September 5, 2020

Shebeen queen

Vusi Mahlasela's grandmother Ida ran a shebeen (an illegal tavern or what Americans might call a speakeasy) in South Africa's Mamelodi township, outside of Pretoria.  She home-brewed beer and made a place for the township's residents to gather after another day's hard labor.

Ida's grandson went on to become an internationally successful musician, albeit one who still lives in Mamelodi.  As a tribute to the woman who "was and still is my greatest hero," Vusi threw a big party on the street where Ida's shebeen used to be and performed a night of the music he used to hear there.

That's the story behind Vusi's new live album Shebeen Queen.  You'll hear a track from it this week on Global A Go-Go, along with some of the township sounds of that era: mbaqanga and soul jive.

Also this week (Labor Day Monday September 7, 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): Jamaica's rockers-steppers sound, a healthy dose of Turkish psychedelia featuring the electric baglama saz, quick visits to three Lusophone countries, a set of Ethio-jazz and dance music therapy from Colombia.

Podcast: radio4all.net/index.php/program/106552
All the podcasts: radio4all.net/index.php/series/Global+A+Go-Go


Artist | Country | Song | Recording | Label | Year

Oliver Lake | USA | Separation | Matador Of 1st & 1st | Passin' Thru | 1997
Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros | England UK | Global A Go-Go | Global A Go-Go | Hellcat | 2001

Keith Hudson | Jamaica | Nuh Skin Up | Nuh Skin Up - single | Greensleeves | 1979
Black Uhuru | Jamaica | Vampire | Sinsemilla | Mango | 1980
Chezidek | Jamaica | Inna Dem Eye | Hello Africa | Tad's | 2020

Seyhan Karabay | Turkey | Nem Kaldi | Kardaslar | Arsivplak | 197x
Akbaba Ikilisi | Turkey | Darildim Darildim | Uzelli Electro Saz | Uzelli | 1983
Zor Beyler | Turkey | Gozumdeki Yaslar | Gozumdeki Yaslar | Uzelli | 1982
Umut Adan | Turkey-Italy | Bembeyaz Cananim | Bahar | Riverboat | 2019

Udokotela Shange Namajaha | South Africa | Awungilobolele | The Indestructible Beat Of Soweto: Zulu Jive Volume 2 | Shanachie | 1985
The Shoe Laces | South Africa | Udakwa Njalo | Isitha Somuntu | Black Hi-Lites | 1981
Sons Of Thunder | South Africa | Uzozizwela | Uzozizwela - single | Fire | 1978
Vusi Mahlasela | South Africa | Umculo | Shebeen Queen | ATO | 2020
Amagugu | South Africa | Ngiyintandane | We Shobane | Beat City | 1979

Junip | Sweden | Oba, La Vem Ela | Brazilian Beats 7 | Mr Bongo | 2013
Chalo Correia | Angola | Kudihohola | Kudihohola / Chercher Crioula - single | Matasuna | 2020
Pedrinho | Cabo Verde | Nanda | Nhos Dexa De Conta Mintira | Iefe Discos | 1983

The Budos Band | USA | Origin Of Man | II | Daptone | 2007
Afro-Zen Allstars | RVA USA | Dewel | unreleased | 2019
Mulatu Astatke & Black Jesus Experience | Ethiopia-Australia | Kulun Mankwaleshi | To Know Without Knowing | Agogo | 2020

Samba Negra | Colombia | Eberebijara | La Locura De Machuca 1975-1980 | Analog Africa | 197x
Kussima | Colombia | Despeluque En Palenque (remix) | El Vacile Efectivo De La Champeta Criolla: A New African Music From Colombia | Palenque | 1998
Joe Arroyo & Juan Carlos Coronel | Colombia | Simula Timula | A Duo: Los Reyes Del Tropico | Discos Fuentes | 2001
Abelardo Carbono Y Su Tribu Canibal | Colombia | El Cucaracho | El Cucaracho - single | Palenque | 2020

No comments: