May 27, 2020

Tony Allen, 1940-2020

First of all, it's great to be back on Global A Go-Go after hiding out from Covid-19 for 2-1/2 months.  Thank you to Eric Godsey for filling in for me during that time -- you can now check Eric out every other Tuesday morning between 6 and 8 AM on WRIR's Tuesday Morning Breakfast Blend, where he shares the time slot with Georgie Isaacs.

For my return, I'd like to start with a program in tribute to the great Nigerian drummer Tony Allen, who passed away on April 30.  He's one of my favorite musicians of all time in any genre: a drummer whose effortlessly cool style both defined and transcended Afrobeat, the genre of music he essentially co-invented alongside Fela Kuti.

On this week's program (Monday June 1, 3:00-5:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards at wrir.org/listen, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site) you'll hear two hours of Tony Allen's drumming from all seven decades of his career.   We'll range from his early days with Fela in the Koola Lobitos and the legendary Afrika 70, to his solo career, his electronica experiments, his many collaborations and the new album he just released in March with Hugh Masakela.

May 25, 2020

Charts May 16-22, 2020

WRIR's NACC World Top Ten
1 DZAMBO AGUSEVI ORCHESTRA | Brasses For The Masses | Asphalt Tango
2 GUASA, CUNUNO Y MARIMBA: AFRO-COLOMBIAN MUSIC FROM THE PACIFIC COAST | various artists | Vampisoul
3 MDOU MOCTAR | "Ibitlan" b/w "Tiknass (Sunbone)" [Single] | Sahel Sounds
4 WUTA MAYI | La Face Cachee | Sterns
5 BEBEL GILBERTO | Agora [Advance Tracks] | PIAS
6 OLAMINA AND AWARENESS | Back To The Mission | Love City
7 SILVERY BOYS, THE | The Silvery Boys | Vampisoul
8 GROUPE RTD | The Dancing Devils Of Djibouti [Advance Tracks] | Ostinato
9 NICO GOMEZ AND HIS AFRO-PERCUSSION INC | "Baila Chibiquiban" [Single] | Matasuna
10 GREGORY ISAACS | "Babylon Too Rough" [Single] | 17 North Parade

May 17, 2020

Charts May 9-15, 2020

WRIR's NACC World Top Ten
1 FALLE NIOKE AND GHOST CULTURE | "Barke" [Single] | PRAH
2 SANTROFI | Alewa | Out Here
3 FADHILEE ITULYA | Kwetu | Naxos World
4 LADAMA | "Nobreza" [Single] | Six Degrees
5 FRANCK BIYONG FEAT CRISTINA VIOLLE | Trouble [EP] | Hot Casa
6 K FRIMPONG AND SUPER COMPLEX SOUNDS | Ahyewa Special | Hot Casa
7 TIDIANE THIAM | Siftorde | Sahel Sounds
8 KENYATTA HILL AND CULTURE | "Free Africa" [Single] | Rockers Artist Agency
9 BUSCABULLA | Regresa | Ribbon
10 ARCHIVES, THE | Carry Me Home [Advance Tracks] | Montserrat House

May 10, 2020

Charts May 2-8, 2020

WRIR's NACC World Top Ten
1 DZAMBO AGUSEVI ORCHESTRA | Brasses For The Masses | Asphalt Tango
2 BAMBA WASSOULOU GROOVE | Dankele | Lusafrica
3 THIEVERY CORPORATION | Symphonik | ESL
4 JEICH OULD BALDU | Music From Saharan WhatsApp 03 [EP] | Sahel Sounds
5 SILVERY BOYS, THE | The Silvery Boys | Vampisoul
6 LAKOU MIZIK | HaitiaNola | Cumbancha
7 ALBOROSIE | "Unprecedented Time" [Single] | VP
8 SANTROFI | Alewa | Out Here
9 BETO JAMAICA | Rey De Mi Folklor: Vallenato Y Cumbia Colombiana | OM Producciones
10 EVRITIKI ZYGIA | Ormenion | Teranga Beat

May 4, 2020

Charts Apr 25 - May 1, 2020

WRIR's NACC World Top Ten
1 ANTIBALAS | Fu Chronicles | Daptone
2 DAVID WALTERS | Soleil Kreyol | Heavenly Sweetness
3 LAKOU MIZIK | HaitiaNola | Cumbancha
4 KOKOROKO | "Carry Me Home" [Single] | Brownswood
5 OMAR | The Anthology | Freestyle
6 CALIBRO 35 | Momentum | Record Kicks
7 FRANCK BIYONG FEAT CRISTINA VIOLLE | Trouble [EP] | Hot Casa
8 WU FEI AND ABIGAIL WASHBURN | Wu Fei & Abigail Washburn | Smithsonian Folkways
9 K FRIMPONG AND SUPER COMPLEX SOUNDS | Ahyewa Special | Hot Casa
10 ORCHESTRA GOLD | "Lemuru" [Single] | self-released