africa

Image nicked from If Charlie Parker Was a Gunslinger

Here’s the 3rd part of the house mix. You should check out part 1 and part 2 as well, if you haven’t already.

It’s been a long time since we’ve done a deep/vocal house selection, and meanwhile there’s been some incredible output which usually only makes their ways to DJs’ cases. Here’s a carefully picked selection.

Lisboa’s Tora Tora Big Band is one of the most colourful and groovy bands I’ve listened to this year. This 12 people neo big band has revived the fun of the big bands from the last century in their own words (it feels nice to say last century!)

NYC’s Yoruba Records is 5 years old! and here is a double cd compilation by label boss Osunlade to celebrate this great occasion. Artists such as Ebbo, Franck, Nadirah Shakoor, Kb and Osunlade himself have some great tracks on this one. Afro inspired Deep & Soulful US House music with vocals and tribal beats, make up most of the songs and they would be highly suitable for office or pool parties as I’m sure some latino percussion and shakers would turn everyone into dance monsters. If you’re bored of the dark side’s senseless and soulless house music, prepare for an other dimension of quality house music.

Osunlade - Cantos a Ochun et Oya (J.Valentine Reedit)
Osunlade - I don’t know
Marie St. James - Closer I get (Lounge Mix)

Another day another Tzadik release, this time by the eccentric percussion guru Cyro Baptista. I’ve known him from the Electric Masada ensemble and also I’ve listened to his track Matan on the wonderful Dichotomy of Epiphany mp3blog a few months ago. His percussion and dance ensemble released their second album on Tzadik in 2005. Cyro has been an eclectic performer who has a revolutionary vision and this is one of the most challenging and innovative percussion and rhythm albums I’ve ever listened to.

No wonder the man has worked with artists including (My God look at this list) John Zorn, James Taylor, Brian Eno, Wynton Marsalis, Paul Simon, Herbie Hancock, Medeski Martin & Wood, Spyro Gyra, Melissa Etheridge, Yo-Yo Ma, Santana, Milton Nascimento, Caetano Veloso and countless more.

This album has world music and brasil rhythms, a touch of middle east, africa, violins, electro guitars and even megaphones and dance & performance art, as the band is supposedly a great act live, which is compared to Stomp!, (but imo musically far superior). It’s not doing any justice to choose 2 songs from this album because all the songs are unique and wonderfully crafted. You can sense the enthusiasm and fun listening to the album, because the live act is captured really well by Jamie Saft, which will be the subject of tomorrow’s post, with the Jamie Saft Trio plays Bob Dylan, which is released once again on Tzadik very recently. If you think you like the avantgarde percussion world music feeling from these 2 songs, you should definitely get the album, because there’s lots of hidden humor and surprises and strange rhythms and different instruments in all songs (akin to the genrebreaking Mr. Bungle, or the feeling you’d get out of a Les Claypool album with a percussion and vocal ensemble.)

Here’s a short writeup by the guy himself for All about Jazz, telling an inspiring anecdote about a past experience, it was nice to read it, he seems to be an eccentric down to earth genius who seems to be translating his feelings and thoughts into his music to with extreme accuracy.

and finally Cyro Baptista making a guest appearance on a Wnyston Marsalis concert, 10 minutes of youtube wonder.

[youtube 8To_nY4dEb4]

Cyro Baptista - American Constitution
Cyro Baptista - Annarrie

Hello guys, I’m on a trip to Germany since a few days, that’s why it’s been a slow week here. I am in Aachen now, a small town on the Holland, Belgium, Germany border after a trip to Rotterdam, and I’ll be back in Frankfurt soon, so I’ve been to 4-5 cities in 5 days, and most of the time I’ve been listening to the late Malian singer Ali Ibrahim “Farka” Touré’s posthumous album Savane.

It’s been released on Nonesuch recently, and it’s a traditional Mali music mixed with Farka’s guitar & voice. It’s such a shame he didn’t live to produce more stuff, but this album is an all together great finale for the big guy. Traditional ethnic African music, great singing, female backing vocals and very sad & emotional feeling, (as if Farka knew he was gonna die after finishing this record). Just listen to Beto, I don’t know what they’re saying but I really feel it. Anyways here’s a pitchfork review which got an 8.1 actually. I’ve got to move soon, so take care all and enjoy and thanks for the music Mr. Touré.

Ali Farka Touré - Savane
Ali Farka Touré - Beto

One of the recent releases from the famed Downtempo/Nujazz label Ubiquity is Michigan’s Nomo, an 8 piece afrobeat/nujazz orchestra with an extensive brass section.