The Worldmusic Blog (Seckou Kouyate)

WorldBeatUK - The Past, Present and Future

Tagged with: Glyn Phillips WorldBeatUK WorldMusicRadio WorldMusic.co.uk World Music Radio Radio Presenter Broadcaster Rhubarb Radio Custard Factory Birmingham Flavia Bittencourt Renato Martins.

My radio show, WorldBeatUK, started in February 2011 and was initially aired on a (now defunct) community radio station operating out of the Custard Factory arts and media complex in Birmingham, UK.  

The first 32 shows were 2 hour live shows transmitting online every Monday evening, and then after a few weeks changing to every Wednesday and gradually built up an audience all over the world, people tuning in from as far apart as Russia, California, Ecuador, Argentina, the Caribbean, Ghana, Cameroon, and even New Zealand to name but a few, as well as all over mainland Europe and the UK.  

The idea was to present a lively, independent world music show that showcased a wide mix of music from all over the world in an exciting, friendly, accessible manner but packed with information and interesting musical ideas all delivered with passion.  The musical policy was broad, exploring the margins of what might or might not be considered world music to some, as well as presenting the most culturally grounded and rootsiest of artists and genres.  I'd rather err on the side of inclusivity than exclusivity.  If I think a piece of music or artist has something worth listening to then that's all the mandate I need.  Much of the music was recently released, some of it not yet officially released, some of it very old indeed . . .  There were also a few interviews notably the Brazilians: singer Flavia Bittencourt and percussionist/composer Renato Martins.

Unfortunately, the radio station that was hosting the show, Rhubarb Radio, had significant quantities of equipment stolen from its premises in early Novermber 2011 - effectively rendering the station incapable of operating at all.  At that point, I withdrew from Rhubarb (as did the majority of its presenters) and looked for alternative solutions to hosting the show.  

Since then, I have started to make pre-recorded shows ready for transmission via a new online radio station, WorldMusicRadio.com.  Obviously this is a different kettle of fish to doing a live show.  The amount of talk has gone down (previously it was about 75:25% music to talk) with now only about 15 minutes of speech over a two hour show - more music in effect!  One of the problems with the original show is that the vast majority were not recorded by Rhubarb or were lost when the equipment went.  The new station should fix that problem since all the new shows (from WorldBeatUK33 onwards) will be available via the archive pages.

We also decided to remake the original 32 shows using the original playlists, shownotes and scripts as a basis but obviously changing the more topical references and original jingles etc and adding new music and script where necessary to fill the gaps (eg where interviews couldn't be repeated - but still keeping to music that would have been available at the time and trying to keep within the flow of the show).  

These new 'old' shows are part of the WorldBeatUK (Refixed) series and are packed with great music, although delivered in a slightly more laidback style to the original live shows.

For the future I'm still working up new WorldBeatUK shows as pre-records and these will all be added to the WorldMusicRadio.com ready for it's launch during 2012.  Same commitment to providing great world music with integrity and passion.  I'm also working on special shows covering specific musical areas or themes.  We hope to re-start the live WorldBeatUK shows at some point this year, since they are a whole lot of fun and the interaction with the listeners is one of the highlights for all concerned.

So if you trawl this blog previous to this post you will find the Shownotes pertaining to the original shows to give you a flavour of what I was putting out.  These are scripted shownotes, not transcripts (since so many shows were never recorded) but give the basis of the show - just without all the spontaneous banter and happenings of the live shows...  Check 'em out.

From this blog post onwards I shall start posting the Shownotes for the new shows (the pre-recorded ones from WBUK33 onwards) due to go out on WorldMusicRadio.com from Spring 2012.  I also hope to get back to using this blog for more general use relating to WorldMusic.co.uk.

Watch this space . . .

Glyn Phillips

WorldBeatUK

WorldBeatUK (31st Show) - Broadcast Notes (19/10/11)

Tagged with: WorldBeatUK Glyn Phillips Chico Buarque Memphis Minnie Oscar Ibaņez Anxo Lorenzo Carla Pires Lou Dalfin Mauro Palmas Jackson do Pandeiro Paralamas Flavia Bittencourt Dumyarea E-Coli Sivuca Calle 13 dunkelbunt Neblina Blue King Brown Hot 8 Brass Caruaru

 WBUK31 (19th October 2011) - SHOWNOTES

1 “Intro-Mat” by Matchatcha from the album “Nyekesse” (Melodie)

"You’re tuned into Rhubarb Radio and my name’s Glyn Phillips.   [PAUSE]   You’re listening to WorldBeatUK, the show that plays you the stuff that mainstream radio doesn’t even know exists.  

Coming up on the show tonight we focus on Brazil ahead of this Friday’s Amazonas Groove night here in Birmingham, with forro - old and new, bossa nova, samba, batucada, pifano and ska brasileiro.  

I shall bring you electroswing from Cab Calloway and the Andrew Sisters via Wales, Urban Roots music from Melbourne, Australia and Folk Punk Jazz from the Occitan-speaking valleys of North-West Italy.

[PAUSE]

There’ll also be an Ivory Lady, a Little Fish, and a Wayward Rooster.  Bagpipe music from Galicia, Fado from Portugal, Folk Rock from the island of Sardinia, and Gbema music from Liberia!

And if that wasn’t enough, I’ve got more remixes, refixes, re-rubs and mashups than you shake a glue stick at!  

If you want to know the connection between New York’s Beastie Boys, Denmark’s Analogick, Jamaica’s Bob Marley and Virginia’s Missy Elliott then you’d better stick around!

Throw in some funky New Orleans BrassHop, plenty of Balkanic fusions from Utrecht, Vienna, Rouen and Exeter, a killer mix of Puerto Rican rap and samba and some 1930s blues -  we’ve got a show."

And straight in with the Brazilian theme to the night with this classic from the carioca singer, guitarist, composer, dramatist, poet and writer: Francisco Buarque de Hollanda - better known as Chico Buarque - one of the great names of the MPB genre.  This is called “Essa Moça ‘Ta Diferente”.  Bliss!

2 “Essa Moça 'Ta Diferente” by Chico Buarque

Now Chico Buarque was born into a very privileged family, unlike my next artist. 

Memphis Minnie had it tough from an early age and supported herself from about 12 years old onwards.  But they both made good music. 

I played her rather playful song about her butcher man last week and this week she asks us: If you see my rooster, please run him home! 

And I don’t think she’s talking about the feathered variety either!

3 “If You See My Rooster (Please Run Him Home)” by Memphis Minnie from the album “Hoodoo Lady: 1933-1937” (Sony)

That was Memphis Minnie from the album “Hoodoo Lady:1933-1937” on the Sony label.  

.

Let’s stay in the America of a bygone era now, but leap ahead a decade. 

This is the great Cab Calloway and the Andrews Sisters showing us how they be “Doin’ The Rhumba”.

But with the twist that Cardiff’s electroswing don Ecklectic Mick has given a little electronic polish to make it shine!

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4 “Doin’ The Rumba” (Ecklectic Mick remix) by Cab Calloway/Andrews Sisters

[CONTINUOUS]

.

5 “Segura Ele” by Oscar Ibañez (Zouma)

That last track was entitled “Segura Ele” by the Galician bagpiper Oscar Ibáñez and his band. 

I’m not sure whether that’s from his own album or not - since it was on a compilation sampler from his record label Zouma.  

And also on that label and also from that same Celtic corner of North-West Spain, Galicia, comes the next artist - also a bagpiper. 

This is Anxo Lorenzo and from his album “Tiran” a track entitled “The Ivory Lady”.

6 “Ivory Lady” by Anxo Lorenzo from the album “Tiran” (Zouma)

I’m a real sucker for the music of the Iberian peninsula and some of its lesser known musical offerings.  It’s not all flamenco folks! 

Galicia, might be technically in Spain, but its language, Galego, is closer to Portuguese than Castilian Spanish.  

So for the next number we’re heading south into Portugal, the birthplace and home of that most wonderful and romantic of musical styles, Fado. 

This week it’s the turn of a lady by the name of Carla Pires.  From her 2005 album “Ilha Do Meu Fado” (Island of my Fado) on the Ocarina label, this is “Boca da Note” (the Mouth of the Night).

7 “Boca Da Note” by Carla Pires from the album “Ilha Do Meu Fado” (Ocarina 2005)

Wasn’t that beautiful!  

Europe’s a funny old place.  Layer upon layer of different cultures, ethnicities and languages and constantly shifting borders and power politics. 

There’s a temptation to make sense of all this by easy labelling and pigeon-holing, but as we’ve seen in Spain there are other languages and cultures besides Castilian Spanish (Galego, Catalán and Euskadi to name but three).  

Even France has a huge North-South divide - true French really only derives from the Northern part where the Franks came from; for the fiercely proud southerners there is the language Occitan which spreads from the Atlantic coast near Bordeaux all the way South to the Pyrenees into Spain and across to the Mediterranean Coast and the Alps into Italy.  And it’s from these valleys in the Southern Alps of Italy that the next band come.  

Lou Dalfin was founded in 1982 by the hurdy-gurdy player Sergio Berardo and since then has been a bulwark in promoting the occitan language and it’s Eastern dialect. 

So the next two tracks are from their 2008 album “Virasolelhs” (which means Sunflowers in English - literally “Sun Turners”). 

The first is a 45 second interlude in English bizarrely called “Little Fish” and the second their irreverent mix of folk, jazz and punk in “Occitania e Basta”.  Enjoy!

8 “Little Fish” by Lou Dalfin from the album “’Virasolelhs” (Felmay 2008)

[CONTINUOUS]

9 “Occitania e Basta” by Lou Dalfin from the album “‘Virasolelhs” (Felmay 2008)

A double-bill there from Italian Occitan flagbearers, Lou Dalfin.

Staying in the Mediterranean area but coming out of the Alps, heading for the coast, and sailing due south past the French-influenced island of Corsica we head toward the mysterious island of Sardinia.


An island with links both to France and especially Italy throughout it’s long history and a fiercesome reputation as a haven for pirates and brigands and savage independence, Sardinia has long kept its folklore to itself.  

More recently it’s been actively promoting its output around the world.  This next track is from the guitarist/singer Mauro Palmas and is from his 2005 album “Caina” on the S’ard Music label.  This piece is called “Oltre Il Mare”.

10 “Oltre Il Mare” by Mauro Palmas from the album “Caina” (S’ardmusic 2005)

OK, we’re going to leave Europe far behind for the next few numbers. 

At the top of the show I said that I’ve got a focus on Brazil going on in the show today and this is because I’m trying to flag up a new night taking place this Friday (21st October) at Birmingham’s very own Brazilian churrascaria restaurant, Amazon Brazil, on 197 Broad St, Birmingham (just down from the UGC Cinema).  

The night called “Amazonas Groove” will feature some great Brazilian dance music of all styles and periods with samba pagode, samba de roda, carimbo, MPB, Afoxe and lashings of forró.  It features DJs Zuppa Inglese, Ricardo and El Hombre Elastico on the decks, starts at 10pm and allegedly goes on till 4am and is only £5 for all that groove!

So here’s some classic forró music from the North-East of Brazil to get us going.  This is Jackson do Pandeiro (from a 1991 compilation album called “Brazil Classics 3: Forró” on the Luaka Bop label and an old track entitled “Tum-Tum-Tum”.

11 “Tum-Tum-Tum” by Jackson Do Pandeiro from the album “Brazil Classics 3: Forró” (Luaka Bop 1991)

Now, during my years in South America in the 1980s I travelled the length and breadth of Brazil taking in the different styles of music in this vast country. 

However I was surprised to find that the country looked as much to the outside world for inspiration.

I don’t know why I was surprised, thinking about it now, but at the time it seemed strange hearing styles that I was familiar with infused with that peculiarly Brazilian flavour that defies description. 

Here’s a good example - I loved this band at the time and played the cassette to death for years afterwards, and it still gets me going now. 

This is the legendary Rio rock band Os Paralamas do Suceso and from their 1984 album “O Passo Do Lui” a piece of punky brazilian ska entitled “Meu Erro”.

12 “Meu Erro” by Os Paralamas do Suceso from the album “O Passo Do Lui

Yep, still gets me rocking after all these years! 

And now to one of the more defining sounds of Brazil - particularly Rio de Janeiro.  Samba Batucada.  This is a piece of pure percussion in the batucada style. 

The band is Os Reis do Batuque (The Kings of Drumming), the album released in 1977 is entitled “Batucada No 4” and this track is “Repicando”.

13 “Repicando” by Os Reis do Batuque from the album “Batucada No 4” (Philips)

Ha ha ! Yeah, Os Reis do Batuque.  And trust me that was one of the most influential albums on early British Samba schools - we  all used to listen like mad to each track trying to pick apart the rhythms, work out the techniques used and memorise the breaks.  

OK, let’s move ahead over 30 years and to a particular favourite of mine Brazilian singer, Flavia Bittencourt who I had the pleasure of interviewing on this very show a few weeks ago. 

Flavia is originally from the State of Maranhão in the far North East of Brazil, but now lives in Rio.

She contacted me last week and sent me a couple more of her tracks over. 

So this one is a track I saw her perform here in Birmingham a couple of times. 

It’s a rocky forró called “Parangolé Bounce”.

14 “Parangolé Bounce” by Flavia Bittencourt

Lovely, thanks for that Flavia. 

How’s about some very traditional nordestina music now?  Here’s a band formed way back in 1924 (yes, that’s what I said) and who only recorded their first album in 1972 when they went all the way down to Rio!  The album was called “Zabumba Caruarú” and is as fresh today as it was then. 

The band is called Banda de Pífanos de Caruarú and play in a very traditional formation that not only includes the zabumba drum and triangle (found in forró music) but also clashed cymbals, rattling tarol snare and several flutes known as pífanos. 

This track is the shoulder-shaking, butt-wriggling, full-steam ahead express train that is “Cavalinho Cavalão” - take a listen and you’ll see what I mean.  I defy anyone to sit still during this!

15 “Cavalinho Cavalão” by Banda de Pífanos de Caruarú

[CHANGE CDs!!]

[Don’t forget you’re listening to . . .]

Now, I’m going to take a break from Brazil for the moment - but we’ll be returning there in a few tracks’ time.  

This next track comes from Liberia in West Africa and has been heard all over that country this Summer - probably the most played track of all.  The artists are Junior Freeman and African Soldier and it’s being released outside of Liberia by the Ghana-based record label Akwaaba Music. 

 The story behind it is worth telling.  The track is performed in a style known as Gbema - where traditional Liberian music is taken and - as someone described - is put through a “digital sieve”.  At the same time there is a musical renaissance growing throughout Liberia and a whole generation of young urban-dwellers are creating new forms of music and speech, including the hip-hop influenced genre of Hipco. 

Liberia’s language is English, but stems from its history as a nation artificially carved out of a part of West Africa to take newly freed African-American slaves and repatriate them in an attempt to make amends for displacing them in the first place.  I suppose a little like what happened in Europe with the Jews and the creation of modern Israel.  

The name itself stems from ‘Liberation’, so I suppose the country means “Freedom”.  Sadly, Liberia has suffered severely with a dreadful civil war for years - freedom is one thing, quality of life is another.  

This catchy, upbeat tune is actually quite political in nature and Junior Freeman takes the market-place phrase “Dumyarea” (This is my area) and speaks to the masses of staking their own place within this battered country. 

The phrase and concept became so popular that even the President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf used the song to launch her re-election campaign.  She is the first and only female president in Africa and also the joint winner of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize.  

So, here you go, from the “Lone Stars Vol. 1: Hipco & Gbema” album on  the Akwaaba Music label, this is Junior Freeman and African Soldier and the track “Dumyarea”

(1) 16 “Dumyarea” by Junior Freeman & African Soldier from the album “Lone Stars Vol. 1: Hipco & Gbema” (Akwaaba Music)

[CONTINUOUS]

(2) 17 “Amen Gypsy” by E-Coli

Ha ha! Complete change of style and pace there! 

That was some heavy Balkanic dubstep courtesy of DJ and mixer, E-Coli, all the way from Exeter in Devon! 

Bet you didn’t see that one coming did you!

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.

Ok, back to Brazil now and some old school forró followed by some very jazzy forró. 

First up is the very hard to track down David Cruz and a track entitled “O Corpo Precisa de Alcóol” (the body needs alcohol)! 

Ok if you say so, David...

(3) 18 “O Corpo Precisa de Alcóol” by David Cruz

[CONTINUOUS]

(4) 19 “Forro” by Sivuca from the album “Brasil” (Soul Jazz Records 1994)

You just heard one of my all-time favourite Brazilian tracks. 

A track entitled simply “Forró” from a 1994 album entitled simply “Brasil” on Soul Jazz Records - delivered with breathtaking skill, energy and panache by the legendary accordionist Sivuca. 

I’ve been DJing with that one for years and long shall I continue to - absolutely love it!  

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The last now in the Brazilian focus on the show, although in fact this is a mashup between Puerto Rico and Brazil. 

Take the latter’s Erasmo Carlos and the former’s Calle 13 - two young rappers and reggaetoneros with a huge pan-latino following all over latin america extending from street-level latinos through musical and political champions like Rubén Blades right up to Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez (these guys have made an impression on all of them) - and then let it all be mashed up by one of my favourite mixers, the carioca, DJ LK and this is what you get “Samba de los Aburridos”. 

I love it!

(5) 20 “Samba de los Aburridos” (DJ LK mashup) by Calle 13 vs Erasmo Carlos

[CONTINUOUS]

(6) 21 “Alive Gipsy” (DJ Magyar) by Beastie Boys vs. Analogik ft. Dunkelbunt

That was another mashup - this time cooked up by DJ Magyar from Utrecht.

Featuring Danish jazzy-balkanists Analogik’s “Gipsy Doodle”, New York’s much sampled rappers The Beastie Boys, Vienna’s Ulf Lindeman aka [dunkelbunt] and of course Helen, Roy and Roy at the beginning.

Did you slip off your shoes and run on the spot?   

More mad mashups now. 

This one’s The Beastie Boys again but this time they run up against Bob Marley in Barcelona-based mashers and mixers Neblina Sound’s track “Triple Chatterbox” from the album “Recycled Mashups Vol 1”. 

Do you want to know ‘the Real Deal about the Three’?

.

(7) 22 “Beastie Boys vs Bob Marley - Triple Chatterbox” by Neblina Sound from the album “Recycled Mashups Vol. 1” (Neblina Sounds)

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Ok, let’s whizz right round the world now all the way to Melbourne in Australia and one of Oz’s most celebrated world music bands: Blue King Brown. 

Really like these guys. 

They’re releasing a new album soon, but this one is from their 2006 album “Stand-Up” on Roots Level Records and it’s called simply “Water”. 

Trust me this is a monster tune! 

Time to get bouncing in your chairs again!

(8) 23 “Water” by Blue King Brown from the album “Stand-Up” (Roots Level Records, 2006)

Fantastic, Australia’s Blue King Brown there.  

Fancy some balkan madness? 

Here you go then. 

This is the balkanesque band Flex’Orkestar from Normandy in Northern France and a piece remixed by Rouen’s M’siou Rigolitch, who I’m a big fan of, entitled “Hora de la Bucuresti”. 

Hold on to your hats guys - here we go!

(9) 24 “Hora de la Bucuresti” by M'siou Rigolitch VS Flex'Orkestar

That’s enough to shake your cobwebs out! 

Let’s get it on - I think it’s time for Virginia’s Missy Elliott and Belgium’s Typsy Gypsy of the Balkan Hotsteppers to get their freak on, dub styleeeeeeee!

(10) 25 “Get Your Freak On” (Typsy Gypsy Remix) by Missy Elliot

[CONTINUOUS]

(11) 26 “Sandman Jamming” (DJ LK mashup) by Metallica vs Bob Marley

Bet you didn’t see that one coming. 

Rio’s DJ LK and his unlikely mashup between the king of reggae Bob Marley and California’s heavy metal royalty, Metallica in “Sandman Jamming”. 

OK, time to go now.

[Shoutouts, reminders - Amazonas Groove, Leeanne etc at the Edge, I WON’T be here NEXT week -so it’ll be  pre-recorded show.  Off to Womex see you all in a fortnight, etc]

This next track is a remix.  What do you get if you merge the Looney Tunes Brass Band with the High Steppers Brass Band? 

The Hot 8 Brass Band of course! 

These guys from New Orleans blend hip-hop, jazz and funk alongside traditional Crescent City brass traditions. 

They’re signed to the UK’s Tru Thoughts label (alongside Quantic) and are the label’s only American signing. 

They also appeared in Spike Lee’s  2006 documentary about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina “When The Levees Broke”.  

This is East London’s Henry Orchard’s house remix of the Hot 8s version of Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing”! 

Still with me?  Don’t worry, just enjoy it! 

See you all in a fortnight!
 
(12) 27 “Sexual Healing” (Post Toby Mix) by Hot 8 Brass Band (Henry Orchard remix)

WorldBeatUK (30th Show) - Broadcast Notes (12/10/11)

Tagged with: WorldBeatUK Glyn Phillips Piers Faccini Lil Nathan DJ LK Trio Juriti Pedro Ramaya Beltran Beatriz Aguiar Marcelino Azaguate Martin Alvarado Fernandez Fierro Earth Wheel Sky Taraf de Haidouks Dorantes Ana Sofia Varela Zulu 9.30 Karamelo Strut Congotronics

 WBUK30 (12/10/11) - SHOWNOTES

1 “Intro-Mat” (1:47) - Matchatcha - “Nyekesse” (Melodie) - Soukous

“Welcome to another two hours of great world music on WorldBeatUK!  

[Pause]

I’m Glyn Phillips and you’re tuned into Rhubarb Radio and the two hours of transcultural audio joy that is WorldBeatUK.  Stay with me from now until 9pm tonight whilst I bring you songs of love, lust and longing!  

Find out why Ieye wants Johnny, Ali Chukwumah is singing about Henrietta and why Zulu 9.30 are raving about Carmelita.  

Lil Nathan and the Zydeco Big Timers are begging their girl to come back, but Miss Mama just want to call a taxi. 

And what on earth does Memphis Minnie mean when she says her Butcher Man can slice her pork chops and grind her sausage too . . . ?!  Ooh er Missus!

[PAUSE]

Yep, tonight we’re going to dance with firemen, give thanks to life, plant naughty herbs with Marlon Asher, get covered in gypsy dust, buzz and rumble in the urban jungle, school the duke and take Bucovina to Barranquilla. 

We’re also going to mix bossa with 90s hip-hop, funk-up the cumbia, cumbia-up the balkan and balkan-up the dancehall...

... as well as roam the southern cone to tonadas, chacareras and tangos, float away with fateful fado and beautiful bulerias, and come down to earth with earthy cumbias, feisty forros, zesty zydeco and pioneering blues. 

Finally we end up discovering that unconditional love makes for a wonderful world.  Stick around for the ride of your life…”

I’m going to ease us into tonight’s very eclectic offerings with some gentle, wistful country music, or is it blues, or is it world, or is it . . . ?

Dunno, it’s nice though! 

This is Piers Faccini (at times sounding like a young John Martyn) from his brand new album on the 6 Degrees Record label. This is the title track: “My Wilderness”

2 “My Wilderness” (3:23) - Piers Faccini - “My Wilderness” (6 Degrees Records) - Country/Blues

Here’s another laid-back mix of styles that works really well - sort of 21st century RnB meets Zydeco!  Unusual?  Maybe, but very good too.  Love the groove on this one. 

This is Lil Nathan and the Zydeco Big Timers and a track from the newly-released “Rough Guide To Cajun and Zydeco” that I was talking about last week on the World Music Network label. 

This one’s a love song called “Come Back To Me”

3 “Come Back to Me” (5:57) - Lil Nathan And The Zydeco Big Timers - “The Rough Guide To Cajun & Zydeco” (World Music Network) - Zydeco

Now, the Brazilians have long been famous for their laid back music in particular bossa novas and one of the great names of the 1960s MPB period there was none other than Vinicius de Moraes. 

Here he teams up with Toquinho for De Moraes’s classic “Canto de Ossanha” a song about love and the need or otherwise of involving the orixas (the gods and goddesses of afro-brazilian religions such as candomblé and umbanda) in getting it. 

But here’s the twist: in this version the Brazilian remixer DJ LK has mashed-up the original with a version by the 1990s Californian hip-hop crew Jurassic 5! 

As ever with DJ LK it’s all deliciously done!

4 “Canto De Ossanha (DJ LK MASHUP)” (3:23 - Vinicius de Moraes & Toquinho vs Jurassic 5 - “DJ LK Mashup” - mashup

[CONTINUOUS]

5 “My Butcher Man” (3:01) - Memphis Minnie - “Hoodoo Lady: 1933-1937” (Sony) - Blues

Yeah, and that was a little slice of blues history there from the mid 1930s.  That was the woefully ignored female blues singer Memphis Minnie and a rather naughty song called “My Butcher Man”. 

As I said at the top of the show what on earth does she mean when she says her Butcher Man can slice her pork chops and grind her sausage too . . . !  Ooh er Missus!

You can find that on the Sony release “Hoodoo Lady: 1933-1937”.  

I just want to take a moment to talk about Memphis Minnie, because she ought to be known at least as well as Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey in the annals of pioneering female Blues singers - and since October is Black History month all over the UK, now’s the right time to put the records straight.  

Minnie was born Lizzie Douglas in 1897 in Algiers, Louisiana, and learned to play both guitar and banjo whilst a little girl. She ran away from home aged 13 and went to live in Memphis, Tennessee where she earned a living playing in nightclubs and on the street under the moniker “Kid” Douglas and a year later she joined the Ringling Brothers circus.   

Over the years Lizzie built up a fiery reputation both as a performer - where she was considered to be the equal of any of the male bluesmen both in terms of her guitar playing, singing and songwriting, once wiping the floor with Big Bill Broonzy at a blues competition - and as a flamboyant character who took no nonsense from anyone.  She was an incredibly prolific artist having recorded hundreds of tracks over her 30 year career.

Now with her stage name changed to Memphis Minnie, she was billed as ‘the woman who plays guitar like a man’ and although she performed a large repertoire and not just blues, it was her risqué lyrics and double-entendres that gained her both a large following and much notoriety.  

As her fame spread she would turn up at concerts in posh cars, wearing bracelets made of silver dollars and would incongruously spit tobacco juice with great accuracy whilst performing in beautiful dresses.  She was married about three times to other blues guitarists, but it was always Minnie that was the main attraction, pioneering the use of the electric guitar and leading country blues into urban blues long before it became fashionable.  

To give some idea of her influence, she has been cited by both Maria Muldaur and Bonnie Raitt as a musical hero (Bonnie actually paying for Minnie’s headstone when she died) and wrote the blues song “When The Levee Breaks” - made famous afterwards by Led Zeppelin (although with a different melody and slightly altered lyrics). 

So there you go, Memphis Minnie - go and find out more about her for Black History month.

Ok, if that all sounded like a bit of a lecture then that’s quite appropriate for the next track.  

Jamaica’s Don Drummond and “Schooling the Duke”!

6 “Schooling The Duke” (2:38) - Don Drummond - “The Best Of Don Drummond” - Ska

Ok, for the next six tracks or so we’re heading over to South America. 

Firstly, we’re going to land in Brazil’s smallest state Sergipe in the North-East of this vast country and the home of forró music and here the three young musicians of the Trio Juriti play accordion, triangle and a drum in a jaunty little number entitled “Forró de Plic Plac”

7 “Forró de Plic Plac” (2:54) - Trio Juriti - “Music from Sergipe” - Forró

If you like Brazilian music, then don’t forget that from next Friday (that is the 21st October) there’ll be a brand new Brazilian music night in Brum hosted by myself and my old DJ partner Zuppa Inglese.  The night’s called “Amazonas Groove” and takes place at the beautiful Brazilian churrascaria restaurant Amazon Brazil at 197 Broad Street, Birmingham from 10pm till 4am.  Loads of highly danceable authentic Brazilian music, including forró!

And from the North-East of Brazil we are going North-West again all the way round to the Caribbean coast of Colombia to hear some traditional cumbia courtesy of Pedro Ramaya Beltran and a track played on clarinet, tambores and maracas alone.  Wonderful! 

This is from the album “El Rey de Millo” and is called “La Peluca” 

¡Güeeeeepaaaa!   ¡Pura Cumbia!

8 “La Peluca (El Rey del Millo)” (4:46) - Pedro Ramaya Beltran  - “El Rey del Millo” - Cumbia

Well-known as cumbia now is across the world, you don’t often get to hear traditional cumbia like that!  Excellent.  

And as a contrast here’s a South American music form that is very little known (yet one of my favourites) but here played in a very modern style and setting.  The rhythm is known as chacarera and is to be found from Northern Argentina through Bolivia and Paraguay and into Southern Brazil. 

Here it’s given a jazzy treatment by the Uruguyan singer Beatriz Aguiar who is now based in Holland. 

This is called “Agua” (water).

9 “Agua” (3:18) - Beatriz Aguiar - Sampler (2010) (MeloMusic.NL) - Chacarera

Next to Uruguay of course is the very much larger country of Argentina - a country in fact that is as large as the whole of Western Europe.  And you’d be wrong if you thought it was all about tangos and milongas.  Argentina’s folklore is deep and rich.  

So, here’s an offering from the little known Western border where the Andes Mountain range runs all the way down the length of the country.  Roughly in the middle of that you’ll find the city of Mendoza and from there the musician Marcelino Azaguate. 

This track has been produced by the rather more famous Mendocino Goy Karamelo (who usually sports a huge set of dreadlocks and whose music and remixes I’ve often featured on the programme); however here Goy just allows Marcelino to do what he does best.

The music form is called tonada and this beautiful track is entitled “Soy La Tonada”.

10 “Soy La Tonada” (2:26) - Marcelino Azaguate Huarpe (prod. by Goy Karamelo) - “Tejedora” - Tonada (Huarpe Folclore)

Lovely.  In fact it might be argued that Western Argentina shares more in common with its neighbour on the other side of the Andes range, Chile, than with its own capital Buenos Aires.  Certainly tonadas are prevalent all over Chile, a country that loves its folklore.  

And so this leads me on to another Argentine-Chilean link for the next tune.  During the 1960s Chile underwent something of a folk revolution (or certainly a counter-culture) where young Chileans started to really appreciate the music forms and instruments of the Andes and of the different regions of this long thin country.  They started by collecting and learning the old songs and tunes and later by incorporating what they’d learnt into new songs.  

One of the greatest folk-artists of that time - and in fact one of the greatest of all Latin America in the 20th century - was the singersongwriter Violeta del Carmen Parra Sandoval - commonly known as Violeta Parra, who is credited with being one of the driving forces behind the concept of ‘Nueva Canción’ which spread across South America and up to Cuba and even echoed via the likes of Joan Baez in the USA.  

And from the great Violeta what else but what is probably the most famous of all the Latin American nueva cancion genre: “Gracias a la Vida”. 

This song is one of the most covered latin american songs ever written.  Personally, I knew it from the great Argentine folksinger the late Mercedes Sosa who I was lucky enough to see twice in the 1980s and even now has the ability to bring tears to my eyes.  

Here it’s sung by the Argentine singer Martin Alvarado - who I’ve been featuring over the last few weeks since he’s coming to the UK on tour in November and will be performing at the mac on Sunday 19th November. 

This is a starkly beautiful version of the anthemic “Gracias a la Vida” (Thanks to Life)

11 “Gracias A La Vida” (3:34) - Martin Alvarado & Horacio Avilano Trio - “Mas Alla” (Fonocal) - Canción

Gorgeous.  Martin Alvarado there - as I say he’ll be at the mac in Birmingham on Nov 19th so put that in your diaries. 

Now that was what is known as a canción but Martin is more famous for singing tangos and milongas.  And so I’m going to follow that with a couple of tangos.   

First of all is the Tango Orchestra Orquesta Típica Fernandez Fierro and a track that is originally not a tango at all but a zamba.  Yes, life’s never straightforward on my show is it! 

Zamba with a ‘z’ (not to be confused with it’s Brazilian neighbour samba with an ’s’) is a musical form mostly found in Northern Argentina - and I’m much enamoured of it.  It’s more connected to the Andean gauchos than the porteño gangsters and this is one of the most famous, written by the great Argentine classical guitarist Eduardo Falú, but here given the Fernandez Fierro tango treatment. 

Confused? Don’t worry, just enjoy! 

From the album “Mucha Mierda” this is “Zamba de la Candelaria”

12 “Zamba de la Candelaria” (3:54) - Orquesta Típica Fernandez Fierro - “Mucha Mierda” - Tango

And now from Argentine Tango to European Gipsy Tango! 

This is the Earth Wheel Sky Band and a track called “Tikno Luludi”

13 “Tikno Luludi” (1:58) - Earth Wheel Sky Band - “Gipsy Tango” - Gipsy Tango

[CONTINUOUS]

14 “Dance Of The Firemen” (1:30) - Taraf De Haïdouks - “Band Of Gypsies” (Crammed Discs) - Balkan

Ha ha!  That was the Romanian gypsy band Taraf de Haidouks and a short track called Sirba Pompierilor (or Dance of the Firemen) featuring the 77 year old Neculae Neacsu on creaking, croaking violin string accompanied by the double bass, accordion and cymbalom.  

I enjoyed that, so here’s another from the same album “Band of Gypsies” on the Belgian Crammed Discs label.  This is Taraf again and “Cacurica Dances”

15 “Cacurica Dances” (1:31) - Taraf De Haïdouks - “Band Of Gypsies” (Crammed Discs) - Balkan

[CHANGE CDs!!!]

[You’re listening to ….]

Now a real treat - well, I reckon so anyway. 

This is from an album I picked up about four years ago but have only just got round to listening to!  Yes I know, hard to believe isn’t it!  But I’m a busy man and sometimes they just slip out of your consciousness. 

I’m so glad I found it and took the wrapper off - if only for this one track alone.  

It’s from Spain, from the promotional album “Flamenco Por Andalucía, España Y La Humanidad” on the Szena Records label and is simply entitled “Bulerías” (which if you not familiar with it, refers to one of the many different forms of flamenco as opposed to an actual song-title itself). 

What I like about it is that you usually only hear flamenco played on guitar, but here it’s played on piano.

This is Dorantes, here accompanied by singer Esperanza Fernández. 

Lush, romantic, understated.  I love this!

1 (16) “Bulerías” (4:21) - Dorantes Y Esperanza Fernández - “Flamenco Por Andalucía, España Y La Humanidad” (Szena Records) - Bulerías

Aah!  Wasn’t that beautiful? 

And what to follow that with? 

Well, more beauty of course.  And one of my favourite songforms of all time: Fado! 

So, from Portugal, this is the wonderful Ana Sofia Varela and from her album “Fados de Amor e Pecado” (fados of love and sin) the title track.

2 (17) “Fado de Amor e Pecado” (4:40) - Ana Sofia Varela - “Fados de Amor e Pecado” (iPlay Music) - Fado

What to follow that? 

Time for something different.

Still in the Iberian peninsular but North-East to Barcelona and Zulu 9.30’s “Carmelita” remixed here by Rude Hi-Fi from Zulu 9.30’s “Remixes” album on the Kasba label.

3 (18) “Carmelita” (3:42) - Zulu 9.30 (Rude HI-FI remix) - “Remixes” (Kasba)

Now, earlier on I played you a piece of Argentine tonada by Marcelino Azaguate from his album produced by veteran Mendocino musician and punk-reggae artist and mixer, Goy Karamelo.  

Well, here’s a really interesting track from Goy’s old band Karamelo Santo from their album “La Gente Arriba” - it’s a reggae cumbia version of a track made famous by Old Satchmo himself, Louis Armstrong! 

Not guessed yet?  Well, this has got be one of the most uplifting of songs, and a really whimsical version of it too. 

Imagine if we were all as happy and as chilled as this: it’d be a wonderful world, wouldn’t it!

4 (19) “Wonderful World” (4:10) - Karamelo Santo - “La Gente Arriba!” - (Sony BMG 2006; K Industria 2011) - Reggae-Cumbia

[CONTINUOUS]

5 (20) “Unconditional Love” aka ‘Ganja Farmer’ (3:57) - Marlon Asher - “Cultural Lovers' Rock” (ERNI 2009) - Reggae

Yeah, first you heard Karamelo Santo’s version of “Wonderful World” and that was followed by a track that was heard all over Birmingham in the last couple of years - at least in my part of it.

That was Marlon Asher’s “Unconditional Love” (aka Ganja Farmer). 

That one went out to Silvalili as a special request.  Not that we condone any activities of that kind, I hasten to add!  But it’s a great tune anyway.  

As is this next one.  From 1970s Nigeria a sublime piece of Ibo Highlife from Ali Chukwumah and his Peace Makers International.

Re-released this year on the fabulous Strut Records album “Sweet Times: Afro Funk, Highlife and Juju from 1970s Lagos” as part of their Nigeria 70 series, this is “Henrietta”.

6 (21) “Henrietta” (4:40) - Ali Chukwuma & His Peace Makers International - “Sweet Times” (Strut Records) - Nigerian Ibo Highlife

[CONTINUOUS]

7 (22) “Wa Muluendu (world)” (4:00) - Masanka Sankayi & Kasai Allstars - “Congotronics 2” (Crammed Discs) - African (Congo)

Yeah, what a great groove!!  That was a piece from the Congo recorded in Kinshasa and was from album “Congotronics 2: Buzz’n’Rumble from the Urb’n’Jungle” on the Crammed Discs label from Belgium (who put out some great stuff). 

The track was called “Wa Muluendu” and the band was Masanka Sankayi and the Kasai Allstars featuring Mutumilayi.

And since we’re firmly in some very funky, urban territory now how about this? 

This is the Spiritual South Remix of the Ska Cubano cover of the classic Lito Barrientos cumbia from the 1960s “Cumbia en Do Menor” (still with me?). 

Like one of Dr Bach’s homeopathic herbal remedies there’s precious little of the original left to be heard, but it’s a great groove anyway . . . 

Stick with it ‘cause afterward we’re going to hit up some mad balkanic cumbia and balkan dancehall - don’t go away!

8 (23) “Cumbia En Do Menor” (5:20) - Ska Cubano (Spiritual South Remix) - “Ajiaco! The Remix Album” (Absolute UK, 2008) - Ska Cubano

[CONTINUOUS]

9 (24) “Bucovina en Barranquilla” (3:07) - Danochilango - Balkan Cumbia

Yeah, that was Danochilango’s Balkan Cumbia “Bucovina en Barranquilla”. 

Sticking with that balkan vibe as promised this is another mad mashup - balkan dancehall styleee from France’s Watcha Clan vs Mims, Cham & Junior Reid all mashed together by the Balkan Hotsteppers. 

This is called “Gypsy Dust is Hot!”

10 (25) “Gypsy Dust is Hot (This Is Why We Hot)” (4:24) - Watcha Clan vs. Mims, Cham & Junior Reid (Balkan Hotsteppers) - Balkan Dancehall mashup

Ok, got time for about another one or two that’s all, so this is the gorgeous Jamaican singer Ieye (no relation to Brummie Rocksteady crew 1EYE btw!) and a track from her album “Fever Grass” entitled “Johnny” 

11 (26) “Johnny” (4:10) - Ieye - “Fever Grass” - Reggae

OK that’s it. 

[Shoutouts, Reminders, etc - Amazonas Groove and Arriba]

I’m going to leave you with a French Reggae band singing a song in English written by a Brummie. 

The band is called Miss Mama and from their live album “T’as Raison” this is a track written by Steel Pulse’s David Hinds called “Taxi Driver”. 

.

.

.

See ya’ll next week. 

Taxi!!!!!

12 (27) “Taxi Driver” (3:58) - Miss Mama - “T’as Raison !” (Douzetafs) - Reggae

WorldBeatUK (29th Show) - Broadcast Notes (5/10/11)

Tagged with: WorldBeatUK Glyn Phillips Cedric Watson Whiskey River Francesca Ancarola Tomas de Perrate 1EYE Martin Alvarado Diwan Project Seckou Keita Mabon Horace Trahan Cobra Verde Si Bemol Mdungu Huba Manteca Sidestepper Fissunix Pedro Moutinho Pilao de Pif

WBUK29 (5/10/11) - SHOWNOTES

1 “Intro-Mat” (1:47) by Matchatcha - “Nyekesse” (Melodie)

"Hello!  Are you sitting comfortably?   Then I’ll begin… (Pause)  Welcome to another weekly dose of wonderful world music right here on Rhubarb Radio.    You’re listening to WorldBeatUK with me, Glyn Phillips, tirelessly scouring the outer reaches of global musicality to bring you the stuff the others don’t!  

Stick with me here on Rhubarb Radio until 9pm tonight (UK time) whilst I bring sonic treasures from Argentina, Chile and Brazil, audio gems from Romania, Finland, Wales and Israel, harmonic gold from Holland, Spain, Portugal and Gambia and auricular riches from Louisiana, Hereford and even dear old Brummajum itself!

[Pause]

Yes, climb aboard the Good Ship WorldBeatUK because deep in the holds I’ve got another treasure chest packed with musical booty - and there’s plenty more junk in the trunk with some dirty, accordion-pumping, squeezebox action as well!  There’s also a definite jazzy, soulful, funky undercurrent coursing beneath the hull throughout the evening, but you’ll feel that later on as we hit the High Seas of the World Music Oceans. 

But for the moment let’s just stow you all aboard, break open the rum, distribute the ship’s biscuits, cast off, catch the tide and set sail out of the harbour…"

Now I’ve just got hold of a new release by World Music Network - the people behind the Rough Guide series of CDs.  If you don’t know them, then they give you a very useful overview of the current state of play in different areas of world music.  For instance, recent releases have included the Rough Guides to English Folk, Sufi Music, and Brazilian Cafe.  

The nice thing is that when you buy a CD you get another one highlighting the work of one of the groups featured on the compilation for free.  So, for instance with the Rough Guide to English Folk you also get included a CD retrospective of the work of the amazing Yorkshire acapella trio Coope, Boyes and Simpson.

The CD I’m featuring at the moment is the Rough Guide to Cajun and Zydeco, which I can thoroughly recommend, some great stuff on it indeed. 

I’m going to be playing a couple of tracks from it tonight and first up is someone I’ve played before on the show, the great Cedric Watson and his band Bijou Creole and a track called “Afro Zydeco” 

2 “Afro Zydeco” (5:07) by Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole - “The Rough Guide To Cajun & Zydeco” (World Music Network)

Always a lot of fun when Cedric’s in the house!  That one’s going out to Dylan. 

If you go to www.worldmusic.co.uk and look in the Galleries section you can see some photos of Cedric Watson at a concert a couple of years ago or so. 

I’ve got some more great zydeco coming up later on in the show, so keep your ears open for that 'cause I’m really excited about that one too!  

Cedric’s from Louisiana, but you don’t have to necessarily travel there to hear great American music.  

Just a couple of hours or so down the road from Birmingham (England, not Alabama) is the ancient market city of Hereford. 

And from there comes a great band called Whiskey River who play a mixture of Blues, Country, Cajun, Zydeco etc, etc. 

They’ve just released a new album called “Hot Sauce!” and I’m playing a couple more tracks from it tonight. 

First off is a lovely country ballad called “Wild Horses” with vocals by Marty Blake.

3 “Wild Horses” (4:42) by Whiskey River - “Hot Sauce!”

Yeah, beautiful.  Now I promised a jazzy, soulful undercurrent to the show tonight and here’s the first offering.  I absolutely love this, not at all what I expected when I got the CD through. 

The singer is from Chile in South America and she’s called Francesca Ancarola.  She blends jazz and soul with traditional latin american songforms and sings in a mixture of Spanish and English. 

This is from her album “Sons of the Same Sun” and is called “To The Shore Of The Sea”.


4 “To The Shore Of The Sea” (4:06) by Francesca Ancarola - “Sons of the Same Sun”

Yeah, loving that - especially the way it seamlessly goes from jazz and soul and waltz and ends up with that flamenco flavour! 

Which leads me on effortlessly onto one of Spain’s many great flamenco singers.  This is one I came across a few years ago in Seville. 

His name is Tomás de Perrate and from his album on the Flamenco Vivo label called “Perraterías” a great piece of Reggae-Flamenco in the style of ‘tangos de Málaga’ called “El Piyayo”


5 “El Piyayo (Tangos de Málaga)” (4:06) by Tomás de Perrate - “Perraterías” (Flamenco Vivo)

OK, Here’s another group of which I’m playing two songs tonight.

The band is from right here in Birmingham, England and are called 1EYE. 

I saw them in concert at the Hare and Hounds a couple of week’s ago and can thoroughly recommend them!  Their new album still doesn’t have a name, but here’s a sneak preview from the promo CD. 

This a lovely piece of Brummie rocksteady (produced in Jamaica) and it’s called “Lately”.


6 “Lately” (3:08) by 1EYE - (Industry Records 2011)

And a real change of pace now - I’m going to call into one of the great ports of South America - Buenos Aires, Argentina!  From there comes the young tango singer Martin Alvarado. 

Martín will be touring the UK in November and will be coming to Birmingham on Sunday 19th November to perform at the mac.  I’m definitely going and really looking forward to that. 

Here’s a little taste of what to expect.  This is from his first album “Así Es Mi Tango” on the Fonocal label and a track entitled “Estás En Mi Corazón” (You are in my heart).


7 “Estás En Mi Corazón” (2:53) by Martin Alvarado - “Así Es Mi Tango” (Fonocal)

Wasn’t that lush!  I’ve got a couple more sonically gorgeous tracks lined up.  The first is from a CD called The Diwan Project.  

Now, I’ve had this CD a little while, but like many deep things, be they books, music or people, it sometimes it takes time, patience and the right approach to understand what they are all about.  It was like this for me with this album and I’m glad I’ve gone back to it and can appreciate it now.  

The Diwan Project was founded in 2003 by Gil Ron Shama (whose work always searches for the similarities and connections between disparate communities such as Jews and Muslims) and Alon Amano Campino.  The Diwan Project is not so much a musical band as a cultural experiment to bring musicians and audience together to mutually experience sacred music. 

The Jews of Medieval Spain had a tradition of meeting outside a synagogue after a prayer session and combining song and piyut (a kind of sacred poetry) and searching for shechina (ie the divine presence) through this exploration of both performers and audience.  This was the Diwan. 

So what you’re about hear is an ensemble performing traditional music and song but in a free and contemporary style on old instruments from the Jewish Diaspora.  This is called “I Heard That Crushed”


8 “I Heard That Crushed” (5:38) by The Diwan Project - “The Diwan Project” 


This weekend down in Bristol at the Colston Hall there’s going to be special event called the Schumacher Centenary Festival to mark the 100th anniversary of E F  Schumacher the green pioneer who coined the phrase and wrote the book “small is beautiful” and was also founder of the Soil Association.  

During the daytimes there will be lectures and discussions and workshops, but on the Saturday - the 8th October - they are putting on a mini-festival programmed by WOMAD’s former Artistic Director Thomas Brooman, with an impressive array of World Music artists including Trilok Gurtu, The Dhol Foundation, Colores de Colombia, Jamie Smith’s Mabon and Seckou Keita as well as more local artists.  

So to give you a taste of what’s on there here’s a couple of tracks from two of the artists appearing. 

First is the experimental Gambian kora player Seckou Keita - here with his quintet - Gambians Surahata Susso on percussion and Binta Suso on vocals, Italian Davide Mantovani on bass and the Egyptian violinist Samy Bishal. 

This is is a track from his album “The Silimbo Passage” on the World Artventures label and it’s called “Dingba Don”.

9 “Dingba Don” (3:58) by Seckou Keita Quintet - “The Silimbo Passage” (World Artventures)


And following on from Seckou Keita, a band that is also appearing at the smallWorld mini-festival in Bristol this weekend, the British Interceltic folkers, Jamie Smith’s Mabon. 

I’ve played numerous tracks by them over the last year and also written about their appearances at both last year’s Womex and this year’s Womad (both reviews can be seen at www.worldmusic.co.uk if you’re interested - Womad review here: www.worldmusic.co.uk/jamie_smiths_mabon_radio_3_stage_womad_29711). 

This one’s a an up-beat headbanger from their award-winning “Live at the Grand Pavillion” album and it’s called “The Hustler”.

10 “The Hustler” (Live) (4:16) by Mabon - “Live At The Grand Pavillion” (Easy On the Records 2010)

That was the first of four accordion-based pieces in a row I’m playing.  I’ve already spun you some wonderful zydeco at the top of the show and now’s the time for some more from the Rough Guide to Cajun and Zydeco.  

This is my absolute favourite from the album, it’s a dirty, funky, groover by Horace Trahane sung in both English and Creole French and takes its title from a Jamaican expression apparently.

This is “Same Knife Cut The Sheep, Cut The Goat” -  Turn up the volume and laisser le bons temps rouler!


11 “Same Knife Cut The Sheep, Cut The Goat” (3:49) by Horace Trahan - “The Rough Guide To Cajun & Zydeco” (World Music Network)

Ha ha! Love that one! 

Ok so time now for the second one from Hereford’s Whiskey River from their new album “Hot Sauce!” and it’s a cajun dancefloor filler called “Les Flammes d’Enfer”. 

If you live anywhere near the Welsh Marches either side of the border you might come across these guys so keep your eyes peeled for them. 

Now where’s that gumbo?


12 “Les Flammes d’Enfer” (4:27) by Whiskey River - “Hot Sauce!”

[CONTINUOUS]

13 “Forró de Cobra Verde” (2:50) by Cobra Verde - “Forró do Baú” (Cinq Planetes)

[CHANGE THE CDs!!]

You’re listening to WorldBeatUK on Rhubarb Radio with me, Glyn Phillips, taking you on a musical journey around the world. 

Don’t forget you can join me every Wednesday on www.rhubarbradio.com between the hours of 7-9pm (UK time) and I’ll try to bring you the best in world music from across the Seven Seas...

OK, what you heard before was the last of four accordion-driven pieces and was a forró from the State of Sergipe in North-East Brazil called “Forró de Cobra Verde” by the accordionist Cobra Verde from the album “Forró do Baú on the French Cinq Planetes label.

We’re going to stay in North-East Brazil for this next one.  This is a style of music based on the Brazilian pifano instrument - a type of reed flute - originally played by the indigenous inhabitants of the sertão region. 

Here in the hands of the band Pilão de Pif it’s used to great effect in the tune “Meu Pilão de Pif”


(1) 14 “Meu Pilão de Pif” (2:48) by Pilão de Pif - “Music from Sergipe” (promo CD)

What about that then? 

The majority language spoken in Brazil is Portuguese of course, so I’m going to indulge us in some lusophonic lyricism from the mother country for the next couple of numbers. 

This is the fadisto Pedro Moutinho, and a traditional sounding track from the promo album “Lisboa Mora Aqui” called “Não Sabe Como Voltar”


(2) 15 “Não Sabe Como Voltar” (2:11) by Pedro Moutinho - “Lisboa Mora Aqui” 

Well, as I said that was a very traditional take on Portugal’s most famous song form, the sometimes playful, oft-times melancholic, but always beautiful fado. 

But you’d be mistaken to think that the Portuguese are afraid to experiment with this almost sacred artform. 

This is the band Si Bemol from their album “Fado Em Si Bemol” and their jazz-fado take on an absolute classic, originally made famous by Amália Rodrigues. 

This is their live version of “Coimbra”


(3) 16 “Coimbra” (4:18) by Si Bemol - “Fado Em Si Bemol”

You see, someone else like me who can appreciate the artistic merits of the mouth-trumpet and silly scat-singing!  Love it!  

OK, once more back to a second helping of someone who I’ve already featured earlier on tonight. 

And just as Si Bemol have taken classic fado and given it a jazzy twist, so the Chilean singer Francesca Ancarola takes the old afro-peruvian song form of landó and gives it a jazz and soul interpretation. 

I’m loving this.  From the album “Sons of the Same Sun” this is called “Scarebadthings”.


(4) 17 “Scarebadthings” (4:46) by Francesca Ancarola - “Sons of the Same Sun”

[CONTINUOUS]

(5) 18 “Pick Up”(4:24) by Mdungu - “Afro What?” (Zimbraz)

That was a track called “Pick Up” by the Dutch band Mdungu from their album “Afro What?” on the Zimbraz label. 

I’ve got about two more shows after this one before I take off for Copenhagen for Womex and that band is definitely one I want to see live when I get there.  How could you not want to start jiving to that one! 

Don’t forget, before that you heard Francesca Ancarola and her jazzy-RnB take on an afro-peruano landó tune. 

I told you I’d got some jazzy-funky-soul undercurrents to the show and this next track is no exception.

The band is from Finland, I played them last week to great acclaim, in particular to Billy Green - who incidentally has won himself a Womeximiser CD in last week’s draw!  So well done Billy - send us an email with your address and I’ll get it sent out to you. 

So here’s another one for you from the wonderful Helsinki band Huba. 

This is a sublime piece called “Summer Morn”.


(6) 19 “Summer Morn” (4:20) by Huba - “Huba” 

[CONTINUOUS]


(7) 20 “Accidental Love” (3:18) by 1EYE - (Industry Records 2011)

Yeah, that was the second offering from Brummie Rocksteady crew, 1EYE, from their as yet unnamed album to be released on Industry Records a track called “Accidental Love”.  Check ‘em out if you get the chance.

OK, so let’s take ourselves up to the end of the show by going up the gears with some rockers and dancefloor fillers! 

First up is British band Manteca and a rocketing piece of latin-jazz-funk called “De Todo”. 

Oye!! Les traigo de todo para guarachar - A Gozaaaaaaaaaaaarrr!!!


(8) 21 “De Todo” (4:16) by Manteca - Manteca Promo CD (2010) 

[CONTINUOUS]

(9) 22 “Papaya 07 (3:35)” by Sidestepper - “Buena Vibra Sound System” (Sony 2008)

Yeah that was Colombia’s Sidestepper and their indubitably funky remixed  “Papaya 07” from the Buena Vibra Sound System album. 

Now that’s a dancefloor filler - it’s enough to make your shoulders unhinge and your spine turn to jelly . . .

What shall we follow that with then? 

Hmmm… how about a bit of Hendrix? 

Well, as re-envisaged in a sort of funk-meets-afrobeat fusion by remixer Fissunix. 

This is “Foxy Funky Lady”


(10) 23 “Foxy Funky Lady” (3:40) by Fissunix 

Ha ha - yeah, definitely one for all the foxy ladies out there tonight! 

OK, time for bye-byes etc

[shout-outs and reminders]

I’m going to leave you with this amazing mash-up - or maybe I should say crash-up between Romania’s Mahala Rai Banda and Diana Ross.  Yes, that’s what I said, Diana Ross. 

It’s all orchestrated by TJF Sound and Mykol Orthodox.  And it’s pure madness!  

The song you will know - trust me, you’ll know it!  Not originally by Ross, but if I say who it was by I’d give the game away. 

In fact I’m going to say good night right now, light the blue touchpaper and skedaddle before this baby rockets up into the air and explodes all over your consciousness in a sticky sonic mess.  

This is a Marmite song - you’re either going to love it or hate it! 

I love it - but I ain’t sticking around to get your responses! 

See y’all next week!!  Ciao, babies!

(11) 24 “I Will Survive in Mahalageasca” (4:37) by Mahala Rai Banda & Diana Ross (TJF Sound & Mykol Orthodox) 

WorldBeatUK (28th Show) - Broadcast Notes (28/9/11)

Tagged with: WorldBeatUK Glyn Phillips 1EYE Puerto Plata Celso Piņa Systema Solar Tomas de Perrate Martin Alvarado Hazelius Hedin Antti Paalanen Ragnhild Furebotten Huba Ballake Sissokho Vincent Segal Pacifika Renata Jambeiro Flavia Bittencourt Mariza Whiskey River

WBUK28 (28/9/11) - SHOWNOTES

1 “Intro-Mat” (1:47) by Matchatcha from the album “Nyekesse” (Melodie)

“Welcome to WorldBeatUK on Rhubarb Radio! (Pause)  My name’s Glyn Phillips and over the next two hours we’ll be scooting all over the globe in search of interesting music that you wouldn’t necessarily hear on mainstream radio stations.   

Between now and 9pm (UK time) I’ll be playing you some mashups and remixes courtesy of Mixticius and [dunkelbunt], Ghanaian afro-hop, Scandinavian folk, Colombian Dub, Andalucian flamenco, Argentine Tango, Portuguese Fado, Brazilian Samba and Dominican bolero.

Alongside this there’ll be Malian Chamber Music, Canadian World Fusion and Afro-Peruvian electronica.  

Expect also to hear porros and cumbia - both traditional and cutting edge - from Colombia and Mexico, Funk from Finland, and to show that the English Midlands is not to be outdone, some Brummie Rocksteady and even gator-wrestling Swamp music from Herefordshire . . .  

Stick around - you’re guaranteed to hear something new and for those of you who like their fado stripped back and emotionally raw I’ve got a real treat coming up!”

Well first up on the show I’m going straight into something a bit heavy.  This is a bit of sitar-driven electronica by David Starfire from his album “Bollyhood Bass” on the Six Degrees Record Label.  It’s called “Sitarfire”:

2 “Sitarfire” (4:24) by David Starfire from the album “Bollyhood Bass”

Now last Friday I was able to attend the first of the new season of Jibbering Presents nights at the Hare and Hounds in Kings Heath, Birmingham, which was a special night to launch the new album by Brummie band, 1EYE. 

 Previously, 1EYE (spelled: numeral ‘1’, then ‘E-Y-E’) mixed up a blend of latin, funk and reggae on their last album “Whiskey Business” a couple of years ago.  But since then they’ve had a change of direction musically and immersed themselves into old school Jamaican rocksteady, locked themselves in their studio for about a year and half and emerged blinking into the sunlight with a 21st Century take on rocksteady, reggae and even some rock’n’roll!  

I’ve got to admit they were very good with a convincing sound and some lovely solos on tenor sax by Sam Rogers.  A 10 piece band, all suited up (apart from the MC) with two saxes, singer, MC, two backing singers, bass, keys, guitar and kit.  Although it was their official album launch, for some reason they haven’t decided on a name for it yet. 

However, it’s been recorded here in Brum and final production completed in Kingston, Jamaica by Soljie Hamilton from Channel One Studios.  I’m guessing you can track it down on their website and it’s released on their own label Industry Records.  I’ll let you know, when I do.  

In the meantime I’m going to be playing a couple of tracks from it this week (and another two next week).  First in the player is “The Time Is Here”.

3 “The Time Is Here” (3:52) by 1EYE

[CONTINUOUS]

4 “Mujer de Cabaret” (3:06) by Puerto Plata from the album “Mujer De Cabaret”

That last track was by the octagenarian sonero Jose Cobles aka Puerto Plata one of the last remaining old bolero singers from the pre-bachata days of the Dominican Republic. 

It was the title track of his 2009 debut album (recorded when he was a mere 84!) on the iASO Records label and was called “Mujer de Cabaret” - the cabaret in this instance referring to the old dominican term for a house of ladies of ‘dubious repute’.  Nuff said.  Love his stuff and in fact most of the output from Iaso Records.

Next we’re going West from La Republica Dominicana, to Mexico where we meet up with the cumbia singer and accordionist Celso Piña. 

With his nickname of El Rebelde del Acordeón (the Accordion Rebel) Celso is a pioneer in mixing and fusing tropical music often finding links between Mexican norteña music, sonidero, ska, reggae, hip-hop, RnB and cumbia of course. 

I’m really looking forward to seeing him at Womex next month.  This is from his live album “En Vivo” and is a track called “Cumbia Arenosa”:

5 “Cumbia Arenosa” (3:33) by Celso Pina from the album “En Vivo”

Yeah, Celso Piña there from Mexico with “Cumbia Arenosa”. 

Now many of you will know that Cumbia really originates from the South American country of Colombia.  So we’re off there next to check out what the dubby fusion band Systema Solar are up to… 

This is a really heady brew of influences and styles from them going under the name “Quién es el Patrón”  (Who’s the Boss?).

6 “Quién es el Patrón?” (3:26) by Systema Solar from the album “Systema Solar”

[CONTINUOUS]

7 “Olvidarte (Cuplé por bulerías)” (3:11) by Tomás de Perrate

ft Antonio Moya from the album “Perraterías”

Yeah, really enjoyed that one.  That was the amazing Spanish flamenco singer Tomás de Perrate from a 2005 album on the Flamenco Vivo label called “Perraterías”. 

The track was in the style of cuplé por bulerías and was entitled “Olvidarte” also featuring Antonio Moya on guitar and Alvaro Gandul on harmonica.

And now another Spanish language treat for you.  This is a young Argentine tango singer who’s creating a real buzz at the moment. 

His name is Martin Alvarado and over the next few weeks I’m going to be featuring him ahead of his November gig here in Birmingham at the mac, which I’m very much looking forward to. 

This is from his 2008 album “Así Es Mi Tango” and it’s a track called “Estás en Mi Corazón” (You are in my Heart).

8 “Estás En Mi Corazón” (2:53) by Martin Alvarado from the album “Así Es Mi Tango”

Beautiful!  I do love tangos as well as milongas.   OK, change of direction now.  If you were listening in last week,  you might remember that I was talking about the forthcoming world music tradefair, Womex, which takes place in Copenhagen next month.  

Womex each year produce a special CD called the Womeximiser full of the artists they are showcasing that year.  This is normally for delegates only, but courtesy of worldmusic.co.uk I've managed to get hold of some to give away in a draw on the WorldBeatUK radio show!  

I've already played a couple of tracks from artists appearing on the CD (Celso Piña & Systema Solar) and about half of last week's show and the next three tracks are all also featured on the 2011 Womeximiser.  

So to be in with a chance to get your hands on a copy - just submit your name and email address to me, Glyn Phillips, and your name will go into a blind draw.  The lucky winners will each get a copy of this compilation CD sent to them.  

So I need your name and email address or even a Facebook link.  You can either email me at glyn@worldmusic.co.uk, or if you're already connected to me via FB send me a message stating you'd like to be entered for the Womeximiser 2011 CD draw. 

Ok, so I’m going to indulge us all in some Scandinavian music for the next few numbers, starting with a track by a Swedish duo called Hazelius Hedin who fuse Irish and Scandinavian traditions into a very harmonious sound. 

his is from their 2010 album “Om du Ville Människa Heta” on the Amigo label and it’s a track called “Adjö Farväl”:

9 “Adjö Farväl” (4:04) by Hazelius Hedin from the album “Om du Ville Människa Heta”

[CONTINUOUS]

10 “Permafrost” (4:26) by Antti Paalanen from the album “Breathbox”

First you heard the Swedish duo Hazelius Hedin and that was followed by a stellar solo performance by the Finnish accordionist Antti Paalanen and track called “Permafrost” from the 2010 album “Breathbox” on the Siba Records label. 

Well, I don’t know about you but I could almost feel I was breathing in clean, sharp, icy air during that last one!

Let’s finish off this Scandinavian portion of the show with an jaunty uplifting piece by a fiery young fiddler from Northern Norway - a country I don’t get chance to play much from on the show. 

The fiddler’s name is Ragnhild Furebotten and this is a piece that features some rather interesting brass too, called “Jag Kan Inte Fela” from the album “Aldri På En Søndag”:

11 “Jag Kan Inte Fela” (4:29) by Ragnhild Furebotten from the album “Aldri På En Søndag”

[CONTINUOUS]

12 “Man Brings The Bread” (5:13) by Huba from the album “Huba”

[Change CDs!!]

Don’t forget you’re listening to WorldBeatUK on Rhubarb Radio, coming at you live and direct from the Custard Factory in Digbeth, Birmingham.  My name’s Glyn Phillips and until 9pm (UK time) tonight I’ll be harvesting the musical fruits of mankind’s endeavours from around the globe to serve you a sumptuous feast of organic goodness for your ears, heart and soul!  Stick around and keep me company because I’ve got a pantry full of great music still to come on the show.

What about that last track then?  That was the really ‘most excellent’ Finnish soul and funk band, Huba. 

I remember the first time I heard anything by them - a tune called “Mary” - which was brought to my attention by Steve Williams of UKVibe.  Really blew me away and hard to get my head round the fact that there were from Helsinki! 

That was a lush, lush track called “Man Brings the Bread (but the woman brings the soul to the household” from their album, also called "Huba".

This next track is a rather interesting fusion of kora (that is to say the African Harp - the great classical instrument of West Africa) played here by the Malian harpist Ballaké Sissoko and the cello, one of the great instruments of European classical music, here played by French cellist Vincent Segal. 

This is a really beautiful meld of sounds on two fabulous stringed instruments.  The track is called “Chamber Music” from the 2010 album of the same name on the Six Degrees Records label.

(1) 13 “Chamber Music” (5:33) by Ballaké Sissoko & Vincent Segal from the album “Chamber Music”

Hmmm.  Lovely!  Delicate and wistful!  

Now over to Canada for a bit, with the Vancouver fusion trio, Pacifika, who carefully glean bits of musical styles from all over the world and then proceed to card, spin and weave them into something uniquely their own with a kind of ‘world pop’ sensibility. 

This is called “Chocolate” from the album “SuperMagique”

(2) 14 “Chocolate” (3:39) by Pacifika from the album “SuperMagique”

[CONTINUOUS]

(3) 15 “Preceito” (3:22) by Renata Jambeiro

And you just heard some lovely Brazilian samba there from one of their great singers the lovely Renata Jambeiro and a track called “Preceito”.  

I want to stay in Brazil for this next one because I’ve got one last track to play for you all from my favourite Brazilian singer at the moment, the lovely Flavia Bittencourt, who as many of you know caught my attention at the recent Espirito Brum festival here in Birmingham.  

This is an exquisite piece of vocal artistry from Flavia accompanied only by guitar - it’s a track from her first album “Sentido” and it’s called “Estrela do Mar” (Star of the Sea).

Following straight on from that is something truly heartwrenching.   At the top of the show I promised you a real treat and now’s the time for me to deliver … so after Flavia’s song you’re going to be treated to some outstanding fado from the Queen of Fadistas herself, Mariza.  

Trust me, don’t go away, don’t leave the room, don’t put the kettle on, or start texting for the next 10 minutes, or anything! 

Just close your eyes and let these two amazing ladies take your souls in their soft hands and fly them away to a better place . . .

(4) 16 “Estrela Do Mar” (4:29) by Flávia Bittencourt from the album “Sentido”

[CONTINUOUS]

(5) 17 “O Gente da Minha Terra” (5:53) by Mariza from the album “Fado Em Mim”

What can I say?  Life is all about moments like that.  Music to put everything else in perspective.  If I could sing like that just once in my life I think I’d feel like there’d be nothing more to achieve.  Truly humbling.

Well, what on earth do you follow those two songs with?  How about some Herefordshire swamp music?!  Why not! 

This is a band called Whiskey River from Hereford right here in the English Midlands and a track from their album “Hot Sauce!” - sung by the gravel-washed voice of Mr Marty Blake - called “I Washed my Hands in Muddy Water” (and not a ‘gator in sight!):

(6) 18 “I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water” (4:01) by Whiskey River from the album “Hot Sauce!”

Cajun and zydeco music are famous for their accordion traditions.  So here’s some from a different but no less impressive tradition that of Colombia in South America. 

This is by Oskar Julián and Hector Phidell from the 2009 album “Pórtate Chévere”. 

Oskar and Hector are very well known for their vallenato music but here they tackle a porro in their own unique style.  This is entitled “Por Un Beso” (For a Kiss).

(7) 19 “Por Un Beso” (4:01) by Oskar Julián & Hector Phidell from the album “Pórtate chevere”

I don’t know about you but I’m in the mood for some Ghanaian American afro-hop. 

This is from the wonderfully named Blitz the Ambassador and from his album “Native Sun” a track entitled “Akwaaba”:

(8) 20 “Akwaaba” (2:49) by Blitz the Ambassador from the album “Native Sun”

[CONTINUOUS]

(9) 21 “The Girl Can't Help It” (3:22) by 1EYE

Ha ha!  That was another track by Brummie rocksteady crew 1EYE and a re-working of the old rhythm & blues classic, “The Girl Can’t Help It” featuring the toasting skills of Mr Kidd. 

You can get more info on them by checking them out on Facebook or via www.industryrecords.org.

OK, Not long to go now - let’s take a really old afro-peruvian landó classic “Toro Mata” (The Bull Kills) whose origins are lost in the mists of time - or at the very least the garua mists of coastal Perú - and refix it for the 21st century via Los Chicos Altos.  This is a hazy, crazy remix, but I love it!  

(10) 22 “Toro Mata” (4:13) by Los Chicos Altos

Ok, that was a spacy one - this next one’s a remix by Mixticius and it’s just down-home, rust-bucket, shit-kicking mad!! 

Get bouncing and busting all yer best moves now. 

In fact: Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough!

(11) 23 “Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough” (2:55) by Mixticius

Ha ha ha!!  Love that tune - big up Mixticius!  

So time to go now.  See you all next week.

[Goodbyes, reminders, etc].

I’m going to leave you with a message - in fact the Revedere Message from [dunkelbunt] and Grandmaster Flash and you can guarantee that this piece of Balkan mash-up is pure insanity - but remember, just “don’t push me ‘cause I’m close to the edge, I’m trying not to lose my head…”   Goodnight!


(12) 24 “Revedere Message” (4:27) by [dunkelbunt] vs Grandmaster Flash

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!

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 (26th Show) - Broadcast Notes (14/9/11)

Tagged with: WorldBeatUK Glyn Phillips Flavia Bittencourt Dudu Oliveira Felipe Tauil Brazil Township Dawda Jobarteh Issa Bagayogo Doan Ca Hue Dhoad Gypsies Rajasthan Professor Elemental Ska Maria Pastora Matty Blades Babilak Bah Tabacarana Balkan Hotsteppers AKB

 WBUK26 (14/9/11) - SHOWNOTES

1 Intro-Mat (1:47) by Matchatcha from Nyekesse (Melodie)

(0.09)
"This is Rhubarb Radio, I’m Glyn Phillips with WorldBeatUK!
(0.16)
Over the next two hours we’ll be exploring music from Mali and Gambia, we’ll be paying a visit to South Africa to hear some old Township jazz, sailing the South China Sea to Vietnam and crossing the deserts of Rajasthan to hear the Dhoad Gypsies.  We’ll be taking on board a little electro-swing and going on down to New Orleans for some some funky-ass jazz courtesy of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band.  

Expect also to hear Balkan mashups and remixes with the likes of the Amsterdam Klezmer Band vs the Beastie Boys and DJ Click and La Caravanne Passe;

Pause for music - (0.51 - 1.00)

I’ve also got some Brazilian Ska, some Aussie Ska, a Brazilian tribute to Amy Winehouse and a little bit of animal magic from the effervescent, and very British, Professor Elemental.  

And finally, in the middle of the show more Brazilian beats from artists appearing at this year’s inaugural Espirito Brum festival, including experimental percussionist, Babilak Bah, samba-roqueiros Tabacarana and - live in this very studio in about an hour’s time - the lusophonic loveliness of Maranhao’s Flavia Bittencourt.  

So stay tuned, let your mates know what’s going on - post them a link on Facebook or similar - and let me take you on a sonic journey around the wonderful world of music . . ."

First up, we’re going back some decades in time and thousands of miles in distance to South Africa to take in some old township jazz.  This is a band called The Drive and a track called “Way Back Fifties”

2 Way Back Fifties (6:14) by The Drive

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Staying in Africa for a couple more numbers now.  This is a Gambian artist called Dawda Jobarteh and - from his album, “Northern Light, Gambian Night” - a track called “Samakebalu”.


3 Samakebalu (5:24) by Dawda Jobarteh from "Northern Light, Gambian Night"

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OK, eastwards from the Gambia to the musical behemoth that is Mali and a track from an album called “Mali Koura”.  This is Issa Bagayogo and “Poye”

4 Poye (4:27) by Issa Bagayogo from "Mali Koura"

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[CONTINUOUS]

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5 Hát Chau Van (5:22) by Doan Ca Hue. A'i Hoa from "Music from Vietnam 2" (Caprice Records)

First you heard Issa Bagayogo from Mali and that was followed by a track called “Hat Chau Chan” by - and I’m not sure how to pronounce this to be honest - Doan Ca Hue. A’i Hoa.  Anyway, the track’s from an album entitled “Music from Vietnam 2” on Caprice Records.

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And since we’re in Asia, let’s travel to Rajasthan in India and the Dhoad Gypsies of Rajasthan who are often to be found touring Europe.  

Incidentally, there’s a reasonably common consensus now that the gypsy communities of the world all originate from the area of Rajasthan and spread Westward, splitting eventually into two distinct groups upon leaving the Middle East.  

One group took the northern route into Turkey, the Balkans and Eastern and Northern Europe and the other group went via Egypt and North Africa and ended up in Southern Europe.  Hence the 'gypsy' epithet, since it was long thought that they came from Egypt.  OK, history lesson over!  These are the Dhoad Gypsies of Rajasthan and from their album “Roots Travellers” a track entitled “Rajasthani Reggae”

6 Rajasthani Reggae (5:57) by Dhoad Gypsies Of Rajasthan from "Roots Travellers"

“Rajasthani Reggae” by the Dhoad Gypsies of Rajasthan there, from the desert lands of Western India.  If you go on up to the mountains and foothills of North-East India however, you’re in tea country - and where would we be without a nice cup of tea, eh, what!?  

And one of the biggest fans of the Cup of Brown Joy is none other than that eccentric Englishman, Professor Elemental.  So here, in a special presentation for a young gentleman called Ewan who I met over the weekend - a lad with impeccable manners and great taste I might add! - I offer you not a cup of finest Darjeeling but an altogether different brew.  Here the mad Professor and his monkey butler, Geoffrey, serve us up some “Animal Magic” - and not a Bristolian Zookeeper in sight!  Where’s Johnny Morris when you need him?

7 Animal Magic (remix) (2:43) by Professor Elemental from "More Tea" (Tea Sea Records)

Hope you enjoyed that Ewan and the rest of the Law clan from Stourport!  Ha ha! 

OK, and since that was a cauldron-full of animal magic, it’s only meet and proper that we stick with the animal connection. 

This is a piece of Brazilian Ska in praise of elephants by the band Ska Maria Pastora entitled “Hino do Elefante de Olinda”

8 Hino do Elefante de Olinda (3:31) by Ska Maria Pastora

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[CONTINUOUS]

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9 I’ve Gotta Go Home Without You (3:02) by Matty Blades

Yeah, that was “I’ve Gotta Go Home Without You” by one of my favourite antipodean remixers, Matty Blades.  

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And so we move on to talking about this week’s Espirito Brum Festival which is taking part in Birmingham from tomorrow onwards.  

One of the acts taking part is the experimental percussionist Babilak Bah.  This is from his album “Enxadario” and it’s a track called “Timbril”

10 Timbril (3:56) by Babilak Bah from "Enxadário"

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Another act taking part in the Espirito Brum Festival here in Birmingham is the samba-rock band Tabacarana.  You can catch them tomorrow at the PST Club in Digbeth.  Check the site www.espiritobrum.org for details.  This is a track called “Sambalança, Mas Não Cai”

11 Sambalança, Mas Não Cai (4:01) by Tabacarana from "Tabacarana"


[FLAVIA BITTENCOURT LIVE SET HERE!! (included Dudu Oliveira on acoustic guitar and Felipe Tauil on percussion)]

Ok, I’ve got a REAL treat for you all now!  Waiting patiently in the studio is one of the Brazilian artists who’s appearing in Birmingham - the beautiful nordestina, Flavia Bittencourt from the city of São Luís in the state of Maranhão in North-Eastern Brazil and two of her musicians.

Welcome to the show, Flavia, Bem Vindo! 

Flavia’s going to be singing live on the show in a moment to give us a taste of what she does, but first I’d like you (Flavia) to tell our listeners a bit about where you grew up in São Luiz, what it’s like there, the kinds of music you used to listen to and how you got into singing.

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Why the move from Maranhao to Rio de Janeiro?

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Your first album (“Sentido” - which means “Feeling”) came out in 2005 to great acclaim - it was nominated for a latin grammy and also for the Premio TIM de Musica.  Did you write all the songs yourself?  

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Last week on this show I played “Ex-Amor” - which I adore! - from the Sentido album and which received a lot of positive comments from my listeners after I’d played it.  To me it seemed like a cross between a Cuban rumba and a bossa - so beautiful.  

Would you like to sing us a song from the Sentido album here in the studio?

"Ex Amor": (live)

Is this your first time in the UK?  I understand that last year you went on a tour through Europe taking in Portugal, France, Italy and Belgium to promote your most recent album, “Todos Domingos” which featured pieces of music exclusively by the musician and composer, Dominguinhos. 

Can you tell us about Dominguinhos and his music, how you came to make that album, and why?

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And I think the second piece you’re going to perform live for us is from the album, “Todos Domingos”.  Can you tell us what it’s called and what it’s about?

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"Lamento Sertanejo": (live)

I believe you’re putting together your third album now. 

Can you tell us a little about that?  Who’s on it, What it’s called, how is it different from the first two albums?

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Where are you going to be performing this week in Birmingham?

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"De Volta Pra Aconchego" (live)

I’d like to thank Flavia and her musicians for coming into the studio this evening.  For details of all the events during Espirito Brum you can log onto www.espiritobrum.org and find out.

Now then, today would have been the 28th birthday of the late Amy Winehouse and to mark that, her final recording was released today - a duet with the veteran crooner, Tony Bennett, now aged 85 and still going.  The song, jazz classic “Body and Soul” was recorded in March this year at Abbey Road Studios and there’s also a video to go with it; it’s also part of an album called “Duets II” that Bennet is releasing in the US next week.  

I don’t have it, however I’m going to do my own homage to Amy via another collaboration - one she never actually made herself, yet thanks to the wonders of modern technology we can imagine! 

This is Amy Winehouse vs the Brazilian Monsueto and a track mashed together by DJ Lucio K from Brazil called “Quero Essa Mulher Assim No Good . . .”

(12) Quero Essa Mulher Assim No Good (DJ LK Mashup) (2:27) by Amy Winehouse vs Monsueto from "Amy in Brasil"

[CONTINUOUS]

(13) Bluebird (3:30) by Odjbox

You just heard a piece of electro-swing called “Bluebird” by the mixer Odjbox.

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And since I’m in a jazzy mood let’s head on down to New Orleans, the home of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and a bit of jazzy funk called “Don’t Drive Drunk”.

(14) Don’t Drive Drunk (3:19) by Dirty Dozen Brass Band from "Jazz Moods - Hot" (Columbia/Legacy)

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Now, last week I played you a track called “Balkanski Bal” in a version remixed by DJ Supersonico. 

This week I’m also going to play a track called “Balkanski Bal” - but this time a remix version by DJ Click from the version by La Caravanne Passe.  Opa! Opa!

(15) Balkanski Bal (5:35) by DJ Click / La Caravanne Passe rmx

From a piece of Balkumbian jump-up to some Balkan Mash.

In this case The Balkan Hotsteppers do their business with The Amsterdam Klezmer Band and the Beastie Boys and a track called “Triple Son”.  

Everybody on to the dancefloor!!

(16) Triple Son (Balkan Hotsteppers) (3:36) by Amsterdam Klezmer Band vs. Beastie Boys

OK that’s it.  Like to thank the luscious Flavia Bittencourt and her musicians for coming into the studio tonight and playing live for us, Tessa and the Espirito Brum crew for making it happen, and all you lot out there around the world for listening in. 

Don’t forget WorldBeatUK is on every Wednesday between 7pm and 9pm UK time - spread the word, share the link to Rhubarb Radio and let’s get the party started.  

I’m going to leave you with a bit of dancefloor madness, this is Barriobeat and “Ba-Ba-Boom Sound”!  

Good Night all!

(17) Ba-Ba-Boom Sound (2:52) by Barriobeat.

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WorldBeatUK (25th Show) - Broadcast Notes (7/9/11)

Tagged with: WorldBeatUK Glyn Phillips makossa Goy Karamelo Rey Trueno Emel Mathlouthi Aldona Po' Girl Espirito Brum Babilak Bah Tabacarana Dominguinhos Flavia Bittencourt Thornato SpokFrevo Dimapetrov Maguare Sin Fronteras chicha gaita frevo Zephyrus Bootlegumachine

WBUK 25 - SHOWNOTES

1 Intro-Mat (1:47) by Matchatcha from the album “Nyekesse” (Melodie)

You’re listening to Rhubarb Radio, I’m Glyn Phillips and this is WorldBeatUK!

Yes, welcome back to the show after a couple of week’s break whilst I’ve been on holiday.  I’m back in the driving seat now and revving up the engine ready to take you around the world in weighty grooves! 

Climb aboard and make yourself comfortable, because tonight we’re going from Cameroun to Argentina, Mexico to Tunisia and from Poland to Canada.  

We’ll be staying in the sun for quite a while in Brazil with a preview of next week’s Espirito Brum Festival and I’ll be getting you bouncing up and down in your seats to Electro-Swing, Peruvian Chicha, Gaita Colombiana, Gaita Venezolana, Cumbia Belga, Salsa, and some heavy Balkan beats!  Trust me you don’t want to miss it!

As promised first up we’re off to the West African country of Cameroon and a piece of oldschool Makossa by Epee and Koum. 

This is called “Soukoumokossa/Guy Lobé”

2 Soukoumakossa/Guy Lobé (4:17) by Epee & Koum from the album “Makossa Best of Vol. 3”

And from Cameroonian makossa to some upbeat Argentine Ska courtesy of Goy Karamelo this is called “Sale El Sol” (the sun’s come out, I feel alright)

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3 Sale El Sol (I Feel Alright) (2:50) by Goy Karamelo (Demo 2011)

Yeah, both Argentina and Mexico are full of experimentation and vibrant energy recently and this next one comes from Mexico’s Rey Trueno (King Thunder) an art collective that put on multi-media experiences. 

This sonic collage of a tune seems to take in all kinds of African influences and styles and is called “Aotole/Eutela” and is a lot of fun. 

¡Que suenan los tambores!

4 Aotole/Eutela (4:32) by Rey Trueno

OK, I’m going to mellow out the sounds now and feature three songstresses from three different continents. 

First up is a young Tunisian singer called Emel Mathlouthi and a beautiful song from her album “Helma Dream” called “Helma”.

5 Helma (4:28) by Emel Mathlouthi from the album “Helma Dream”

Hmmm.  Lovely!  And now from North Africa to Poland.  Well, France actually since our next songbird although born and brought up in Poland is now based in Paris and has allowed some of that Gallic wistfulness to seep into her music. 

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The lady in question is Aldona and this is a track from her new album (“Sonnet”) on the German Jaro Medien label. 

Aldona sings in Polish still, but the title of the track is given in English; this is a waltz entitled “Blue Birds of Blanka”

6 Blue Birds Of Blanka (4:05) by Aldona from the album “Sonnet” (Jaro Medien)

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OK, last of the lyrical ladies for a moment - although stay tuned for a couple of tunes by the beautiful Brazilian singer Flavia Bittencourt later on in the show. 

This is a Canadian band called Po’ Girl.  They take their name from the folklore of New Orleans when the women there gathered scraps of food from restaurants to make the 'Poor Girl' sandwiches for the railway strikers. 

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They’re about to arrive in the UK for a tour to promote their new album “Follow Your Bliss” and will be appearing at the Kitchen Garden Cafe in Kings Heath, Birmingham, THIS Sunday the 11th of September.  On the basis of the album I’ve got in front of me they’re well worth going to see.  This track is from the album and is called “Kathy”.

7 Kathy (4:18) by Po' Girl from the album “Follow Your Bliss”

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Yeah, the urban folk band Po’ Girl who will be appearing at the Kitchen Garden Cafe this Sunday night. 

In fact if you’re going to be at Birmingham’s Artsfest this weekend and you like beautiful female voices and good music, then check out the Yardbird jazz club on Sunday 11th at 2.30pm where you can catch the Diva Collective - three great Brummie singers, Sonia Indigo Clarke, Leonie Moore and Ola Brown backed by some great Brummie musicians: Reed Bass on bass, Leon Small on drums, Reuben James on keys, Melika QB on violin, Howard Chambers on guitar and some bloke called Glyn Phillips on Percussion - music ranging from original tracks to Billie Holiday, Gwen McRae and Soul II Soul as well as a version of Florence and the Machine’s “You Got The Love” done rockabilly style . . .  2.30-3pm on Sunday at the Yardbird if you’re interested.

Now, then time to hit the Brazilian trail for the next seven numbers or so.  Starting next week in Birmingham there’ll be a Brummie-Brazilian exchange going on as Digbeth plays host to a load of Brazilian musicians and artists (alongside some great homegrown acts of all styles - over 30 acts in all) as part of the Espirito Brum Festival which is being organised by Rhubarb Radio’s own Magpie Brown and Soesmix Eden.  

Check out the website www.espiritobrum.org - all events are only a flat £5 each which is very reasonable and there’ll also be workshops, films, foods and talks.  As I say, check out the website for more details, but I’m going to give you a little taste of the Brazilian side of things over the next few tunes.  

First up is the eclectic percussionist Babilak Bah - some very inspiring stuff indeed.

He'll be doing an experimental workshop on Saturday 17th at The Edge in Digbeth and will also be appearing at The Viva Brazil night at the PST Club on Sunday 18th alongside many other acts as well as me DJing.

This is a track from the album “Emxadario” called “Vou Me Raoni”.

8 Vou Me Raoni (2:55) by Babilak Bah from the album “Emxadário” (Sonhos & Sons)

OK, that was Babilak Bah, and here’s another act to be appearing as part of the Espirito Brum Festival, the samba-roqueiros, Tabacarana. 

You can catch them at Monalitos in Bearwood on Thursday 15th alongside other acts.  This is called “Onde Anda João Carlos?” (Where is João Carlos going?)

9 Onde Anda João Carlos? (4:54) by Tabacarana

[CONTINUOUS]

10 Toque de Pife Sem o Brasil (2:49) by Dominguinhos (Criolina re-edit)

Well, that last track was not by someone who is appearing at the Espirito Brum Festival although there is a link. 

You heard there a re-edit by the Brazilian DJ collective Criolina of a forro entitled “Toque de Pife Sem o Brasil” by the nordestino accordion player and composer, Dominguinhos.  

And the link with the festival is as follows:

the beautiful Brazilian singer, Flavia Bittencourt will be performing here in Brum at two gigs next week - I’ll give details later - and she has brought out a couple of albums to great acclaim, the most recent being entirely devoted to reinterpreting the work of the afore-mentioned Dominguinhos, entitled “Todo Domingos”.  

So to give you a flavour of that album and of the delicious Miss Bittencourt here’s a track from there called “Lamento Sertanejo” and that’s to be followed by a sublime track from her first album (“Sentido”) called “Ex-Amor”. But first “Lamento Sertanejo”

11 Lamento Sertanejo (3:48) by Flávia Bittencourt from the album “Todo Domingos” (Tratore)

[CONTINUOUS]

12 Ex-Amor (5:00) by Flávia Bittencourt from the album “Sentido” (Tratore)

[CHANGE CD!!!]

That was Flavia Bittencourt and you can hear her twice during the Espirito Brum Festival next week. The first event is taking place at Monalito’s (which is on Three Shire Oaks in Bearwood, Birmingham) on Thursday 15th and besides Flavia and her musicians the night will also feature Brazilian DJ Zappie Pimiental and myself on the decks and Tabacarana 7pm till late - and all for £5.  I’ll see you all there . . .  

Flavia will also be in the studio here on my show next week chatting and playing some unplugged songs live too, so don’t forget to tune in! 

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And if you had already forgotten who you were listening to then I’ll give you a reminder!

[You’re listening to . . .]

This is a track called “Seu Maya” - not sure who the original is but the remix is by Thornato of the Cumba Mela Collective)

(1) 13 Seu Maya (3:22) by Thornato (Cumba Mela Collective)

OK, last of the Brazilian numbers now and time to up the energy levels to kick off the half of the show. 

This is the amazing SpokFrevo Orquestra from Recife in Northeastern Brazil and a mad, million-miles-an-hour, jazzy frevo entitled “Nino o Pernambuquinho”!

(2) 14 Nino O Pernambuquinho (3:16) by Spok Frevo Orquestra from the album “Passo De Anjo” (Biscoito Fino)

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OK, we’re cooking on gas now...

So time for a little bit of Electro-Swing from Dimapetrov of St Petersburg in Russia to tickle your fancy. 

Or is it Baltic Swing and Bass? 

Hmmm.  You know, I’m “Undecided Now” . . .

(3) 15 Undecided (3:05) by Dimapetrov

[CONTINUOUS]

(4) 16 Balkanski Bal (Bucovina rmx) (3:10) by DJ Supersonico


Opa, Opa!!  That was the DJ Supersonico’s Bucovina mix of “Balkanski Bal”. 

Stay tuned for some more Balkanic madness at the end of the show. 

In the meantime I’m heading for the jungles of South America and some Peruvian Chicha from Pedro Miguel y sus Maracaibos. 

This from the album “Bonghead Peru Selections” and is called “Arroz Con Coco” (Rice and Coconut).  Güeepa! 


(5) 17 Arroz con Coco (2:12) by Pedro Miguel Y Sus Maracaibos from the album “Bongohead Peru Selections”

And if that wasn’t enough here’s a little more psychedelic chicha music. 

The band are Los Mirlos, the album is called “The Roots of Chicha: Psychedelic Cumbias from Peru” and this track is “El Milagro Verde” (The Green Miracle)

(6) 18 El Milagro Verde (2:44) by Los Mirlos from the album “The Roots of Chicha: Psychedelic Cumbias from Peru”

[CONTINUOUS]

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(7) 19 El Chicharrón (3:13) by Hermanos Castillo from the album “Con Gaita”

That was a track called “El Chicharrón” by Hermanos Castillo from the album “Con Gaita” - think that was actually a Colombian rhythm called puya underlining the gaita flutes (but I’m open to correction there if anyone knows better!).

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The word gaita refers to a number of things in Spanish including, flutes, pipes, bagpipes and a form of Colombian music. 

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It also refers to another form of music from Venezuela, very different in rhythm than to it’s Western neighbour. 

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The gaita venezolana is in ¾ time and sounds like this offering from the band Sin Fronteras(without frontiers) called “Aqui Te Traigo”(Here I bring you . . .).  Enjoy!

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(8) 20 Aqui Te Traigo (2009) (4:24) by Sin Fronteras

[CONTINUOUS]

(9) 21 Tiroteo (2:55) by New Swing Sextete from the album “Volumen 01”

Hey, that was a track called “Tiroteo” by the New Swing Sextete - sorry I don’t really have much more info about them other than that.  Classic salsa dura feel even with the vibes.  Guaranteed to get your feet moving!

Next up it’s time to “Get Busy” with DJ Supersonico and the Sistema de Sonido Urbano and his Balkan-Kumbia mashup - I’ve warned you before, just watch out for Tarzan swing through the trees! - and that’s followed very appropriately by a spot of “Jungle Fever” by Maguaré.  Are you ready?  Then Get BUSY!

(10) 22 Get Busy (3:22) by DJ Supersonico & Sistema de Sonido Urbano

[CONTINUOUS]

(11) 23 Jungle Fever (4:11) by Maguaré from the album “RetroCumbia” (Zephyrus)

Yeah, now that is one sexy, sexy tune!!  The band, Maguaré, is from Belgium but fronted by the lovely Colombian Paola Marquez and that’s called “Jungle Fever” from their album “Retro Cumbia” on the Zephyrus label from Ghent. 

That track can now be downloaded for free (as of yesterday) by going to SoundCloud and looking for “Jungle Fever”. 

Maguaré is spelled M-A-G-U-A-R-É.  That’s dedicated to La Maranguita, as is the next track.  ¡¡Ay Papi!!

(12) 24 “¡Ay Papi!" (2:36) by Unknown Artist - from the album “Mofongo Para El Alma” (Discos Mulato)

Ha ha ha!! How was that for you? Hope you enjoyed that as much as I did…

OK last number now.

[Goodbyes, shout-outs, reminders etc]

Let’s go out with a bang (missus!) this is the Bootlegumachine mashup remix of Tony Camargo’s “Año Viejo”. 

Good night to all and tune in next week for Flavia Bittencourt live on the show and a whole lot more!

(13) 25 Año Viejo (Bootlegumachine_Mashup) (5:44) by Tony Camargo (bootlegumachine re-fix)

WorldBeatUK (24th Show) - Broadcast Notes (17/8/11)

Tagged with: WorldBeatUK Glyn Phillips Makassy Fatoumata Diawara Sona Jobarteh Olefunk Orquestra Arab de Barcelona Folkincats Hurlevent Wesli Gadji-Gadjo Ravid Carles Denia Karamelo Santo Cumba Mela FestiByn DJ Supersonico Criolina Cartagena Soundways WorldMusic.co.uk

WBUK24 (17/8/11) - SHOWNOTES

1 “Intro-Mat” (1:47) by Matchatcha from the album “Nyekesse” (Melodie)

[Welcome.  Music from Colombia, The Balkans, Brazil, Argentina, Andalucia, Catalunya, Canada, Mali, Gambia and the UK.]

Going to kick off with some music from East Africa from the great Orchestra Makassy.  

This was a soukous band that originated in Kampala, Uganda with both Ugandan and Zairean musicians and later was based in Dar-es-Salaam and made up of Tanzanian and Zairean musicians including Kitenzogu "Mzee" Makassy, Mose Se "Fan Fan" Sengo, Tshimanga Assossa and Remmy Ongala.

Signing with Kenyan label AIT in the early 80s they were introduced to Virgin and recorded the album "Agwaya" in Kenya in 1982 - the first time they'd recorded each part individually rather than all at once.  

The album went out of print but has since been relicensed to ARC Records and was released in 2005 as "Orchestra Makassy - Legends of East Africa" with two extra never-been-released tracks as well.  This one's called "Zimbabwe".

2 “Zimbabwe” (5:00) by Orchestra Makassy from the album “Legends Of East Africa” (ARC)

I want to stay with Africa for the next few tracks but cross over to West Africa, to Mali, and this time a preview from a new album about to be released this September on the UKs World Circuit Records.  

This is the beautiful Malian actress and singer Fatoumata Diawara, who recently appeared at Womad and a track called "Bakonoba" from her album simply entitled "Fatou".  

3 “Bakonoba” (3:16) by Fatoumata Diawara from the album “Fatou” (World Circuit)

I’m going to return to Fatoumata Diawara in a few minutes, but first another lady who’s making waves on the seas of African music. 

I first got into African music in the late 70s and early 80s and one of the very first artists I became aware of - through the radio show of my hero Alexis Korner was Amadu Bansang Jobarteh the kora player and griot from Gambia.  The sound of the kora really resonated with me, although I had no idea what kind of instrument it was - no Google in those days folks! 

In the 90s I came across the work of Kora player Toumani Diabate through his work on the Songhai project with Scotland’s Danny Thompson and Spain’s Ketama and also heard Tunde Jegede play kora to accompany the oldest recorded story in the world - “the Tale of Gilgamesh” as recounted by Storyteller Ben Mandelson.  And now here I am listening to a new release from a member of the next generation of kora players.  

Why do I tell you all this? Well, I want to give you an idea of the illustrious pedigree of my next artist.  Kora players tend to come from one of only 10 great Griot families in West Africa (no matter which particular country or variation of spelling of their family name) and Sona Jobarteh of mixed UK and Gambian heritage can lay claim to one of the greatest.  She is the sister of Tunde Jegede of the African Classical Ensemble, the daughter of Sanjally Jobarteh, the cousin of Toumani Diabate (most recently of AfroCubism and Ali Farka Toure fame) and the proud grand-daughter of the great Amadu Bansang Jobarteh.  Kora players on the international circuit are few and far between and female ones virtually unheard of.  

Her new album, “Fasiya” (dedicated to her grandparents Amadu Bansang Jobarteh and Kumbunaa Jobarteh is released this year) is a truly beautiful work with each song featuring contributions from great musicians backing Sona.

She herself plays kora, as well as vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, nkora, udu, calabash, percussion and flute.  I think we can safely says she’s a multi-instrumentalist. 

The album mixes traditional instruments such as djembe, bugarabu, nyanyeru, balafon, sabar, dunduns, udu, Fulani flute, congas etc with drumkit and electric guitars. 

The result works really well, Sona obviously feeling very relaxed at the fulcrum of this mix. 

The album “Fasiya” (which means ‘Heritage’) is released by West African Guild Records.  This is “Bannaya”.

4 “Bannaya” (4:19) by Sona Jobarteh from the album “Fasiya” (West African Guild Records)

And talking of mixes here’s Fatoumata Diawara and a bluesy track called “Clandestin”.  She’s recorded a studio version of this track on her forthcoming album “Fatou” but this is the live version from her 4-track EP “Kanou” released earlier this year as a taster for the album. 

5 “Clandestin (live)” (4:16) by Fatoumata Diawara from the EP “Kanou” (World Circuit)

I’m loving me stylistic mixes at the moment so here’s one from the Andalucian band OleFunk who - as the name suggests - mix flamenco with music of black origin (whether it be soul or funk or jazz). 

From their eponymous album, this is “El Jardin de mi Locura” (The Garden of my Madness”).

6 “El Jardin De Mi Locura” (3:35) by Olefunk from the album “Olefunk”

Yeah, loving that.  Now, we’re going to stay in Spain for a few more numbers, but this time to a cultural mix between Catalunya in the North-East of Spain and Arab North Africa.

This is the group Orquestra Arab de Barcelona and from their album “Maktub” (on Harmonia Mundi Ibérica) a moody track entitled “Mi Tierra” (My Land”).

7 “Mi Tierra” (6:36) by Orquestra Àrab De Barcelona from the album “Maktub”

The next band are also from Catalunya in Spain but they look Northward for their inspiration to the Manouche lands of Northern Europe. 

This quartet adapt traditional Catalan songs and dances by incorporating gypsy jazz into the mix. 

This is a wonderfully laid back piece entitled “La Dama d’Aragó” from their album “Folkincats”.

8 “La Dama d’Aragó” (4:22) by Folkincats from the album “Folkincats”

Last one from Spain for a bit - although we’ll be returning to Catalunya later on in the show. 

This is OleFunk once more and a rocky/funky piece called “Para No Ir Al Infierno” (‘So as not to go to Hell’)

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9 “Para No Ir Al Infierno” (3:47) by Olefunk from the album “Olefunk”

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I’ve been playing quite a bit from Canada recently and I’m going to introduce another four artists today, starting off in a fairly traditional mode with a Quebecois folk from French-speaking Quebec province. 

This is the flute and fiddle fronted quintet Hurlevent and a lovely track called “L’Aurore du Jour”

10 “L’Aurore du Jour” (2:41) by Hurlevent from the album “Amerix Artists”

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Sticking with the French-speaking Canadian theme - here’s something not traditional quebecois! 

Originally from Haiti the award-winning Montreal-based musician Wesli is riding high at the moment. 

This is a piece of Haitian-Canadian reggae by the name of “Doudou”.

11 “Doudou” (4:19) by Wesli from the album “Amerix Artists”

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[CONTINUOUS]

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12 “Andy’s Ride” (2:36) by Kleztory from the album “Amerix Artists”

You just heard the Canadian Klezmer band, Kleztory - and a track called “Andy’s Ride”.

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And to keep in a similar mood this is the Klezmo-Tzigane sextet Gadji-Gadjo concluding my Canadian corner of the show with a sort of Jewish-Gypsy mash called “Sher Evreiskii Nardnii Tanets” (which means something, something, something ‘Dance’!)

13 “Sher Evreiskii Nardnii Tanets” (3:04) by Gadji-Gadjo from the album “Amerix Artists”


[CHANGE CDs!!!]

[Don’t forget you’re listening to WBUK . . .]

Remember this is my last programme before early September - I’ll be back on air, all things being well, on Wednesday 7th September.

I’m going to go back to Catalunya now for a couple of tracks and this one is a rather sparse but beautiful piece by the artist Ravid Goldschmidt - who left his native Israel to study the world’s newest acoustic instrument, the hang drum. 

Sounding like a sort of softer, more ethereal steel pan and played with the finger tips Ravid plays the hang accompanied on vocals by the brilliant Spanish cantaora Sílvia Pérez Cruz (who I was blessed enough to see last year with her own amazing all-female flamenco group Las Migas). 

This track is called “Loca” (Crazy)

(1) 14 “Loca” (5:19) by Ravid from the album “Ravid Hang” (QE Records)

[CONTINUOUS]

(2) 15 “Tan Alta Com Va La Lluna” (1:06) by Carles Dénia I La Nova Rimaire from the album of the same name

That was a very short Catalan track called “Tan Alta Com Va La Lluna” by Carles Dénia I La Nova Rimaire from the album of the same name, played as a contrast to the voice of Silvia Perez Cruz in the previous number.

OK change of feel and pace now. 

Time to fly over to South America now and in particular to Argentina. 

This is by Karamelo Santo who I’ve played before on the show and it’s a remix by Fede Flores of a track called “Han Matado A Un Niño” (They’ve Killed a Child).

(3) 16 “Han Matado A Un Niño (Fede Florez remix)” (4:12) by Karamelo Santo

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[CONTINUOUS]

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(4) 17 “Galinha Zabele (Tumi remix)” (2:21) by Cumba Mela Collective

That was the Cumba Mela Collective and a little slice of Brazil remixed by Tumi and entitled “Galinha Zabele”. 

And if that didn’t get you bouncing up and down in your seats, then this next one should. 

The balkan band FestiByn and a track called “Dönme Bana Sevgilim”

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(5) 18 “Dönme Bana Sevgilim” (3:16) by FestiByn from the album “FestiByn”

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Any sexy ladies in the mood for some Balkan Dancehall Mashup? 

OK, here’s DJ Supersonico and the Sistema de Sonido Urbano with “Get Busy”. 

Turn your speakers up peeps - but just watch out for Tarzan!

Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

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(6) 19 “Get Busy” (3:22) by DJ Supersonico - Sistema de Sonido Urbano

[CONTINUOUS]

(7) 20 “Lourinha Americana (Criolina Remix)” (2:48) by Criolina Remix

[CONTINUOUS]

(8) 21 “Balkanski Bal (Bucovina rmx)” (3:10) by DJ Supersonico

OK, that was three in a row.  You just heard DJ Supersonico and the Bucovina remix of “Balkanski Bal”; before that was the Criolina remix of “Lourinha Americana” and before all that DJ Supersonico and “Get Busy”.

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Don’t know about you but I fancy finishing off the show with some Old Skool Colombian dance music from the 60s and 70s - all from the great Soundways label. 

First up is El Gran Romancito Y El Super Combo Curro from the album “Cartagena!” and we’re off to “Honolulu”!!

(9) 22 “Honolulu” (4:51) by El Gran Romancito y El Super Combo Curro from the album “Cartagena!” (Soundways)

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And with the help of Michi Sarmiento y sus Bravos we’re going all the way from Honolulu to “Hong Kong” from the album “Colombia!”

(10) 23 “Hong Kong” (3:53) by Michi Sarmiento Y Sus Bravos from the album “Colombia!” (Soundways)

Last up is the Latin Brothers and from the same Soundways album “Colombia!” and a classic track - “La Patrona de los Reclusos”.

(11) 24 “Patrona De Los Reclusos” (6:13) by The Latin Brothers from the album “Colombia!” (Soundways)

WorldBeatUK (23rd Show) - Broadcast Notes (3/8/11)

Tagged with: WorldBeatUK Glyn Phillips Hossam Ramzy Samba Toure Toland Tchakounte Julaba Kunda Juldeh Camara Griselda Sanderson Hansi Hamilton Loomis Stratton Doyle Mary Anne Kennedy Maria de Fatima Julya Lo'ko Joanne Vance Dub Colossus Magic Tombolinos Ebo Taylor

 WBUK23 (3/8/11) - SHOWNOTES

1 “Intro-Mat” by (1:47) Matchatcha from the album “Nyekesse “ (Melodie)

Welcome to WorldBeatUK on Rhubarb Radio. My name’s Glyn Phillips and over the next two hours we’re going around the world in Weighty Grooves!

We’ve got: Afrobeat from Ghana, Cumbia and Gaita from Colombia, Latin Funk from Miami and Latin Rock from Ecuador.

You’ll also hear some Dub from Ethiopia, some cumbia and gaita from Colombia and some Gaelic folk-song from the Isle of Skye.

Lined up for you I’ve also got Texan Blues, Malian Blues, Mississippi Blues, Fulani Blues and Cameroonian Blues.

Devon-based Scottish-Gambian fiddlers Julaba Kunda give us advice on cattle-herding and also pen a song the Scottish Tourist Board would be proud of.

and from Amsterdam there’s Balkanic Klezmer, Portuguese Fado and Indonesian Fado . . .

I’m going to start the show off with a track from an album called “Rock The Tabla” (on the ARC Music label) that turned up on my desk last week by the world-famous Egyptian percussionist Hossam Ramzy.

If you’ve ever heard any Egyptian music there’s a huge chance that Hossam Ramzy is on it somewhere. If any producer or musician or composer wants any North African or Middle Eastern percussion putting on a tune or film soundtrack, then Hossam Ramzy is usually the first stop.

On this album though, Hossam has assembled some great percussionists and other musicians from his amongst his extensive back catalogue of worldclass artists he’s recorded for.

I got very excited when I saw names like Billy Cobham, A .R. Rahman, Manu Katché and Joji Hirota, who I thought would all be performing in some kind of supergroup.

Not quite. Hossam has recorded separate tracks with each of the main collaborators, which makes for an unbalanced album overall.

Incidentally, the name ‘tabla’ in the context of the album title refers not to the famous paired tabla drums of the Indian sub-continent but to the Egyptian tabla - which is a single-skinned goblet shaped drum elsewhere referred to as darbuka, doumbek etc).

This is just the first of many albums he plans to do like this, so without further ado I’m going to kick the show off with the opening track from this album. This is “Arabantana”.

2 “Arabantana” by (5:07) Hossam Ramzy from the album “Rock The Tabla” (ARC Music)

I’ve got quite a bluesy feel to the first part of the show this evening as I explore the musical connections between Africa, America and Europe. First of all this is a track from the 2011 album “Crocodile Blues” by the Malian guitarist Samba Touré.

Now although - to the best of my knowledge - Samba Touré is not related to the late Malian guitar master Ali Farka Toure, he does have quite a connection with Ali and his legacy. His mother used to sing with Ali many, many years ago and Samba was smitten by his groundbreaking transposition of traditional music onto guitar and taught himself to play in that new style also.

Samba was finally offered the chance to tour Europe and the USA with Ali at the end of the 90s and upon his return he formed his own band, Fondo, with whom he recorded two records for Malian distribution.

In 2010 Samba was invited by none other than Toumani Diabate to play Ali’s parts on the posthumous “Ali Farka Touré Variations Tour”. He’s been picked up by the World Music Network label and they are releasing his new album “Crocodile Blues”. This is off that and is entitled “Alabina”.

3 “Alabina” by (4:15) Samba Touré from the album “Crocodile Blues”

Roland Tchakounté, originally from Cameroon, but now resident in Paris, takes his influence from the classic American blues musicians such as John Lee Hooker and reinterprets the blues in his own way including singing in his native language Bamileke.

Tchakounte delivered a masterclass in blues guitar and stagecraft a few days ago at the Womad festival photos of which should hopefully be up on the world music website: www.worldmusic.co.uk.

This is the title track from Roland Tchakounté’s album “Blues Menessen”.

4 “Blues Menessen” by (4:50) Roland Tchakounté from the album “Blues Menessen” (Tupelo Productions)

Yeah some down-home Parisian-Cameroonian blues from Roland Tchakounté there.

Now, this next track offers us a very interesting perspective into looking at the links between Africa and Europe, links which would eventually form the blues many thousands of miles and a hundred years or more ago across the over side of the pond in America.

Regular listeners to my show will have heard me play music before by the Gambian ritti and kologo player and singer/composer Juldeh Camara - who usually is to be found next to Robert Plant’s buddy Justin Adams in the band JuJu.

However, a few weeks ago I was lucky enough to see Juldeh in a different context altogether - playing alongside a fellow fiddler at the acoustic based HOME Festival in Dartington, Devon.

This, though, was no African or American fiddler, but a Scottish fiddler from a traditional Scottish fiddling family, the lovely Griselda Sanderson. Although they come from fiddling cultures separated by three thousand miles, when they met at Dartington for the first time a few years ago, they felt an instant connection to each other’s music and traditions and so started trading ideas.

Juldeh plays the riti (also known as a nyaneru) - a fiddle made from half a gourd with but one string and no fretboard at all - the notes being made by wrapping his fingers and thumb along the stretched string.

Griselda besides playing the traditional European fiddle is also one of the few people in the UK to play the strange key-operated Swedish nyckelharpa fiddle.

The duo they formed is called Julaba Kunda which is in the Fulani language and translates as “Trading Company”. This track is from their brand-new, hot off the press album “Traders” and is a track entitled “Gainako” with Griselda on nyckelharpa, viola, violin and percussion and Juldeh on vocals and kologo (a two string plucked instrument a bit like a guitar or banjo). The song is all about cattleherding - an activity once of crucial importance in Scotland and still a lifeline in West Africa.

5 “Gainako” by (6:08) Julaba Kunda from the album “Traders” (Waulk Music)

[---CONTINUOUS---]

6 “Homework (Hansi's Fancy Hunk Edit)” by (5:57) John Lee Hooker [Hansi Remix]

You just heard Hansi remix of John Lee Hooker’s “Homework” a salutary tale of not attending to your lady’s ‘needs’(!), and before that the beautiful sound of the Caledo-Gambian duo Julaba Kunda.

OK, We’ve got one more tune in this section that deals with the African-American-European triangle of the Blues.

This is a band that I saw at the Adam & Eve, round the corner from the Rhubarb Radio studio in Digbeth, Birmingham, England, a few months ago playing an unadvertised and completely impromptu gig on their night off from touring! You can’t keep a good musician down!

Hamilton Loomis is a Texan blues guitarist, writer and bandleader (and protege of the late Bo Diddley) who with his sax player Stratton Doyle can produce a sound equivalent to an entire orchestra. When I saw him he was backed by Brum’s own Jamie Little on drums and ace-bassist Roger Innis. One of the best live gigs I’ve been to in years.

On this album called, appositely enough, “Live In England” (on Ham-Bone Records) Jamie is back behind the kit and bass duties are by Kent Beatty. However, no matter how good Loomis is on guitar (and trust me, he is amazing), this track is all about Strat Doyle’s stratospheric tenor sax playing - the man should have a government health warning slapped on him because he is single-handedly capable of blowing a hole through the ozone layer! This live track is called “Pull Strings”.

7 “Pull String” by (4:46) Hamilton Loomis from the album “Live in England” (Ham-Bone Records)

That was Texan Hamilton Loomis  from "Live in England" and now from over the pond to over the border - in this case not Mexico but Scotland - well, kind of, via Devon and the Gambia really.

We return to Julaba Kunda the duo formed by Gambia’s Juldeh Camara and Scotland’s Griselda Sanderson.

This is another track from their new album, “Traders”.

Juldeh plays the kologo and also the ritti or one string-fiddle as well as singing, whilst Griselda plays fiddle, viola and Hammond organ. The song’s called “Scotland”.

As Griselda says: “The land, its people and their music are inextricably linked. To me, a reel is a rocky path, a jig a rushing burn and a strathspey a great glen.”

As Juldeh’s lyrics say: “Beautiful Girl, pretty and sweet, you are so lovely. Please come to me! Your beauty is God’s creation, just like the mountains of Scotland.”

8 “Scotland” by (6:10) Julaba Kunda from the album “Traders” (Waulk Music)

[staying in Scotland - over the sea to Skye; Mary Ann Kennedy - the book, CD; R3 stage Womad, etc]

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9 “Ceud Soraidh, Ceud Slainte” by (4:22) The Campbells from the album “Tha Mi'n Duil” (Watercolour Music)

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[beauty of the human voice - here’s another - fado]

10 “Aforma De Querer E Ser Amada” by (3:01) Maria De Fátima from the album “Maria de Fátima Live” (Right Notes 2010 - RN1001)

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[if you thought that was beautiful take a listen to this - Indonesian - dutch based songstress - need more info on this]

11 “Tembang Pahlawan” by (5:28) Julya Lo'ko & Erwin Van Ligten from the album “Krongcong Baru” (Little Wing 004)

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[a little slice of Paradise - name of the next song - mention Joanne and the scholarship]

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12 “Paraíso” by (4:00) Joanne Vance from the album “Silencios Incómodos”

[CHANGE THE CD HERE!!]

[from Paradise to the crazy streets of Addis Ababa - mention Dub Colossus at Womad - how good it was - my interview with Nick Page (Dubulah) and Mykael Riley and PJ Higgins etc]

(1) 13 “Guragigna” by (5:15) Dub Colossus from the album “Addis Through The Looking Glass” (Real World Records)

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[from the Ethiopian highlands to the desert lands in this case those around Stoke Newington in London - Tombolinos and Womad and Home and Desert Rain - bit of sub-Balkanic madness]

(2) 14 “Desert Rain” by (3:06) The Magic Tombolinos from the album “Full Attack With Sudden Defenses” (International Records)

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[More Balkanic fun here - this time from AKB]

(3) 15 “Marusja” by (4:54) Amsterdam Klezmer Band from the album “Katla” (Essay Recordings)

[Womad and Ebo]

(4) 16 “Love And Death” by (8:20) Ebo Taylor & Uhuru-Yenzu from the album “Life Stories - Highlife & Afrobeat Classics 1973-1980” (Strut)

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[---CONTINUOUS---]

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(5) 17 “Campanario 64” by (6:32) The Spam Allstars from the album “Introducing Spam Allstars” (World Music Network)

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[about the Spams - keeping in a latin mood but old school for last two - Colombia! on Soundway]

(6) 18 “Las Calenas Son Como Los Flores” by (3:56) The Latin Brothers from the album “Colombia!” (Soundway CD008)

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[and to finish some more flowers - my all-time favourite gaita: the Gaita of the Flowers!]

(7) 19 “Gaita De Las Flores” by (2:52) Lucho Bermúdez from the album “Colombia!” (Soundway CD008)

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