ARTIST: Terakaft
TITLE: Alone
LABEL: Out|Here
The musical style from the Sahara Desert region commonly called desert blues (the Tamasheq locals themselves simply call it la guitare) has been around long enough now to have sub-genres and trends.
August 25, 2015
Program August 26, 2015
Moldova is one of the newest (formed in 1991), smallest (population of 3 million) and poorest (per capita GDP of $5,000) countries in Europe. Squeezed between Romania and Ukraine in eastern Europe, it's where Russian and Romanian cultures collide.
My friend Vlad Cuiujuclu is a native of Moldova, which celebrates its 24th birthday on August 27 (the country's only a little bit older than Vlad is). On this week's program, Vlad and I will play two hours of music from Moldova for your entertainment and edification. You'll hear Roma-influenced sounds, jazz, punk rock and all things in between. Plus a viral sensation you'll certainly know.
My friend Vlad Cuiujuclu is a native of Moldova, which celebrates its 24th birthday on August 27 (the country's only a little bit older than Vlad is). On this week's program, Vlad and I will play two hours of music from Moldova for your entertainment and edification. You'll hear Roma-influenced sounds, jazz, punk rock and all things in between. Plus a viral sensation you'll certainly know.
August 24, 2015
Charts August 23, 2015
1 SPANGLISH FLY | New York Boogaloo | Chaco World
2 ZEDASHE | Our Earth And Water | Living Roots Music
3 TROMBORANGA | Golpe Con Melodia | self-released
4 QUARTER STREET | Quarter Street | HopeStreet
5 AMADOU BALAKE | In Conclusion | Sterns
6 PAT THOMAS AND THE KWASHIBU AREA BAND | Pat Thomas And Kwashibu Area Band | Strut
7 BRIAN CHILALA AND NGOMA ZASU | Vangaza! | SWP
8 AMARA TOURE | 1973-1980 | Analog Africa
9 LES AMBASSADEURS | Rebirth | World Village
10 FLAVIA COELHO | Mundo Meu | Mr Bongo
August 18, 2015
Program August 19, 2015
We'll get started this week with full-throated singing from Western Asia and Eastern Europe, from the former Soviet Union. Zedashe (pictured above) is nine-person vocal and dance ensemble from the republic of Georgia. They have a bit of a Richmond connection, they'll be playing here in October at the Folk Festival and live on Global A Go-Go, and their eighth album will be released on September 18.
August 17, 2015
Zedashe | Our Earth And Water
ARTIST: Zedashe
TITLE: Our Earth And Water
LABEL: Living Roots Music
Zedashe is a nine-person vocal and dance ensemble from the republic of Georgia, between the Black and Caspian Seas in western Asia.
TITLE: Our Earth And Water
LABEL: Living Roots Music
Zedashe is a nine-person vocal and dance ensemble from the republic of Georgia, between the Black and Caspian Seas in western Asia.
Charts August 16, 2015
WRIR's CMJ New World Top Ten
1 CHICO TRUJILLO | Reina De Todas Las Fiestas | Barbes
2 NOZINJA | Lodge | Warp
3 AMADOU BALAKE | In Conclusion | Sterns
4 WESTERN STANDARD TIME | A Big Band Tribute To The Skatalites, Vol. 2 | self-released
5 BOMBA ESTEREO | Amanecer | Sony Music Latin
6 VARIOUS ARTISTS | The Rough Guide To Psychedelic Cumbia | World Music Network
7 VARIOUS ARTISTS | Big Box Of Afrosound | Vampisoul
8 LETTA MBULU | In The Music The Village Never Ends | Be With
9 MORGAN HERITAGE | Strictly Roots | CTBC
10 MAZHAR VE FUAT | Turkuz Turku Cagiririz | Shadoks Music
1 CHICO TRUJILLO | Reina De Todas Las Fiestas | Barbes
2 NOZINJA | Lodge | Warp
3 AMADOU BALAKE | In Conclusion | Sterns
4 WESTERN STANDARD TIME | A Big Band Tribute To The Skatalites, Vol. 2 | self-released
5 BOMBA ESTEREO | Amanecer | Sony Music Latin
6 VARIOUS ARTISTS | The Rough Guide To Psychedelic Cumbia | World Music Network
7 VARIOUS ARTISTS | Big Box Of Afrosound | Vampisoul
8 LETTA MBULU | In The Music The Village Never Ends | Be With
9 MORGAN HERITAGE | Strictly Roots | CTBC
10 MAZHAR VE FUAT | Turkuz Turku Cagiririz | Shadoks Music
August 11, 2015
Program August 12, 2015
Shangaan electro is the traditional sound of Limpopo in northeastern South Africa, given a 21st century, Afro-futurist Soweto twist. It's an urban dance music that's fast, funny, funky and folkloric all at the same time -- you'll hear a set of it on this week's program.
Also this week: it's cumbia time again, this time from WRIR's new music shelf; rocksteady and roots reggae; and an excursion into Cosmic Slop territory.
Also this week: it's cumbia time again, this time from WRIR's new music shelf; rocksteady and roots reggae; and an excursion into Cosmic Slop territory.
August 10, 2015
Charts August 9, 2015
WRIR's CMJ New World Top Ten
1 LILA DOWNS | Balas Y Chocolate | Sony Music Latin
2 MAZHAR VE FUAT | Turkuz Turku Cagiririz | Shadoks Music
3 QUARTER STREET | Quarter Street | HopeStreet
4 TROMBORANGA | Golpe Con Melodia | self-released
5 SK KAKRABA | Songs Of Paapieye | Awesome Tapes From Africa
6 RANA SANTACRUZ | Por Ahi | Chicavasco
7 CHICO TRUJILLO | Reina De Todas Las Fiestas | Barbes
8 LETTA MBULU | In The Music The Village Never Ends | Be With
9 OLA FRESCA | Elixir | PiPiKi
10 MORGAN HERITAGE | Strictly Roots | CTBC
1 LILA DOWNS | Balas Y Chocolate | Sony Music Latin
2 MAZHAR VE FUAT | Turkuz Turku Cagiririz | Shadoks Music
3 QUARTER STREET | Quarter Street | HopeStreet
4 TROMBORANGA | Golpe Con Melodia | self-released
5 SK KAKRABA | Songs Of Paapieye | Awesome Tapes From Africa
6 RANA SANTACRUZ | Por Ahi | Chicavasco
7 CHICO TRUJILLO | Reina De Todas Las Fiestas | Barbes
8 LETTA MBULU | In The Music The Village Never Ends | Be With
9 OLA FRESCA | Elixir | PiPiKi
10 MORGAN HERITAGE | Strictly Roots | CTBC
August 9, 2015
August 2015 Concert Calendar
August's Global A Go-Go picks:
Click "Read more" to see the entire August calendar.
- The legendary Los Van Van of Cuba (pictured above) celebrate their 45th anniversary and a new era of USA-Cuban relations with an American tour that stops at DC's Howard Theatre on Friday August 7
- Fado Nosso, Richmond's only Portuguese fado combo, continues their summer residency at Crossroads Coffee & Ice Cream on Thursday August 20
Click "Read more" to see the entire August calendar.
August 5, 2015
SK Kakraba | Songs Of Paapieye
ARTIST: SK Kakraba
TITLE: Songs Of Paapieye
LABEL: Awesome Tapes From Africa
SK Kakraba is a young virtuoso of the gyil, a tuned percussion instrument related to balafon and marimba that’s native to northern Ghana.
TITLE: Songs Of Paapieye
LABEL: Awesome Tapes From Africa
SK Kakraba is a young virtuoso of the gyil, a tuned percussion instrument related to balafon and marimba that’s native to northern Ghana.
Quarter Street | Quarter Street
ARTIST: Quarter Street
TITLE: Quarter Street
LABEL: HopeStreet
Salsa is one of New York City’s contributions to world music, but it stopped being a New York-only thing a long time ago. Nowadays the global capital of salsa is undoubtedly Cali, Colombia, and you can find world-class orquestas in the most unlikely locales.
TITLE: Quarter Street
LABEL: HopeStreet
Salsa is one of New York City’s contributions to world music, but it stopped being a New York-only thing a long time ago. Nowadays the global capital of salsa is undoubtedly Cali, Colombia, and you can find world-class orquestas in the most unlikely locales.
Tromboranga | Golpe Con Melodia
ARTIST: Tromboranga
TITLE: Golpe Con Melodia
LABEL: self-released
Speaking of salsa expatriates (see my review of Quarter Street above), here’s the fifth album by Tromboranga, the Barcelona-based orchestra whose members hail from far and wide: Venezuela, Cuba, Peru, Spain, Colombia, England and Catalonia are all represented in this UN General Assembly of a band.
TITLE: Golpe Con Melodia
LABEL: self-released
Speaking of salsa expatriates (see my review of Quarter Street above), here’s the fifth album by Tromboranga, the Barcelona-based orchestra whose members hail from far and wide: Venezuela, Cuba, Peru, Spain, Colombia, England and Catalonia are all represented in this UN General Assembly of a band.
August 4, 2015
Program August 5, 2015
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Photo by Jim Newberry |
It's built and played by members of Ghana's Lobi ethnic group like SK Kakraba (pictured above), who now lives in Los Angeles and has a new solo album coming out in October on the Awesome Tapes From Africa label. You'll hear the earthy, trippy sound of SK Kakraba's gyil on this week's program.
Also this week: Richard Thompson's Turkish connection; new salsa from Australia and Spain; and singer-songwriters en espanol.
August 3, 2015
Charts August 2, 2015
WRIR's CMJ New World Top Ten
1 AMADOU BALAKE | In Conclusion | Sterns
2 PAT THOMAS AND THE KWASHIBU AREA BAND | Pat Thomas And Kwashibu Area Band | Strut
3 BRIAN CHILALA AND NGOMA ZASU | Vangaza! | SWP
4 QUARTER STREET | Quarter Street | Hope Street
5 WESTERN STANDARD TIME | A Big Band Tribute To The Skatalites, Vol. 2 | self-released
6 BOMBA ESTEREO | Amanecer | Sony Music Latin
7 AMARA TOURE | 1973-1980 | Analog Africa
8 NOZINJA | Lodge | Warp
9 LILA DOWNS | Balas Y Chocolate | Sony Music Latin
10 RANA SANTACRUZ | Por Ahi | Chicavasco
1 AMADOU BALAKE | In Conclusion | Sterns
2 PAT THOMAS AND THE KWASHIBU AREA BAND | Pat Thomas And Kwashibu Area Band | Strut
3 BRIAN CHILALA AND NGOMA ZASU | Vangaza! | SWP
4 QUARTER STREET | Quarter Street | Hope Street
5 WESTERN STANDARD TIME | A Big Band Tribute To The Skatalites, Vol. 2 | self-released
6 BOMBA ESTEREO | Amanecer | Sony Music Latin
7 AMARA TOURE | 1973-1980 | Analog Africa
8 NOZINJA | Lodge | Warp
9 LILA DOWNS | Balas Y Chocolate | Sony Music Latin
10 RANA SANTACRUZ | Por Ahi | Chicavasco
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