June 27, 2021

L'ange blanc du malouf

Hamdi Benani was dubbed "l'ange blanc du malouf" (the white angel of malouf) for his white violin and matching suit, and for bringing Arab-Andalusian malouf music around the world.  Supposedly he was given the nickname in 1972 by Kim Il Sung; we all know how North Korean maximal leaders feel about nicknames (see "Dotard").
 
Benani died from COVID in September.  One of his last sessions was a decidedly untraditional approach to the malouf tradition alongside electric oud player Mehdi Haddab and his band Speed Caravan.  That session, under the title Nuba Nova, will be released on July 2 and it is just fabulous: soulful, radical, stirring, just the kind of album Rachid Taha would be making if he were still with us.
 
This week on Global A Go-Go (Monday June 28, 3:00-5:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards on the wrir.org archive player, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site) you'll hear two tracks from Nuba Nova and a whole lot more from North Africa: Moroccan gnawa, Egyptian and Sudanese thinking (and dancing) person's pop, music of North Africa's indigenous Amazigh people (you might know them as Berbers), even Swahili taarab bearing unmistakable North African influence.  And we'll finish with some Chicano rock and soul from 1949 to today, just because.

 
 
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
 
Innov Gnawa | Morocco-USA | El Bouhala | Lila | Daptone | 2021
Aziz Sahmaoui & University Of Gnawa | Morocco-Senegal-France | Sotanbi | Poetic Trance | Blue Line | 2019
 
Natik Awayez | Iraq-Yemen-Egypt | Al Manafi | Manbarani | Sublime Frequencies | 2021
Abu Obaida Hassan & His Tambour | Sudan | Nas Fi Nas | The Shaigiya Sound Of Sudan | Ostinato | 197x
Ali Hassan Kuban | Egypt | Mabruk | From Nubia To Cairo | Piranha | 1989
 
Hamdi Benani, Mehdi Haddab & Speed Caravan | Algeria-France | Ya Nas Jaratli Gharab | Nuba Nova | Buda Musique | 2021
Rachid Taha | Algeria-France | Ya Rayah | Diwan | Barclay | 1998
Hamdi Benani, Mehdi Haddab & Speed Caravan | Algeria-France | Hosn El Habib | Nuba Nova | Buda Musique | 2021
 
Amazigh Kateb | Algeria-France | Bonjour | Marchez Noir | Iris Music | 2009
Lounes Matoub | Algeria | Assagui Liy | Assagui Liy | Azwaw | 1981
Moh Alileche | Algeria-USA | Ben Khaldun | Humanity Is Falling Apart | Flag Of Freedom Productions | 2021
 
Alsarah & The Nubatones | Sudan-Yemen-Armenia-France-Togo-USA | Wad Alnuba (feat Sounds Of Taarab) | Silt | Wonderwheel | 2014
Shakila & Black Star Musical Club | Tanzania | Macho Yanacheka | Zanzibara 10: First Modern, Taarab Vibes From Mombasa & Tanga, 1970-1990 | Buda Musique | 197x
Bio Ritmo | RVA USA | Codeina | Puerta De Sur | Vampisoul | 2014
 
Lalo Guerrero Y Sus Cinco Lobos | USA | Los Chucos Suaves | Marihuana Boogie / Los Chucos Suaves - Single | Imperial | 1949
Las Cafeteras | USA | La Sirena | La Sirena - Single | ONErpm | 2021
The Premiers | USA | Farmer John | Farmer John Live | Warner Bros. | 1964
? & The Mysterians | USA | 96 Tears | 96 Tears | Cameo | 1966
Orkesta Mendoza | USA-Mexico | Mapache | Vamos A Guarachar! | Glitterbeat | 2016

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