World Music

A Festival of Serious Fun Awaits You In New Haven

Posted by Musicofourheart on March 28, 2012
Posted in: Festival, Music, World Music. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 2 comments

Fest2012_MainPage

Last night we attended the International Festival of Arts and Ideas season preview which is scheduled to take place June 16-30, 2012 all around New Haven. New Haven continues to figure prominently in my world music consciousness.  I minored in music at the University of New Haven in the early 70s. Many of my music professors were graduates of the prestigious Wesleyan University world music program.

This blog post will highlight the major music events announced that interested us. Please note the entire schedule of events which features 900 artists from 17 countries will be available at the end of April on the  official International Festival of Arts and Ideas Web site.

The music events have two major themes. The Music At Dusk series is a paid ticket. This series will be held at the Morse Recital Hall in Sprague Hall at the Yale School of Music. The music event that intrigues is 34 Punaladas an Argentine tango guitar quartet. They sound delightful and fresh.

The other major theme will be the free concerts, Headliners on the New Haven Green. We have been to several free concerts at this picturesque, historic setting. Its fun to bring a picnic basket, chairs and a blanket as you listen to live music in the fresh open air.

The free concerts we contemplate are:

  1. Asphalt Orchestra – June 17  (7 pm)- I love their rendition of Frank Zappa’s Zomby Woof
  2. The Carolina Chocolate Drops - June 23 (7 pm)
  3. Red Baraat & Noori – June 24 (7 pm) – Red Baraat is a fiery blend of raucous Indian bhangra combined with funky New Orleans brass. 
  4. Roseanne Cash – June 30 (7 pm) – I am excited that Roseanne Cash will perform The List, a paean to her father, Johnny Cash.
Now that the Litchfield Jazz Festival and the International Festival of Arts and Ideas plans are announced, I have one more 17th annual Connecticut music festival to learn about :)  Monday, April 2nd the line up for the Gathering of the Vibes festival in Bridgeport, Ct will be unveiled. Then I will be able to author my, “How I spent my summer music vacation” paper for back to school in the fall ;)
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Kitaro – Mizu Ni Inori Te

Posted by Musicofourheart on July 14, 2011
Posted in: Music, World Music. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a Comment

Kitaro_Mizu_ni_Inori_te_small.jpg

Information Source for this blog post is the Domo Music Group News Blog (see Domocast.tv link below).

Used with kind permission for sharing with music listeners the express information about the latest digital Kitaro import available on iTunes, Mizu Ni Inori Te. (Originally released in 2002 in Japan).

DOMOCAST.tv

Track List
1. Mizu ni Inori Te ＊unreleased
2. The Light of the Spirit
3. Stream
4. Shizuku no Mai ＊unreleased
5. Nagare no Naka de
6. Voice of the Wind ＊unreleased
7. Theme from Silk Road

About Mizu Ni Inori Te

Japanese nationwide TV featured Kitaro for their famous documentary series about professionals from various different fields. In the TV program, Kitaro had explored Nagara-gawa (one of the biggest rivers in Japan) from its source to both “Pacific Ocean” and “Sea Of Japan” and built his images to create songs which were played in the program. After the on-air, they were flooded with inquiries about songs. This led them to produce the album including 3 unreleased songs. Kitaro shows the appreciation for nature by expressing both magnificent flow and dynamism of nature as it is.

Kitaro:


We have the eternal circulation of nature since the Mother earth was born. Rain falls in the mountain and the river flows to the ocean, where ocean water evaporates and goes back to the mountains. We live in the world of circulation. We need a better understanding of not taking for granted of Mother Nature’s gift to us.

Every Sunday Mornin, Ya Hear Them Ol Ladies Singin!!

Posted by Musicofourheart on June 26, 2011
Posted in: Music Video, World Music. Tagged: , , , , . 1 comment

I am on a perpetual quest for new music influences. This morning I discovered a very intriguing sound that is infectious and raucous, “Chutney Soca” music.

According to Wikipedia, chutney soca music is  a crossover style of music incorporating Soca elements and Hindi-English lyrics, Chutney music, with Indian instruments like the dholak and dhantal. I must admit its very dance-able and moves ya good ;)

I happened upon this world music sound by reading the NY Times Music section this morning. Jon Caramanica’s article, Sounds of Summer: Feisty, Moody, Chutney put me on to this incredulously fun music. Thanks Jon, you’re an insightful music writer.

Watch these two videos from Chutney Soca Music Monarch, Rikki Jai and tell me they’re not fun or producing a great groove ;)

Sudan 365 – The Beat Continues

Posted by Musicofourheart on March 28, 2011
Posted in: Activism, Uncategorized, World Music. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . 1 comment

Keep this drumming circle going. Help the people of North and South Sudan.

Sudan365 is a year of campaigning for Sudan. It has been organized by a coalition of groups including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Save Darfur, FIDH, Refugees International, Darfur Consortium and Arab Coalition for Darfur.

More info at http://www.sudan365.org/

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A Renewed Paul Simon

Posted by Musicofourheart on March 21, 2011
Posted in: Singer, Songwriter, World Music. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . 1 comment

Paul Simon has been showing up ever stronger on my music radar screen lately. I was enthralled to learn that he was doing a small venue tour this spring. I snapped up tickets for us to see him at Foxwoods Casino MGM Grand Theatre on May 29.

Paul Simon is readying for his new album release, So Beautiful or So What, it’s scheduled to drop on April 12th. His tour commences April 15th in Seattle, Washington. Paul Simon is scheduled to appear two nights in a row on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, April 6th and April 7th.  Bruce Springsteen and The Rolling Stones leveraged Jimmy Fallon’s show for their respective boxed set recordings.

Paul Simon is an artist on Hear Music, the joint music venture between Starbucks and Concord Music Group.

Produced by Phil Ramone and Paul Simon, with liner notes written by Elvis Costello, So Beautiful or So What is one of the most highly anticipated albums of the year. Rolling Stone magazine recently declared it, “His best since Graceland,” and National Public Radio affirmed, “…his new music balances great poetry and pop. Paul Simon is a national treasure.” In their current issue, Filter Magazine calls the new album, “…a new masterpiece from the Picasso of music.” (This paragraph is courtesy of the Paul Simon Website).

Two tracks are available for listening from So Beautiful or So What. “Getting Ready for Christmas Day” and “The Afterlife”. They offer strong hints at what the rest of this indie record has in store for us. Paul Simon self-financed the recording sessions. I am openly receptive to his meticulous songwriting talent. I can’t wait to embrace the new sounds and experiences that await our senses.

Paul Simon’s solo recordings are the highlight of my music collection. Paul Simon, There Goes Rhymin Simon & Graceland embody some of the finest songs and melodies known to modern music. Something tells me So Beautiful or So What compliments and embellishes his work to a new nth degree.

Guitar Heroes, Legendary Craftsmen from Italy to New York – Metropolitan Museum of Art

Posted by Musicofourheart on February 23, 2011
Posted in: Exhibit, Guitar, Uncategorized, World Music. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . 1 comment

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has a breathtaking exhibit on display for those who love guitars. Guitar Heroes,  Legendary Craftsmen from Italy to New York is viewable from February 9th – July 4th, 2011. Read the NY Times review to learn more.

I think its time we get that museum membership and get down to the Museum Mile to experience this well crafted and curated exhibit.

Guitar Heroes New Yorker Model Poster

Taj Mahal and Los Lobos at The Klein 2/19/11

Posted by Musicofourheart on February 20, 2011
Posted in: Concert, Music, Uncategorized, World Music. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment

We are subscribers to The Fairfield Theatre Company who produce and deliver quality concerts in our local market. Last night we attended the Taj Mahal and Los Lobos event at The Klein Memorial Auditorium in Bridgeport, Ct.

The Fairfield Theatre Company is a true class act. They e-mail you an evening guide that informs you about the specifics and logistics for the event. The guide shares a listing of local restaurants that offer discounts to ticket holders.

We appreciate value-add features like the FTC Evening Guide in addition to the first-rate acts they book and promote. We will be attending the last tour of The Radiators at Stage One in Fairfield on Saturday, February 26th.

It was really good to see the Taj Mahal Trio perform. Taj Mahal has a very immediate style and epitomizes the blues with his unique voice. He took the stage with his trio and went right to work playing f without being announced. I found that method very engaging. His set was a great combination of the blues and world music. He was ably backed by Bill Rich on bass and Kester Smith on the drums .

Taj played my favorite song of his, “Fishing Blues” with great aplomb. He mentioned fishing for blues and stripers in the Hous (short for the Housatonic River) and the place went nuts. It was a great tip of the hat to our local fishing business, as Taj is a world-class sports fishing professional.

Los Lobos, from East L.A. took the stage next and started their set acoustically playing acoustic songs from Acoustic En Vivo. They played Rosemary and my personal favorite track, “Saint Behind The Glass” magnificently. I have seen Los Lobos eight times in concert now and I must admit they are always exciting, creative with their music.

Their set was a mixed potpourri of their musical catalog. Cesar Rojas led us through “Yo Canto” which is a very danceable number.

Their regular drummer Cougar Estrada couldn’t join them on this tour as his wife is close to having their baby. David Hidalgo’s son (who is also the Los Lobos guitar roadie), David Hidalgo Jr. sat in on the drums. Louie Perez also drummed on two numbers as well.

This was the first concert I could hear Steve Berlin the best on keyboards and saxophone. I like how Steve accent’s Los Lobos sound with his riffs.

David Hidalgo played a Gold Les Paul Gibson and played the accordion on several songs. I find when Los Lobos plays songs that express their musical heritage, sung in Spanish I get a chill. They command my immediate respect as their music shows their culture.

The encore was a special treat as Los Lobos invited Taj Mahal to jam with them and jam he/they did. A fellow fan, Frederick Matt shot this video from the second row in front of me last night. It captures the spontaneity of Taj with Los Lobos singing “Lucille” by Little Richard. They ended their three song encore with “Guantanamera” which featured bassist Conrad Lozano on lead vocal.

I also wanted to share the art piece we have hanging in our foyer that Los Lobos signed for us last summer in New Haven after their concert on the green. Ain’t it cool, it was Rosemary’s idea to have them all sign this kerchief after the show.

World Music and Wesleyan University, Daily Post 2011 #8

Posted by Musicofourheart on January 8, 2011
Posted in: Activism, Blues, World Music. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment

“When I think back
On all the crap I learned in high school

It’s a wonder
I can think at all

And though my lack of education
Hasn’t hurt me none

I can read the writing on the wall“

“Kodachrome”  - Lyrics by Paul Simon, Copyright 1972, Paul Simon Music

High school didn’t teach me very much. College was the real education, especially when I minored in music at the University of New Haven, from September 1972 – June 1974. I was exposed to audio experiences from music professors who were graduates of Wesleyan University‘s World Music program. Their knowledge of world music sounds, cultures and instruments expanded my horizons in ways I never imagined before.  I took courses on the music of the Far East, where we studied such countries as India, China, Tibet, Bali and Japan. We studied Black Music, diving deep into the eras of jazz, deciphering John Coltrane and gaining a full appreciation for Miles Davis. We studied the music of Africa and its relationship with American blues and jazz.  My favorite book we discussed and read was Savannah Syncopators: African retention in the blues by Paul Oliver . We also studied the music of Europe, especially the music of the gypsies and Django Reinhardt.

The term “world music” was coined in the 1960′s at Wesleyan University by ethnomusicologist Robert E. Brown.Robert E. Brown, who passed away in 2005, was one of the first students to receive a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology from University of California Los Angeles. He was appointed assistant professor in Wesleyan’s Music Department in 1961 and joined the tenured ranks of the faculty in 1966. He introduced Carnatic (South Indian) music to Wesleyan.

Brown wrote that he: “… invented the term ‘world music’ … to avoid using … ‘ethnomusicology’ for a new graduate program we were cooking up, and to emphasize music and music performance as the core of the program, as opposed to musicological research.” (Robert Brown, letter to the editor, “His fault,” Folk Roots (208 Oct. 2000), 1-2.).

I also had Paul Simon to thank as he championed world music in exciting, innovative ways.  Simon’s relationship with world music began with  Bridge Over Troubled Water, which featured an Andean song called el Condor Pasa.  Then in 1972, when his first solo album Paul Simon was released he created the reggae influenced hit, “Mother and Child Reunion”. He continued on that path by adding layers, textures and world music influences by recording much of Graceland in South Africa.

Paul Simon continued to imbue world music cultures into his music, for example he moved on to the music of Brazil with The Rhythm of the Saints recording.

Another famous Wesleyan graduate, John Perry Barlow has worked with Gilberto Gil, Brazil’s Minister of Culture to create an online music archive to catalog all the music of Brazil. It is an open source initiative that I heartily embrace as it will make all the music available for free download.