also the Balinese artist Nyoman Sedayatana’s wood sculpture, Saraswati, Goddess of the Arts. Browse Novica's catalog.

Novica also has some nicely priced instruments that would make lovely gifts, like the $39.95 set of 3 ceramic flutes, Ancient Animals , Song of the Andes quena flute, also for $39.95 or the $59.95 Thai wood gong, Powerful Rhythm. For a real deal there is the set of 5 ceramic Christmas Ocarinas . These Andean Christmas tree ornaments are beautifully decorated and cost a mere $29.66. There are many other instruments from artisans from all over the world and because of Novica’s association with National Geographic you know that the money is going to these wonderful instrument makers and artists. Browse Novica's catalog.

Wolfgang’s Vault has all music and concert collectibles you could possibly want. T-shirts, photographs, posters and memorabilia are just a click away. You’ll find everyone from Steve Riley to Ry Cooder to Ali Farka Toure to Baaba Maal to B.B. King. With live streaming music pulled from the Bill Graham Archives, the King Biscuit Flower Hour and Record Plant, there’s concert recordings played here that simply can’t be heard anywhere. Browse Wolfgang's Vault catalog.

Our books on music list includes:

For DVDs you might want to check out some of these fabulous music movies:

Amazon.com has some great deals on magazine subscriptions, so you might want give a year’s subscription to one of these music magazines to the person who hates everything:

As I always do in these gift guides, I’m going to suggest that you to check out the touring schedules of your local clubs, universities and arts centers for up coming concerts. A pair of concert tickets just might be the perfect gift for those special people in your lives. Giving a gift certificate for some music lessons or maybe some dance lessons also might be an affordable choice and certainly brighten up the cold days of January.

Let me also remind you about those folks who might not be on your list, but who could really use the help. Know that dusting off and donating that old clarinet or guitar in your attic would be a welcomed gift to any school music program. Also, please remember our favorite charities like VH1’s Save the Music Foundation, Freemuse.org and the Music Maker Relief Foundation. These organizations are such good causes and you are such good people, I know that you’ll try to give what you can to keep the music alive.

As always, World Music Central hopes that this guide has pointed you in the right direction for that perfect gift or reminded you to update your own wish list. We hope that you have a safe and wonderful, music-filled holiday season.

 

]]> Wed, 03 Dec 2008 04:30:50 +0000 world music world music publication music alive music business music lover harmonic vision music label music school music program World Music Central's 2008 Holiday Gift Guide <![CDATA[Testosterone Fuelled Vortex of Edgy Sounds]]> http://www.musicratty.com/article/f61eae1ea3966f4160393bf4072f79ef http://www.musicratty.com/article/f61eae1ea3966f4160393bf4072f79ef Jill Turner recovers after being sucked into a testosterone fuelled vortex of edgy basslines, creative programming, and lyrical spitting, mentally exhausting and in parts exciting, before being flung out thrilled but mentally exhausted, onto the dance floor in a post acid, hard house club somewhere deep in Morocco.

Kasbah Rockers

Kasbah Rockers (Barraka, 2008)

The new project from producer and programmer Pat Jabbar who brings old friends from the Barraka label together, Magrhebika, Makale and Amira Saqati ( also responsible for writing 8 of the 16 tracks). Long time creative partner Bill Laswell supplies the basslines and additional studio production, plus an injection of new talent comes in the form of Hamza and Anass. They deliver raps in French and Arabic covering Moroccan street reality alongside an examination of western values, a constant theme of the album. If you are a fan of DAM then you'll enjoy these two brothers from the Marraki crew who work well with the other album's rapper, Makale.
 

Overall this album is intense and at full tilt it is tough with the beats and tough on the emotions. There's a lot to unravel with each track taking twists and turns of its own and it takes a few listens to start appreciating the textures and use of computer programming in conjunction with the traditional musical instruments of Morocco such as the Lotar. I predict a number of euphemisms, Maroc 'n roll, Drum and Bled amongst others.

Recommended tracks include: 'Falludjah Car', an anti Iraq war, 'Fikou' a song of unity in a hip hop style and finally the last track of the album 'Kafaka Mina Raks' a more minimal post acid Moroccan hard house track of repetitive yet interesting drum patterns, and sufficient digital tweaks to satisfy the fuzziest headed dance floor weeble...big fish little fish cardboard box !

Buy the CD:

]]> Wed, 03 Dec 2008 04:30:49 +0000 kasbah rockers dance floor weeble dance floor fish cardboard box fish album tracks jill turner recovers hard house club Testosterone Fuelled Vortex of Edgy Sounds <![CDATA[Reggae Rewind by Freddie McGregor Reissued]]> http://www.musicratty.com/article/3da10506376e3f2f60ad81141d67b28d http://www.musicratty.com/article/3da10506376e3f2f60ad81141d67b28d Mr. Mcgregor, produced by Niney The Observer, is the successful debut from one of Jamaica’s most beloved singers, Freddie McGregor.  Debuting on CD for the first time and coming fully restored with original album artwork, digitally re-mastered sound and extensive liner notes, Freddie McGregor: Mr. McGregor of the Reggae Rewind series has been re-issued and brought back to life.
 
 This premier LP is a premium sampling of the quality reggae music that was being churned out in Jamaica in the late 1970's. The album's stalwart selections established the rootsy mix of reality, Rasta, lovers and cover tunes that Freddie's fans have come to expect from his releases throughout his lengthy career.

While Bobby Bobylon is rightfully regarded as a Studio One gem and has long been considered an essential part of any respectable reggae collection, the more obscure Mr. McGregor is a diamond in the rough waiting to be discovered. Produced by the innovative Winston Holness aka Niney the Observer, Mr. McGregor has a raw, gritty edge in contrast to Coxsone's carefully polished production on Bobby Bobylon. The original 10 track LP hit #2 on the UK reggae album charts in June 1979, but in the following years has not received the accolades nor the wide distribution it deserves. This super deluxe edition features 7 bonus tracks and includes 4 showcase disco mixes. With the additional tunes, this CD encompasses virtually all the output yielded from Freddie's association with Niney.
 

Buy the CD:

]]> Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:15:13 +0000 freddie freddie mcgregor mcgregor reggae album charts album original album artwork cd encompasses bobby bobylon cd Reggae Rewind by Freddie McGregor Reissued <![CDATA[Timeless Elegance]]> http://www.musicratty.com/article/4847aac0c66957bd5d01ca0506d82103 http://www.musicratty.com/article/4847aac0c66957bd5d01ca0506d82103

Review by TJ NelsonOmara Portuondo

Gracias (World Village, 2008)

All it takes is a single vocal line by Ms. Omara Portuondo and it’s clear that you are helpless. Whether she’s seducing you, teasing you or rebuffing you on her latest CD, you are bound to do her bidding. Finding international fame with the Buena Vista Social Club and encouraging more fans with her two solo albums, this Cuban songstress who has lured, beguiled and enchanted listeners for 60 years gives us another chance to fall love with her vocal mastery and timeless elegance on her latest offering entitled Gracias. Choosing from a repertoire of favorites and songs she’s always wanted to sing, Ms. Portuondo makes Gracias an elegant invitation to a whole new set of fans.

Opening with the inexpressibly lovely “Yo Vi,” Ms. Portuondo sweeps us into the very best of the Cuban jazz sound. Laced with guitar, double bass, piano and the lightest touch of bongo and tabla, “Yo Vi” soars with wings of sweeping strings. Gracias just gets better and better with plumy “Felicidad” and the sultry “O Que Será” with additional vocals by Chico Buarque. Expertly arranged, the music on Gracias is more than a framework on which to hang Ms. Portuondo’s masterful vocals.

 

Playing on the interaction between the music and vocals, Gracias sparkles with guest appearances by bassists Avishai Cohen and Richard Bona, percussionist Trilok Gurtu and famed pianist Chucho Valdés. With an intimate feel, tracks like “Vuelva Pena” and “Cuenta Para Un Niño” are shaded by Ms. Portuondo’s signature phrasing and depth of passion. The flirty Ámane Como Soy” with Pablo Milanés and the lushly stringed “Tú Me Desengaño” are shot through with the powerful current of vitality that is Omara Portuondo.

My favorites have to be the sassy Brazilian title track “ Gracias” with vocalist Jorge Drexler, Swami Jr on the seven-string guitar, Jorge Chicoy on electric guitar and Andrés Coayo on congas and pandero and the rich Caribbean sound of “Drume Negrita” with Richard Bona’s vocals, double bass and percussion by Julio Guerra and batas by Andrés Coayo.

Kudos go to producers Alê Siqueira and Swami Jr., the folks at Estudio Abdala in Havana and to the person whose idea it was to put all those great photos of Omara Portuondo in the booklet. Gracias is sheer delight and thank you, Ms. Portuondo.

Buy the CD:

 

]]> Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:15:12 +0000 portuondo portuondo sweeps nelson omara portuondo omara portuondo gracias gracias sparkles vocals additional vocals richard bonas vocals Timeless Elegance <![CDATA[Corsican and Nordic Vocal Depths]]> http://www.musicratty.com/article/0bdbb554e6477ce3e3f1111d79b33d59 http://www.musicratty.com/article/0bdbb554e6477ce3e3f1111d79b33d59 A Filetta - Bracana (Harmonia Mundi, 2008)
 
 Berit Opheim Versto - Slattar Pa Tunga (2L, 2008)
 
 It's been a few years since I have heard a new A Filetta recording. The Corsican polyphony vocal group released "Bracana" last May and it is only reaching my ears now. Hailing from Calvi on the island of Corsica, A Filetta led by Jean-Claude Acquaviva is easily one of my favorite Corsican groups. "Intantu" and "Si di Me" easily rank at the top of my 500+ CD collection. This group's layered vocal melodies, sharp compositions, and intensity cause listeners to stand up and take notice. I prefer putting on the headphones and allowing those voices to swim through my head, and even then, with fewer distractions, I am still not able to fully plummet the depths of this music. It will take a few listens.

The bulk of pieces on this recording were penned by Jean-Claude Acquaviva, but you will also find plenty of traditional material including a piece from the Republic of Georgia, another European region that boasts gorgeous multilayered male vocal music. The music on this disc sounds melancholic, but is satisfying. I am only getting my feet wet with this new CD, but the sacred "Benedictus" the Georgian piece, "Alilo" and "Liberata" stand out as favorites for me. My hope is that A Filetta finds a stateside distributor and builds an audience in North America.

From polyphonic vocals to solo voice, Norwegian vocalist Berit Opheim Versto sings lilting melodies normally reserved for folk fiddle on her recording "Slattar Pa Tunga". I can hear where Nordic music finds commonality with Gaelic mouth music. Versto also sings vocables that get feet dancing and give the mouth a real workout. According to the liner notes, Versto is imitating folk dance fiddles. "When the dancers couldn't find a fiddle player, they used a singer. By imitating the fiddle and using improvised nonsense 'words', the singer creates variations and a spectrum of colors in the melodies."

As I am trying to type this article on a new laptop computer, I am listening to this music out of context. Under the right circumstances I am sure I would find it immensely enjoyable, but it does not lend itself well to concentration. Better get off the computer and learn how to dance Nordic style.

Patricia Herlevi hosts the music consciousness blog, The Whole Music Experience.

Buy the CDs:

]]> Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:28:33 +0000 music music consciousness blog gaelic mouth music male vocal music music experience fiddle nordic music versto berit opheim versto Corsican and Nordic Vocal Depths <![CDATA[Campaign in support for an American Secretary of the Arts]]> http://www.musicratty.com/article/1a03e1bb685d81d972d8feca9e96289e http://www.musicratty.com/article/1a03e1bb685d81d972d8feca9e96289e

Musicians, artists and numerous arts lovers are participating in a campaign to support the creation of a Secretary of the Arts in the United States. The United States is one of the few western democracies that does not have a higher cabinet level minister or secretary in charge of the arts or cultural affairs.

In a recent radio interview with John Schaefer on WNYC’s Soundcheck, renowned musician and producer Quincy Jones mentioned that he plans to request from president elect Barack Obama the creation of a Secretary of the Arts. Quincy Jones’ call for a U.S. secretary of the arts  inspired an online petition. “The next conversation I have with President elect Barack Obama is to beg for a secretary of the arts,” he said.

An online petition was started by classical and jazz bassist Jaime Austria, inspired by Quincy Jones' interview. According to Quincy Jones' official website, during his travels Quincy Jones has observed that people in other countries seem to have greater appreciation for American music than Americans. He hopes the creation of a secretary of the arts in the U.S. will help preserve American music and other U.S. arts and ensure that they remain a vital part of American schools’ curriculum.

The online petition is available here.

Photo: Quincy Jones

]]> Sun, 30 Nov 2008 18:22:31 +0000 arts producer quincy jones quincy jones secretary travels quincy jones numerous arts lovers quincy jones call online petition american music Campaign in support for an American Secretary of the Arts <![CDATA[Los Van Van Mixing New CD Arrasando]]> http://www.musicratty.com/article/c90550b0576eff6895f6c8000499ec14 http://www.musicratty.com/article/c90550b0576eff6895f6c8000499ec14 Havana, Cuba (PL) - Cuban musician Juan Formell, director of the Los Van Van band, is working on an album in which  his children, Samuel and Vanessa, will participate. The album features his own pieces as well material by composers such as Rubén Blades, from Panama.
 
 Under the title of Arrasando, the CD is being mixed at the Studio 18 of Cuba's Musical Recording and Edition Company and it tastes like an anticipated party with which Los Van Van will enjoy beforehand their fortieth anniversary that is to come in 2009.

The album has the extra advantage that it incorporates top new musicians such as guitar player Elmer Ferrer and trumpet player Alexander Vargas, two giants of jazz with Latin and Afro-Cuban roots.
 
 It includes 13 songs, among them La rumba no está completa and Yo a lo tuyo y tu a lo mío, by Formell himself and Que no te de por eso by Roberto Carlos (Cucurucho), a high quality piano player who boosts the rhythmic and expressive power of Los Van Van.
 
 The band has remained for forty years as an undisputable winner in Cuban taste. Its identity reflects a style set in a musical heritage with a rich tradition, well assimilated and renewed.
 
 Translation: Karen López (Cubarte)
 
 Source: PL/Cubarte

]]> Sat, 29 Nov 2008 04:22:03 +0000 los van van album features album quality piano player musical musical heritage extra advantage rich tradition cuban taste Los Van Van Mixing New CD Arrasando <![CDATA[Farewell to Ñico]]> http://www.musicratty.com/article/f2cf670fa2b82f94fdc3226eb16da809 http://www.musicratty.com/article/f2cf670fa2b82f94fdc3226eb16da809 Author: Radamés Giro
 
 The death over the weekend in Havana of Jose Antonio Rojas (Ñico), 87, deprives Cuban music of one of its main figures of the 20th century.
 
 Born in the Cuban capital and an engineer by profession, Ñico was a composer and guitarist who also studied music theory and guitar technique, but his training was mostly self-taught.
 
 He belonged to the "Filin" movement along with Cesar Portillo de la Luz, Jose Antonio Mendez, Angel Diaz, Rosendo Ruiz Quevedo and others. From an early age he listened to the music of Chopin, Rachmaninov and Beethoven, and also that of Cuba’s Matamoros, Aresenio, and the danzones of Arcaño y sus Maravillas. Later he would also be influenced by the music of Miguel Llobet and Andres Segovia.

Ñico had a prodigious career, and an ad lib ability that seemed endless. This was evident both in the variety of his themes as in the freedom he took when the melody gave way to the rhythm in a broad conjugation of factors.
 
 His songs and boleros—Ahora si se que te quiero, Se consciente, Cancion studio, Mi ayer, Soy un hombre feliz, Guajira a mi madre, Tony y Jesusito—and his distinctive way of approaching them, gave a unique definition to his diverse works.
 
 With his life’s work, Ñico earned the affection and the respect of his friends and had the highest acknowledgment from his peers. But he valued above all the recognition he got from his fans.
 
 Source: www.granma.co.cu/Cubarte

]]> Sat, 29 Nov 2008 04:22:03 +0000 music music theory deprives cuban music ico jose antonio rojas rosendo ruiz quevedo jose antonio mendez 20th century angel diaz Farewell to Ñico <![CDATA[Bending the Blues]]> http://www.musicratty.com/article/789abe153ffe17c01fca035f98086409 http://www.musicratty.com/article/789abe153ffe17c01fca035f98086409 Various Artists
 
 Entre Dunes Et Savanes Desert Blues 3 (Network, 2008)
 
 I have often wondered whether there is a correlation between music and landscape, physical landscape and type of music it induces. War and destruction certainly pass off their influence onto music, but can a particular landscape in the way it is perceived in the human mind result in a particular kind of music? Is the way one travels across the landscape an influence on the music produced? Could the size of an open sky create a particular genre? I’d like to say that I know the answer to this or that there is an enthnomusicological study out there that proves the point, but, sadly, I have no real answer.

I was thinking on these questions as I was listening to the double-CD set Entre Dunes Et Savanes Desert Blues 3. Beyond the basic framework of the blues or the shared tragedies of war, poverty, oppression and deprivation of these musicians, there is a nebulous quality that ties all this glorious music together. Just as one would recognize the twangy, American Southwest sound found on a movie soundtrack of any western, the desert blues has a quality all its own. Maybe it draws inspiration from an endless sky, or the shifting sands carried on by a warm wind or the loping gait of a camel. All I can say for certain is that the sounds that etched out on Entre Dunes et Savanes Desert Blues 3 are simply dazzling.

Desert Blues 3 opens with a sucker punch delivered by Malian guitarist Djélimady Tounkara on “Fanta Bourama” with its superb guitar lines and dreamy vocals. Now the prevailing thought is that the blues emerged out of the Mississippi Delta region of the United States, but spectacular tracks like “M’Ba Den Ou” by Idrissa Soumaoro, “Humaisa” by Abdoulaye Alhassane Touré and “Izarharh Ténéré” by Tinariwen make me wonder if the blues has more ancient roots. Rai master Khaled digs deep into his Berber sound with his outstanding vocals on “Wahrane, Wahrane.” E

thiopian singer Gigi offers up the moody blues number “”Bati Bati” and the richly worked “Ethiopia.” Rokia Traoré, backed by the Kronos Quartett, casts the listener off into space with her ethereal vocals on “Bownboï.” Other favorites include Toumani Diabaté’s delicately worked kora playing against Ali Farka Touré on guitar and vocals, the smoky vocals on Markus James’s Mississippi Delta number “Dream After Dream” and the soaring vocals of Dhafer Youssef on “A Kind of Love” as he matches the power and beauty of trumpet lines laid down by Markus Stockhausen.

I should also mention the kickass blues vocals by Mauritanian singer Malouma are sure to lay any listener down flat and the wicked licks set down by Ali Farka Touré, with accompanying musicians Mama Sissoko and Bassekou Kouyate on the ngonis and Little George Suref on harmonica, on “Penda Yoro” are alone worth the price of Desert Blues 3.

Bending the blues with koras, ngonis and balaphones, with Tuareg songs, Arab-Andalus rhythms and wholly African blues, Desert Blues 3 breaks the mold of the blues and reshapes the genre into something belonging completely to desert and its peoples – the effect is powerful and sumptuously intoxicating.

Buy the CD:

]]> Fri, 28 Nov 2008 08:20:57 +0000 blues savanes desert blues desert moody blues desert blues kickass blues vocals ethereal vocals vocals dreamy vocals Bending the Blues