WorldBeatUK (27th Show) - Broadcast Notes (21/9/11)
Tagged with: WorldBeatUK Glyn Phillips Laima Jansone Alamaailman Vasarat Olith Ratego Nairobi City Ensemble Jelena Jakubovitch Ara Dinkjian Hugh Masekela Boubacar Traore Howlin Wolf Ibrahim Maalouf BaianaSystem Flavia Bittencourt Carminho Basco Supa Bassie Alborosie
WBUK27 (21/9/11) - SHOWNOTES
(1) “Intro-Mat” (1:47) Matchatcha “Nyekesse” (Melodie)
Welcome, this is WorldbeatUK! [pause] My name’s Glyn Phillips and over the next two hours I’ll be taking you around the world with the help of some amazing music from the likes of Kenya’s Olith Ratego, Russia’s Jelena Jakubovitch, Quebec’s Le Vent Du Nord, Italy’s Alborosie and Mali’s Boubacar Traoré to name but five.
Expect world fusion from Natacha Atlas, Lebanese blues from Ibrahim Maalouf, Japanese folk from Shunsuke Kimura & Etsuro Ono and musica popular brasileira from Flavia Bittencourt.
[Pause]
We get to hear a track from Hugh Masekela’s latest album, some vintage Howlin’ Wolf and throw our cowboy hats in the air to the Water Tower Bucket Boys!
And if that wasn’t enough I’ll throw in some Finnish Klezmer Punk, some British Soul Funk, some Spanish Reggae, some Latvian Folk and some Armenian oud to titivate your senses.
[Pause]
And all that’s just a taste of what’s to come, so settle down, pour yourself a drink, and wallow in a world of music!
(2) “Batkallim (David Starfire Remix)” (5:21) Natacha Atlas “Mounqaliba - Rising: The Remixes” (Six Degrees Records) World
Yeah, that was Natacha Atlas and a track called “Batkallim” remixed by David Starfire (whose own work I hope to be playing in a week or two) from the album “Mounqaliba - Rising: the Remixes” on the Six Degrees Records label.
In a few weeks I’ll be off to Copenhagen to Womex for the annual world music industry exhibition and a chance to shamelessly network with the movers and shakers in the kind of music that we all love. And I’m sure to be coming back with all kinds of musical goodies for your delectation and delight.
I’ve just received the Womex compilation CD, Womeximiser 2011, which gives examples of some of the acts being promoted at the trade fair. So, tonight and next week I’m going to be playing some tracks from that to whet your appetite, amongst my other selections. Next week I’ll announce a competition or draw to give you the chance to get your hands on this CD which is usually only open to Womex delegates. So tune in next week for that.
In the meantime, here’s a track from that compilation. It’s an instrumental, a piece of Latvian folk from a young lady called Laima Jansone who plays the Kokle - on old Latvian instrument (a bit like a lyre possibly but with a long soundboard). Laima compares the Latvian kokle to the Lithuanian kankle, the Finnish kantele, the Estonian kannele and the Russian gusli - nope didn’t help me either.
The rather lovely Laima explains that she approaches her music in a meditative, occasionally percussive fashion, that evokes the sounds of nature, and the urban landscape, as well as trying to capture emotional close-ups.
She has an album out called “Sidrabs / Silver” and subtitled “Impressions of a Latvian Winter - improvisations on the kokle”. However this track is a previously unreleased piece called “Zalktis - Vortex of Living Energy”
(3) “Zalktis - Vortex of Living Energy” (3:01) Laima Jansone (Unreleased) (Tir Tir, 2011) Latvian Folk
And from the other side of the Baltic Sea to Latvia is Finland, traditionally home to long winter nights, thousands of lakes, drunken elks, chronic Seasonal Affective Disorder and tango. Yes, you heard right, tango - VERY popular in Finland.
So, here’s the antidote to all that - or is possibly the cause? This is the Finnish Klezmer Punk band Alamaailman Vasarat and a track from their 2009 album “Huuro Kolkko” on the Laskeuma Records label entitled “Tujuhuju”
(4) “Tujuhuju” (4:21) Alamaailman Vasarat “Huuro Kolkko” (Laskeuma Records, 2009) Finnish Klezmer Punk
[CONTINUOUS]
(5) “Jomoko Wacho Wacho” (4:55) Olith Ratego “Osuga” (A I Records, 2005) Kenyan
You just heard the 2005 sounds of Kenya - that was Olith Ratego and a track called “Jomoko Wacho Wacho” which talks about people that have a habit making promises they never keep - they might buy you alcohol but can’t feed you when you’re hungry. That was from the album “Osuga” on the A I Records label.
Also on that same record label is the next band, the Nairobi City Ensemble. In 2003 they recorded an album called “Kalapapla” from which this next track comes.
This is “Madiaba Swing” in which the singer advises those who choose their partners merely on outward appearance to be careful indeed.
(6) “Madiaba Swing” (4:13) Nairobi City Ensemble “Kalapapla” (A I Records, 2003) Kenyan
[CONTINUOUS]
(7) “Yegorushka” (3:25) Jelena Jakubovitch “Burn Burn Gypsy Love” (Ajabu! 2011) Gypsy (Russian)
Wasn’t that wonderful! That was the Russian singer Jelena Jakubovitch - famous for her repertoire of Russian poetry put to music and as on this latest album “Burn Burn Gypsy Love” (released only this year on the Ajabu! label) for her interpretations of Gypsy Romances. That was called “Yegorushka” - really rather lush!
And now staying in the world of Gypsy music this is a band called “The Other Europeans” - a fascinating project involving Yiddish and Roma musicians from across Europe.
The project leader Alan Bern, has brought together Klezmer and Lautari musicians from seven different countries to create a deeply emotional blend that looks to restore a centuries-old co-operation between two groups who both used to live in what is now present-day Moldova, before war, holocaust and immigration tore them all apart. As Bern says both these cultures are often considered marginal to Europe, yet both have played a major role in creating and transmitting European musical traditions.
This is from the “Klezmer/Lautari Suite No 2” on the “Almost Bootleg” album and is called “Terkishers”:
(8) “Terkishers (from Klezmer/Lautari Suite 2)” 2:47) The Other Europeans “Almost Bootleg” (2010) Gypsy
Yes, the Yiddish/Roma collaboration of “The Other Europeans”. Moldova is a small, land-locked country squeezed between Romania and the Ukraine and if you were to board a ship at Odessa and sail south-east you’d arrive in where eastern Turkey meets Georgia; get off the boat and keep travelling in the same direction with the Caucasus mountains on your left and you’d eventually end up in the land-locked state of Armenia.
This incredibly ancient country and civilisation has some great music too. The next artist although born in the United States is of Armenian parentage and has composed for many international artists.
So from his album “An Armenian in America” this is the oud virtuoso Ara Dinkjian and a track called “I Sinkin”
(9) “I Sinkin’” (3:12) Ara Dinkjian “An Armenian in America” (Krikor Music 2006) Armenian
OK. Now here’s a name resonant with decades of great music, long struggle, exile, happiness, sadness and a profound effect on those who have either worked with him or just heard his music. I’m talking about the great South African trumpeter/composer Hugh Masekela.
No point recapping his amazing career, just to say that well into his 70s now, Hugh shows no sign of letting up at all musically. He released his latest album last year on the Gallo label, a work called “Jabulani”. This is a joyful piece of pure Masekelismo! “Mfana”!
(10) “Mfana” (5:18) Hugh Masekela “Jabulani” (Gallo 2010) South African
And now from South Africa to Sub-Saharan Africa, to Mali to be exact and a contemporary of Masekela’s in age, the Malian bluesman Boubacar Traoré.
Like Hugh he’s still putting it about musically and this piece is from an album of his called “Mali Denhou” on the Lusafrica label.
It’s the first of three bluesey tracks I’m playing in a row tonight from three different continents, styles and eras and it’s called “Mondeou”
(11) “Mondeou” (3:57) Boubacar Traoré “Mali Denhou” (Lusafrica 2011) African (Mali)
[CONTINUOUS]
(12) “Who’s Been Talking?” (5:52) Howlin' Wolf “The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions” (Chess Records, 1971) Blues
[CONTINUOUS]
(13) “Never Serious” (4:22) Ibrahim Maalouf “Diagnostic” (Mi’ster Productions, 2011) Lebanon
You’re listening to Rhubarb Radio, my name’s Glyn Phillips and this is WorldBeatUK.
[CHANGE CDs!!!]
Yeah, you just heard three in a row there - all with a blues flavour.
First up was Mali’s Boubacar Traoré and “Mondeou”.
That was followed by a recording rescued from the vaults, of the legendary bluesman Chester Arthur Bennett - better known to the world as “Howlin’ Wolf” - who pitched up in England in May 1970 and was the focal point for some amazing sessions that included Eric Clapton, Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts, Steve Winwood and many more.
What you heard was one of the out-takes as the Wolf explains what he’s after, much to the mystification of the English musicians...
Still, once it gets going it sure gets going - that was “Who’s Been Talking?” from the 2002 Deluxe Edition re-release of the “London Howlin’ Wolf Sessions” on Chess.
And finally, the brilliant Lebanese trumpeter, Ibrahim Maalouf, making his horns spit, slur, growl and wail like a banshee over the baddest of badboy blues guitar and sparse drums. Wow! Loving that for sure!
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OK, time to head over to the Far East now and the Japanese Folk duo Shunsuke Kimura & Etsuro Ono and from their 2009 album “Duo” on the Medium label, a track which translates as “Dancing in the North Wind”
1 (14) “Dancing in the North Wind” (4:11) Shunsuke Kimura & Etsuro Ono “Duo” (Medium Label, 2009) Japanese Folk
From Japan to Brazil now - and there are actually very large Japanese communities in Brazil and a lot of co-operation between the two countries.
This is BaianaSystem and from the 2010 album also called “BaianaSystem" on the Garimpo Musica label a track entitled “Da Calcada Por Lobato” which seems to have a lot in common with Dominican bachata I think. See what you reckon.
2 (15) “Da Calcada Por Lobato” (4:34) BaianaSystem “BaianaSystem” (Garimpo Musica 2010) Brazilian
Last week I had the honour and pleasure of interviewing, broadcasting, hosting and generally hanging out with the Brazilian singer, multi-instrumentalist and composer, Flavia Bittencourt. What a lovely woman, and accompanied by two equally wonderful musicians, Dudu Oliveira and Felipe Tauil.
If you got to see her perform last week then you’ll know why I was raving about her so much. You can also check out the photos from their visit to last week’s radio show on the WorldBeatUK facebook page.
So here’s a just a reminder - from her recent album “Todo Domingos” this is “Sete Meninas”
3 (16) “Sete Meninas” (3:02) Flávia Bittencourt “Todo Domingos” (2009) Brasileira
[CONTINUOUS]
4 (17) “Escrevi teu Nome no Vento” (3:15) Carminho “Fado” (EMI Portugal, 2009) Fado
Wasn’t that beautiful?
The Portuguese Fado singer Carminho and a track called “Escrevi Teu Nome No Vento” (I Wrote Your Name On The Wind).
That’s from an album called “Fado” on EMI Portugal.
Now you’d be forgiven for thinking that this next band came from the North of England somewhere when you hear them.
In fact they’re from Denmark and mashup their folk from various areas of Europe and produce quite remarkable pieces of work.
The band is called Basco (named after the leader’s uncle’s dog), the album (on Go Danish Folk, 2011) is called Big Basco and this track is the very English sounding “Jackytar”.
5 (18) “Jackytar” (3:13) Basco “Big Basco” (Go Danish Folk, 2011) Folk
OK, I’m in a folky-country mood now, so let’s go all "yee-hah" on yer with Oregon’s Water Tower Bucket Boys, who I had the pleasure of meeting almost a year ago in this very studio.Great young lads and a great laugh.
This is from their 2009 album “Catfish On The Line” and a song called “Before The Sun Goes Down”.
6 (19) “Before The Sun Goes Down” (2:29) Water Tower Bucket Boys “Catfish On The Line” (2009) Country & Folk
[CONTINUOUS]
7 (20) “Lanlaire” (4:53) Le Vent du Nord “La Part du Feu” (Borealis 2009) Quebecois
We stayed in North America then but nipped over the border to Canada and in particular to French-speaking Quebec.
That was the band Le Vent du Nord (the Northern Wind) and from their album “La Part du Feu” a tune called “Lanlaire”.
Now, here’s another cultural mashup. This is the Italian-raised, now Jamaican-resident Reggae Supremo, Alborosie, and a Mexican-Cumbia remix of the Reggae Cumbiano “La Revolucion” by the Italian-born, Catalan-famed, Dresden-resident, remixer and DJ Rude HI FI aka Barriobeat. Phew! Confused? You will be! ¡Viva La Revolución!
8 (21) “La Revolucion (mexican-cumbia edit)” (3:35) Alborosie (Barriobeat) - Reggae Cumbiano
[CONTINUOUS]
9 (22) “Original Raggamuffin” (4:48) Supa Bassie “Crónicas de un Viaje” (Stereo Tone) Rubadub/Reggae
[Goodbyes, shout outs, reminders]
If you like some great skanking rocksteady then remember that this Friday 23rd September at the Hare and Hounds in Kings Heath it’s the return of Jibbering Presents and a special launch for their new album from Birmingham’s very own 1Eye - trust me these guys are good - I should know I’ve played with many of them over the years - with heavyweight live dub support from King Beyond and on the decks Bongo Damo, Tangawizi and Mr Muz - only £3 in advance - it’s an absolute steal!! See you all down there.
The next night Sat 24th all roads lead to the Tower of Song, on Pershore Road South in Cotteridge, where The Tom Martin Band will be performing in a rare full band line-up. I’ve been playing with these guys for over 11 years now and it’s always an honour.
At the risk of blowing my own trumpet - or should that be beating my own drums - it’s a great band so catch us while you can!
OK, goodnight to all.
This is from The Soul Sessions EP on Agogo Records and a heavyweight track called “Root Down”.
10 (23) “Root Down” (3:22) The Soul Sessions “The Soul Sessions” EP (Agogo Records) Soulfunk
WorldBeatUK (20th Show) - Broadcast Notes (13/7/11)
Tagged with: WorldBeatUK Glyn Phillips Adam Rapa Ziroli Winterstein Sound Nomaden Paito Simmer Down Festival Supa Bassie Sam Redmore Skaguitar Kiko Perrone Fissunix Fermin Muguruza Luke Daniels Julio Sosa Lucia de la Cruz Ibrahim Ferrer Altan Festibyn Malavoi
WBUK20 (13/7/11) - SHOWNOTES
1 “Intro-Mat” (1:47) by Matchatcha from the album “Nyekesse” (Melodie)
You’re listening to Rhubarb Radio transmitting live from the Custard Factory, Digbeth, Birmingham - I’m Glyn Phillips and this is WorldBeatUK!
Coming up on the show tonight: Gypsy Swing, Calypso Jazz, Salsa Dura, Ska, Reggae, Bachata, Gaita, Electro Swing, Tango, Musette, Vals, Blues, and even Brazilian Blues.
We’ve also got some Son, Folk, Township Jazz, Mashups, Balkan, Biguine and some great SambaReggaeRumbaPatchankaBreakbeat! Trust me, you don’ wanna miss it tonight! So fasten your sonic seatbelts, make yourself comfortable and enjoy the ride!
Welcome to the 20th edition of WorldBeatUK! Yet another jamboree bag of sweeties from around the world - coz yo’ve all bin good boys and girls since the last time I saw ya! So’s I thought as I’d get yer a bag o’ suck!
Since last week I’ve had to take a few days out to attend the funeral of a dearly beloved uncle who passed away unexpectedly, so I have not done the same amount of research into the tunes this week that I normally do.
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However, despair not since the quality of the music is just the same and I’ve some right little gems lined up. So, I’m dedicating the whole of this week’s show to the memory of my Uncle Reg - a top bloke indeed who will be sorely missed by anyone who came into contact with him. Always upbeat and positive and full of life - what more can I say? - so here’s something to reflect that. This is Adam Rapa and an exuberant track called “Calypso”.
2 “Calypso” (5:00) by Adam Rapa
And to follow that? How about some salsa dura from the album “Boogaloo Pow Wow”? The band’s the La Playa Orchestra and this track is called “Olvidate De Mi”. Get yer dancing shoes on - a bailar!!!
3 “Olvidate De Mi” (2:51) by The La Playa Orchestra from the album “Boogaloo Pow Wow”
Breathless? Here’s a little bit of manouche beauty for you: from the Rough Guide to Gypsy Swing this is the Ziroli Winterstein Ensemble and “Autumn Leaves”
4 “Autumn Leaves” (Ends at 2.20!) (2:26) by Ziroli Winterstein Ensemble from the album “Rough Guide to Gypsy Swing”
Wasn’t that beautiful. And so - inevitably - the link: this is Electro-Swing outfit Sound Nomaden and a tune called “Beautiful Music”:
5 “Beautiful Music” (4:16) by Sound Nomaden from the album “Beautiful Music”
[CONTINUOUS]
6 “El Gusto De Las Mujeres” (4:28) by Paíto (Sixto Silgado) from the album “Gaita Negra”
That last track was called “El Gusto de las Mujeres” and was an instrumental piece by Paíto (aka Sixto Silgado) from the album “Gaita Negra”. Incidentally, I’d better explain what gaita means. It’s a Spanish word which refers in most instances to bagpipes; it also refers to a piped instrument known in English as a fipple flute which is native to Colombia, Venezuela and parts of Panama and is blown direct (ie rather than using a bag to store a continuous current of air). As well as that it’s also the name of the Colombian music where the gaitas are often employed and is related to cumbia. So now you know!
And to follow that some Dominican bachata music by the New York band Fame - who are based in the Bronx - and a track called “Confesiones”
7 “Confesiones” (3:27) by Fame
Big up the Simmer Down Festival - Sat Jul 16th 12midday to 7.30pm in Handsworth Park, Birmingham. Free. Ken Boothe headlining and also Rose Capri, Claire Angel, Gabbidon, Reggaebaby Lounge, Hearts Aglow Steelband, Pulse Beat (a Steel Pulse tribute band), Louise Kilbride, Village Well, Glama Wayne, Maria Mour, Bingiman, Unique, Si Hayden, Kokumo, Lee Alexander, Annette Fagon and many more as well as ital food, dhol players, bhangra dancers and zumba dancers. It’ll be a family affair with plenty of workshops in dance and music and a procession too.
After the free event in the park the action shifts to The Drum in Newtown where there’s the Simmer Down Festival After Party with Barry Biggs, Ken Boothe, John Maclean, Paul Dawkins, Janet Lee Davis, Rose Capri and Delia all backed by the New Direction Band and also there’ll be DJs Mr Romantic, Gatecrash and Countryman with the Fatal Attraction Sound System. Tickets for that £20 in advance (MOTD).
So to get us in the mood a selection of reggae sounds - but, as ever with me, maybe not quite as you’d expect them! First up is Supa Bassie from Valencia in Spain and a track from his album “Crónicas de un Viaje” called “Paremos Un Segundo” (Let’s stop for a second). Trust me, not as you’d expect at all . . .
8 “Paremos Un Segundo” (3:52) by Supa Bassie from the album “Crónicas de un Viaje”
Sticking with the alternative reggae vibe here are a couple of remixes from Birmingham’s very own Sam Redmore. Firstly his ultra-stripped back version of Bob Marley’s “Is This Love” - beautiful.
9 “Is This Love” (Sam Redmore's Acoustic Takedown) (6:17) by Bob Marley
[CONTINUOUS]
10 “A Day In The Life / Milk & Honey” (3:26) by The Beatles / Prince Fatty (Sam Redmore Remix)
Yeah that was the second in the double-bill of Sam Redmore remixes, in this case a mashup of Prince Fatty with the Beatles: “A Day In The Life / Milk & Honey”. Absolutely love that one! Brum’s got talent indeed.
OK, check this next tune out it’s a version of the old Cuban tune “El Manisero” (known to many people - especially jazzheads - by its English translation as The Peanut Vendor”), but done here in wonderfully nuanced minor form of ska by the band Skaguitar. Lovely.
11 “El Manisero” (ends at 2.43!) (2:52) by Skaguitar
[Change CD!!!!]
Yes, wasn’t that beautiful! Don’t forget you’re listening to WorldBeatUK right here on Rhubarb Radio, coming at ya live and direct from the Custard Factory in downtown Digbeth, Birmingham in the heart of England. My name’s Glyn Phillips and every Wednesday between 7and 9pm I’m your host on a two hour musical journey around the world.
Plenty of good stuff still to come on the show tonight including Biguine, Balkan, Township Jazz, Mashups, remixes, Breakbeats, Musette, Folk, Tango, Vals, Cuban son and even a little ditty by one of Scotland’s most under-rated cultural icons who seems to be having a spot of trouble trying to locate one of his garments . . .
Maybe he needs a little good luck, something bluesman Mr Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown knows all about.
1 (12) “Someday My Luck Will Change” (5:32) by Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown from the album “Froots 05”
Yeah, “Someday, My Luck Will Change” by Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown.
Let’s follow that with some Brazilian Blues - or at least a tune called “Luz Azul” which means ‘Blue Light’. I don’t have a lot of info about it apart from that it was written in London a couple of years ago by the Paulista Kiko Perrone alongside Kita Steur and was influenced by the music of Jorge Benjor.
2 (13) “Luz Azul (aka Blue Light)” (3:45) by Kiko Perrone & Kita Steur
[CONTINUOUS]
3 (14) “Ain’t No Stairway High Enough to Hip Hop Heaven” (3:37) by Marvin Gaye & Led Zeppelin & Gramatik Remashed (Fissunix remash)
Yeah, bet you didn’t see that one coming did you! That was the Fissunix remash of Gramatik’s remash of Marvin Gaye and Led Zeppelin and a tune called “Aint No Stairway High Enough to Hip Hop Heaven”. Heavenly Groove indeed!
Ready to rumba?! Here’s a groove for you, this is the riddim version of “Milakabilaka” by Fermin Muguruza (who’s name incidentally translates as ‘Various Artists’!!) and a thumping piece of Samba-Reggae-Rumba-Patchanka-Breakbeat!
4 (15) “Milakabilaka (Riddim)” (5:32) by Fermin Muguruza from the album “Asthmatic Lion Sound System” {Samba-Reggae-Rumba-Patchanka-Breakbeats}
Well that should have got you all fired-up, so let’s all cool down again with a little musette from Luke Daniels called “Musette a Teresa”.
5 (16) “Musette À Teresa” (3:35) by Luke Daniels from the album “Froots 03”
And because I’m feeling all old schooly and in a criollo mood here’s one of my favourite old school tangueros - no, not Carlos Gardel (who to be perfectly honest, never really did it for me), but el Varón del Tango himself Julio Sosa and a track called “Mano a Mano” (Hand to Hand).
6 (17) “Mano A Mano” (3:17) by Julio Sosa from the album “30 Aniversario 1964-1994”
And if that hasn’t made you nostalgic and romantic enough, this one’ll slay you. The incomparable Peruvian songstress and larger-than-life character Lucia de La Cruz - a woman whose life is every bit as melodramatic as the songs she sings. I love her every bit as much as I do Eva Ayllón, no matter how much scandal seems to surround her - she simply lives the life she sings about. This is called “Quiero Que Estes Conmigo” (I Want You To Be With Me). Straight from the heart, boys and girls, straight from the heart . . .
7 (18) “Quiero Que Estes Conmigo” (3:04) by Lucia de la Cruz
Fantastic. Now sticking with latin america we’re travelling North from Coastal Perú to the island of Cuba and the sad news that last week the world lost yet another celebrated member of the Buena Vista Social Club as well as being a founder of Los Zafiros (The Sapphires). I’m talking of the guitarist Manuel Galbán. Ironically I’d already programmed in the next tune into this week’s show, before I knew about Galbán’s death.
It doesn’t really feature him as such since he’s just another all-star member of a band backing Ibrahim Ferrer, but he’s there all the same. If I get a chance at the end of the programme I’ll see if I can find a tune where you can hear Galbán more. In the meantime this is a storming tune from Ibrahim’s great album “Buenos Hermanos” (Good Brothers) on World Circuit Records. This is my favourite tune off that album - ‘listen to the advice!’, “Oye El Consejo”:
8 (19) “Oye El Consejo” (3:26) by Ibrahim Ferrer from the album “Buenos Hermanos”
[CONTINUOUS]
9 (20) “Tommy Peoples/ The Windmill/ Fintan McManus’s” (3:16) by Altan from the album “Froots 03”
That was enough to raise the devil - a medley of “Tommy Peoples/ The Windmill/ Fintan McManus’s” by the Irish band Altan.
Now, from Sconny Botland, is the next artist. Undoubtedly one of Caledonia’s most under-rated performers and almost forgotten these days, this man put the High into Highland with such classics as “A Scottish Soldier”, “The Muckin o’ Geordie’s Byre”, “I’ve Never Kissed a Bonnie Lass Before”, “The Gallant Forty-Twa”, as well as the song I’m about to play you.
Now, before the days of Jools Holland’s Hootenanny, television on New Years Eve in the 1960s meant one thing “The White Heather Club”. Many’s the time I was left alone to see the New Year in with nothing but a load of tartan-kilted Jocks dancing the Highland Fling over a pair of crossed claymores, whilst some dodgy geezer hopped through a studio door on one foot whilst carrying a lump of coal . . .
Come on, you must know who I’m talking about by now? Caledonian Cultural Icon Supreme, Mr Andy Stewart of course! And the tune? Well, that’d be telling, but I’ll give you a clue: he wrote it in 10 minutes whilst sitting on the lav in a recording studio. Just let the image linger a moment . . . OK, got it? Oh, and watch out for Elvis half way through!
10 (21) “Donald Where's Your Troosers?” (3:21) by Andy B. Stewart
Ha ha ha! Well, that was fun! As is this one: a balkan banger from Festibyn called “Dönme Bana Sevgilim”. Back on the dancefloor everyone!! Let’s get balko-funky!
11 (22) “Dönme Bana Sevgilim” (3:16) by FestiByn from the album “FestiByn”
Not long to go now. And since I’m feeling all warm and loved-up and dancey, I’m going to lay this next one on you. This is South Africa’s The Soul Brothers and a track called “Thandaza”. Let’s see you rocking to this one then!
12 (23) “Thandaza” (South Africa) (5:09) by The Soul Brothers from the album “Africa”
OK, thanks for listening to the show . . .
[Shout-outs, reminders, etc, etc]
I’m going to leave you with a particular favourite track of mine - absolutely love this one. It’s from the island of Martinique in the French-speaking Caribbean. The band is the excellent Malavoi with special guest Jean Philippe Marthely. The track is called “Zou”!!
See you all next week at 7pm, or if you’re in Birmingham on Saturday in Handsworth Park for the Simmer Down Reggae Festival. Good night!
13 (24) “Zou” ('Malavoi Biguine') (5:03) by Malavoi & Jean Philippe Marthely
WorldBeatUK (19th Show) - Broadcast Notes (6/7/11)
Tagged with: WorldBeatUK Glyn Phillips Colombiafrica Professor Elemental Zeca Pagodinho Zulu 9.30 Lisandro Meza Etubom Rex Williams Strut JuJu Ikebe Shakedown Shazalakazoo Slamboree Goy Karamelo Tommy McCook Letta Mbulu Supa Bassie Joe Claussell Nuyorican Soul Tea Sea
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WBUK19 (6/7/11) - SHOWNOTES
1 “Intro-Mat” (1:47) by Matchatcha from the album “Nyekesse” (Melodie)
Hi there, you’re listening to WorldBeatUK on Rhubarb Radio, transmitting around the world from the Custard Factory in Digbeth, Birmingham - all done through the magic of digital technology. Such times we live in! My name’s Glyn Phillips and for the next two hours I’ll be playing you my own idiosyncratic collation of the best in world music from around the globe; from the past and present - and looking toward the future.
This week it’s all about the soul and the funk, the grist and the groove - and there’s a definite African and Colombian flavour to much of tonight’s sonic banquet. So, just grab hold of yer eating irons and get stuck into the musical feast that awaits you . . .
In fact this week’s show is slightly different from normal - there’s very few new releases this time, so I thought I’d rustle through some interesting oldies, almost-newies and the ‘ones that got away’ - and in doing so I’ve managed to dig up some seriously funky-ass grooves to get you shaking yer tushes to!
But let’s not rush it, we’ll just put the pot on to boil, gently warm up the pan and put the pulses in to soak. You can’t rush good food. We’ll just get you nicely simmered up for the first part of the show and, indeed, first up is the point where the South American country of Colombia (bordered by the Pacific Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the Amazon Jungle) meets Africa (culturally speaking anyway).
Colombiafrica - The Mystic Orchestra is a project that takes some of the best afro-colombiano musicians Viviano Torres, Luis Towers and Justo Valdez and teams them up with African musicians such as Dally Kimoko, Nyboma, Sekou Diabaté, Rigo Star and the brilliant Diblo Dibala (who, incidentally is the man behind my theme music for this show!). The album is called “Voodoo Love Inna Champeta-Land” and this track is called “No Habla Na’” (Don’t Say Nuthin’!)
2 “No Habla Na’” (4:43) by Colombiafrica - The Mystic Orchestra from the album “Voodoo Love Inna Champeta-Land” (Riverboat Records/World Music Network)
Well, that was all rather splendid, don’t you think? Professor Elemental certainly thinks so!
3 “Splendid (Tom Caruana remix)” (3:02) by Professor Elemental from the album “More Tea (Remixes)” (Tea Sea Records)
Yes that was the wonderfully eccentric Englishman Professor Elemental and a track from his recent album “More Tea (Remixes)” called “Splendid!” - check the video out on YouTube if you can, and remember you can get his tracks direct from his website:
And if you’re listening Prof, hope the baby’s coming on a treat! And stay tuned for more Elemental eccentricity later on in the show!
Last week I had a little bit too much to say (as usual!) so unfortunately I ran out of time and had to drop a track from my playlist. Well don’t say that I don’t try and put things right straightaway. Here’s that track a great feelgood samba tune called “Vai Vadiar” by the great Zeca Pagodinho from his album “Sem Limite”. Goza os meus amiguinhos!
4 “Vai Vadiar” (4:07) by Zeca Pagodinho from the album “Sem Limite” (Universal Import)
OK, let’s nip across to Barcelona for the first of two visits tonight. This is the home of the really talented Spanish band Zulu 9.30 who are amongst the current wave of European mestizo music - a style that often mashes up latin, Jamaican, flamenco, folk, jazz, rock, punk and, well, all kinds of stuff into a danceable world groove. It’s all grist to the mill! This is from their album “Huellas” (which means ‘footprints’) on the Kasba label and is a salsa-based piece called “Te Llevo Conmigo” (I’m taking you with me!).
5 “Te Llevo Conmigo” (3:36) by Zulu 9.30 from the album “Huellas” (Kasba)
And that sets us up nicely to go back over to South America for a lovely slice of 1980s cumbia from the great accordionist Lisandro Meza - probably the first cumbiambero I ever came across when I first pitched up on the shores of South America over a quarter of a century ago. What a great sound he has. So slap on the sombrero, sharpen your machete and mount up your burros because Lisandro is taking us to meet “Las Africanas” . . .
6 “Las Africanas” (2:18) by Lisandro Meza from the album “Lisandro’s Cumbia” (World Circuit)
[CONTINUOUS]
7 “Illusion de Amor” (4:13) by Los Chapillacs (Listen Recovery RENZ mix)
First you heard the sound of Colombian cumbia from accordionist Lisandro Meza and that was followed by psychedelic 1970s Peruvian chicha music (which is based on cumbia) by Los Chapillacs subtly remixed by Listen Recovery RENZ.
Let’s follow that with some more old school sounds - this is from a wonderful recent compilation of old Nigerian tunes from the 1970s.
The album is on the Strut Records label and is called “Sweet Times…”; from that is this sublime slowburner “Ama Mbre Ewa” by Etubom Rex Williams & His Nigerian Artistes. Just kick back and let this one flow over you . . .
8 “Ama Mbre Ewa” (5:38) by Etubom Rex Williams & His Nigerian Artistes from the album “Sweet Times” (Strut Records)
Wasn’t that good? Very trance-like feel - and talking of which this next track is from a recent album on Real World Records called “In Trance” by the Anglo-Gambian duo of Justin Adams and Juldeh Camara.
And please note Justin and Juldeh will be performing right here in Birmingham the day after tomorrow at the mac, in Edgbaston, in the open air arena. That’s going to be a real treat indeed! I saw them a couple of weeks ago down in Devon at the HOME Festival doing an acoustic set - a real mindblower!
Juldeh is from Gambia in West Africa and is a real virtuoso on the ritti or nyanyeru (the traditional one-string fiddle of West Africa). Doesn’t sound very inspiring? Trust me, this guy really knows what he’s doing! Amazing licks and he can make it sound like lots of different instruments too - all on just ONE string and no fretboard!! He also sings really well and has real presence.
Justin’s no slouch either - he’s served time with Jah Wobble and has also produced and co-written with Robert Plant. Justin plays some mean blues guitar and banjo and sings too.
If you want to hear where the blues comes from, where the Gambia meets the Mississippi, where West Africa meets the Celtic World, then check these guys out. Highly recommended!
So that’s this Friday at the mac (7.30pm and the support band is the African Roots Fusion Band)
OK, so here’s a taster for that - a laidback bluesy piece called “Halanam”
9 “Halanam” (7:09) by JuJu (Justin Adams & Juldeh Camara) from the album “In Trance” (Real World Records)
So, from the ethereal sound of the one-string fiddle to the simultaneously ‘in-yer-face’ but ‘so-laid-back-it’s-almost-horizontal’ sounds of afrobeat-funk band Ikebe Shakedown from Brooklyn, New Yoik! Love their sound!
And that cowbell! That’s exactly how I’d play it too . . . Hmmmm! Not so much ‘music in the key of life’ as ‘groove to the universal pulse’.
This is the “Kumasi Walk” from their album also called ”Ikebe Shakedown” on the Ubiquity label.
10 “Kumasi Walk” (4:42) by Ikebe Shakedown from the album “Ikebe Shakedown” (Ubiquity)
OK, WAKEY-WAKEY!! Balkanbeat madness to the max! This is “Marock” by Shazalakazoo.
11 “Marock” (3:54) by Shazalakazoo
[CONTINUOUS]
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12 “Moon Monkeys” (1:15) by Professor Elemental from the album “More Tea (Remixes)” (Tea Sea Records)
[CONTINUOUS]
13 “Prokofiev” (3:20) by Slamboree
I bet that cleared yer sinuses out! OK first of all in that little medley you heard a modern piece of Balkanbeat madness from Shalakazoo followed by a little interlude of Professor Elemental lunar monkey business and then, no it’s not those tossers from The Apprentice - it is of course the Russian genius Prokofiev’s “Dance of the Knights” from Romeo and Juliet - given a peculiarly British Dubstep treatment by Slamboree, a collective that includes Rhubarb Radio and Birmingham’s very own DJ Marc Reck (AKA DJ Narrative).
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So in true WorldBeatUK fashion, from the ridiculous to the sublime...
From the 1980s a glorious fusion of Andalusian flamenco with a Moroccan orchestra - Juan Pena El Lebrijano and the Orquesta Andalusi de Tanger.
I first bought this album “Encuentros” on vinyl and fell in love with the album sleeve, the rather dapper looking silk-cravatted Paco Cepero on guitar, the open-shirted, medallion-chested singer Juan Pena El Lebrijano both seated in front, and behind them two Moroccan women and five blokes in neck-to-ankle pure white shifts and - joy of joys - each one wearing a red fez! It was better than a Tommy Cooper convention!
Aah, but you think I jest too much methinks! Let me tell you however the music is fabulous! Here’s the opening tune from the album. It’s called “Vivir Un Cuento De Hadas” (living a fairytale) and I think you’ll see what I mean
14 “Vivir Un Cuento De Hadas” (5:08) by Juan Pena Lebrijano and the Orquesta Andalusi de Tanger from the album “Encuentros” (Ariola)
[CHANGE THE CDS OVER!]
Wasn’t that sumptuous! Ok, let’s take it up again a notch. This is a cumbia-based track with a reggaeton feel and andean folkloric overtones mixed with hip-hop; originally written by the Argentine band Karamelo Santo and featured in the Latin American film “Caño Dorado”; here it’s remixed by Goy Karamelo (now a solo musician). I’m really loving some of the stuff that’s been coming out of Argentina recently and this is no exception. “Que No Digan Nunca”
(1) 15 “Que No Digan Nunca” [Ends at 3.48] (4:03) by Karamelo Santo (Caño Dorado film music - remix by Goy Karamelo) from the album “Mi CD”
[BEWARE: Ends at 3.48!!]
OK, two in a row now; same song but for some reason with different names. I’ll tell you after, what the details are, but if any of you say Lily Allen I’ll never talk to you again!
(2) 16 “Reggae Merengue” (2:16) by Tommy McCook & The Supersonics
And now another version . . .
(3) 17 “Cójeme La Caña” (3:00) by Pedro Laza Y Sus Pelayeros (Mixticius)
So, first one was an old version by Jamaican saxophonist Tommy McCook and the Supersonics called - for some bizarre reason on the version I’ve got - ‘Reggae Merengue’ (although it’s obviously a cumbia to me!) and that was followed by the Colombian bandleader Pedro Laza y sus Pelayeros and the same tune but called “Cójeme La Caña” - and that was a remix by Mixticius; you can find more of his work on Soundcloud.
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Well, a real treat now - I absolutely love this! From the “Gilles Peterson in Africa - The Soul” album this is South African singer Letta Mbulu and some tasty, tasty funk called “Mahlalela”. Brilliant!
(4) 18 “Mahlalela” (4:45) by Letta Mbulu from the album “Gilles Peterson in Africa - The Soul” (Ether)
[CONTINUOUS]
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(5) 19 “Original Cumbiamuffin” (4:57) by Supa Bassie
Ha ha ha! Love that one!! That was reggaeman Supa Bassie from Valencia and a tune called “Original Cumbiamuffin” - a cumbia reworking of his hit “Original Raggamuffin” from the “Crónicas de un Viaje” album.
And since I’m in that remixing mood how about this little mashup from young Mexican mixer Outsider8301 - this is Sidestepper’s groovalicious “Papaya” vs Wreckx-n-Effect’s 1992 butt-wobbling “Rumpshaker”, with a little MIA thrown in for good measure. You can start bouncing now ladies!
(6) 20 “Papaya vs Rumpshaker” (5:29) by Wreckx + M.I.A. vs Sidestepper (Oscar Outsider 8301)
[Talk over intro to next track]:
OK, we’re definitely in the groove now, brothers and sisters! And time to lay this one on you. This is where latin meets soul, meets jazz meets funk. Eddie Palmieri is both a giant and a living legend in the annals of New York latin jazz and here his amazing “Mi Congo Te Llama” gets a very liberal deconstruction by Joaquin “Joe” Claussell from the brand new album “Hammock House - Africa Caribe” on the Fania label. 7 minutes of stone-solid groove, babies!
[BEWARE - LONG QUIET START!!]
(7) 21 “Mi Congo Te Llama” (Joe Claussell Remix) (6:59) by Eddie Palmieri from the album “Hammock House - Africa Caribe” (Código/Fania)
OK and that’s the end of the show . . .
[SHOUT-OUTS TO ALL AND ANNOUNCEMENTS - reminder about Justin and Juldeh at mac]
I said at the top of the show that tonight was all about the funk and the soul, the grist and the groove. Well, I’ve tried to give you that tonight and I hope you agree. If you don’t feel so, then at least you should be able to with this final track.
This is the fantastic Jocelyn Brown and Nuyorican Soul and a track from the Masters At Work album “Nuyorican Soul”. Turn up your speakers as loud as they’ll go and say after me: “It’s Alright, I Feel it!”
(8) 22 “It’s Alright, I Feel It!” (3:22) by Jocelyn Brown & Nuyorican Soul from the album “NuYorican Soul” (Talkin Loud)
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