world music

The last two centuries in the world has seen a rise of nationalism and conflicts, an imposed war between different cultures, different religions, the east and the west, modernity and tradition. The memories of different cultures and ethnicities living together in relative peace has faded out and it seems like a surreal fantasy. Thankfully it hasn’t been totally destroyed and there are some Honest Jon’s around to prove it.

If there’s one person I won’t tire composing similar music, it’s John Zorn. His 2008 title The Dreamers is out and it’s basically The Gift No.2 with a lot of great references to genres like exotica and surf with the help of Cyro Baptista’s mood setting percussions and Marc Ribot’s delicate guitar tone

Do you like Klezmer music? Are you also a fan of high intensity in your face speed punk metal? Then this album is for you. Kletka Red’s “Hijacking” came out in 1996 on John Zorn’s Tzadik label. It’s Klezmer on crank.

Here comes the alleged Tzadik fanboy with a new and unfortunately the final release from The Cracow Klezmer Band. “Remembrance” released on Tzadik in March is a final testimony to the band with a terrific 2005 performance in Warsaw at the Polish National Radio concert studio.

Yes retroethnic!. A word I made up 5 minutes ago to describe today’s songs. The first song is by Tofig Guliyev, and it’s off the compilation, Jazz in Azerbaijan Anthology. I’m disappointed with the second CD of this compilation, which has lots of newage/midi drum stale jazz, but the first CD has this gem by 1917 born composer Guliyev which has a ripping guitar played like a tar on top of a 20s style big brass band joined by some accordeon and piano, very musical.

Rashanim is guitarist Jon Madof, bassist Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz (who was also playing the upright bass on the awesome Filmworks XVIII CD by Zorn this year.) and drummer Mathias Kunzli. They’re a highly electric and rocking trio unlike some of their Tzadik buddies, that’s why they were given the chance to do the 5th Masada Anniversary title : Masada Rock, where I first heard their name.

I had thought of following up Esbjoern Svensson Trio with Israeli bassist Avishai Cohen’s astounding album “Continuo” on Razdaz Records, but as you see a few posts got in the way. Avishai’s music feels familiar to me because he’s from Israel, that means he’s from the Middle East if you’re not skilled in geography and this album has many Middle Eastern tones going underneath his western jazz.

Here’s the second part of the list, this time a little bit more with folk and avantgarde influences.