Charts November 7-13, 2022

WRIR World's NACC Top Ten

1 SLAVO RICAN ASSEMBLY |  Intercosmic | Riverboat

2 LIRAZ | Roya | Glitterbeat

3 T.P. ORCHESTRE POLY-RYTHMO | Afro-Funk | Albarika Store

4 KIMI DJABATE | "Alidonke" [Single] | Cumbancha

5 STAR FEMININE BAND | Star Feminine Band In Paris | Born Bad

6 WESLI | Tradisyon | Cumbancha

7 LORRAINE KLAASEN AND MONGEZI NTAKA | Ukubonga (Gratitude) | Justin Time

8 EL COMBO BATANGA | "El Que La Rompe La Paga" [Single] | Lovemonk

9 REDDY AMISI | Bailo Canto | Casa Do Canto

10 NACIONAL RECORDS CLASSICS VOL. 1 | various artists | Nacional

Language

I'm excited to welcome the Ethiopian band Qwanqwa to WRIR's studio this week.  The band, whose name means "language" in Amharic, embodies one of the most radical ideas in music: they play traditional music in a brand new way.

 

Using indigenous instruments like masinko (one-stringed fiddle), krar (harp), kebero (barrel drum) and of course the human voice, they expand Ethiopia's broad musical heritage, especially the music of the azmari bards (Ethiopia's version of griots), with improvisational strategies drawn from jazz, contemporary and experimental music.

 

The result is a new strain of Ethio-jazz that takes off in directions only imagined by Mulatu Astatke or Hailu Mergia.  They're a dance band and a jam band at the same time, and for me one of the most exciting musical acts anywhere in the world right now.  They totally speak Global A Go-Go's language.

Members of Qwanqwa will visit WRIR's studio this week (Sunday November 13, 1:00-3:00 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) for an interview, before they head over to Capital Ale House's Richmond Music Hall for their 6:00 PM (doors open) performance alongside Richmond's own Ethio-jazz masters, the Afro-Zen Allstars.

You'll hear the music of both of those bands on the show this week, along with tributes to Brazilian singer Gal Costa, who passed away this week, and to Congolese superstar Tabu Ley Rochereau, born on this broadcast date in 1940.

Charts Oct 31 - Nov 6, 2022

WRIR World's NACC Top Ten

1 WESLI | Tradisyon | Cumbancha

2 LIRAZ | Roya | Glitterbeat

3 BIO RITMO | Salsa System [EP] | Electric Cowbell

4 TOUMANI DIABATE | Toumani, Family & Friends | Universal Africa

5 KANDA BONGO MAN | Kekete Bue | No Wahala Sounds

6 LA SONORA MAZUREN | "Charanga Mazuren" b/w "Cachicha" [Single] | Names You Can Trust

7 ROGE | "Pra Vida" [Single] | Diamond West

8 KOTTARASHKY AND THE RAIN DOGS | Doghouse | Asphalt Tango

9 ROGER DAMAWUZAN | Seda | Hot Casa

10 DERYA YILDIRIM AND GRUP SIMSEK | Dost 2 | Bongo Joe/Catapulte

Fantasy

Israeli singer Liraz Charhi's 2018 debut album Naz, a set of pre-revolutionary Iranian songs sung in Farsi, was a sensation in her parents' birth country, and needless to say was banned there as well.  She followed with Zan in 2020, which features Iranian musicians illegally collaborating with her via encrypted file sharing.

 

On her brand new album Roya (fantasy in Farsi), Liraz and her death-defying Iranian collaborators actually worked face to face for ten days in a secure underground recording studio in Istanbul.  The result is one of the most timely and urgent albums of 2022.  You'll hear Roya's title track this week on Global A Go-Go.

Also this week (Sunday November 6, 1:00-3:00 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): new music from Haiti via Canada by Wesli, the return of Balkan bangers, cumbias and champetas (primarily) from Colombia, and some soukous leading into Ambiance Congo.

Charts October 17-30, 2022

WRIR World's NACC Top Ten

1 SHAOLIN AFRONAUTS, THE | The Fundamental Nature Of Being | Freestyle

2 DUNGEN | En År För Mycket Och Tusen Aldrig Nog | Mexican Summer

3 MUKAMBO PRESENTS GLOBAL AFROBEAT MOVEMENT VOL. 3 | various artists | NYP

4 TP ORCHESTRE POLY-RYTHMO | Afro-Funk | Albarika Store

5 GYEDU-BLAY AMBOLLEY | Gyedu-Blay Ambolley And Hi Life Jazz | Agogo

6 KIMI DJABATE | "Alidonke" [Single] | Cumbancha

7 STAR FEMININE BAND | Star Feminine Band In Paris | Born Bad

8 LATIN BROTHERS, THE | El Picotero | Vampisoul

9 VIEUX FARKA TOURE AND KHRUANGBIN | Ali | Dead Oceans

10 NACIONAL RECORDS CLASSICS VOL. 1 | various artists | Nacional

The fundamental nature of being

The Shaolin Afronauts are an 11-piece ensemble from Adelaide, Australia who describe their sound as "interstellar futurist afro-soul" influenced equally by Fela Kuti and Sun Ra.  After three excellent albums of progressive Afrobeat in the early 2010s, they went silent from recording for eight years.

 

Now they're back with their most audacious project yet: a five-album box set of all original material called The Fundamental Nature Of Being that expands the band's sonic vision to incorporate experimental and new age electronica, Ethio-jazz, South African marabi, West Africa's post-colonial big band sounds, psychedelic rock and more alongside with their origins in Afrobeat and spiritual jazz.  It's a sprawling set, unwieldy at times, brilliant at others, and so much more ambitious than anything I've heard all year.

This week on Global A Go-Go (Sunday October 30, 1:00-3:00 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) I've selected three tracks from The Fundamental Nature Of Being to give you an idea of what's inside the tin.  You'll also hear a whole lot of new African music: highlife-jazz from Ghana, Afropop out of Guineé-Bissau and Togo, young Nigerians playing Afrobeat, Wassoulou rock from Burkina Faso, and a smoking new reissue of Orchestre Poly-Rythmo De Cotonou Benin.

Charts October 10-16, 2022

WRIR World's NACC Top Ten

1 LA FEMME | Teatro Lucido | Disque Pointu/IDOL

2 DUNGEN | En År För Mycket Och Tusen Aldrig Nog | Mexican Summer

3 DERYA YILDIRIM AND GRUP SIMSEK | Dost 2 | Bongo Joe/Catapulte

4 STAR FEMININE BAND | Star Feminine Band In Paris | Born Bad

5 LATIN BROTHERS, THE | El Picotero | Vampisoul

6 EL COMBO BATANGA | "El Que La Rompe La Paga" [Single] | Lovemonk

7 HAMSI BOUBEKER | Le Chant Des Profondeurs | Frederiksberg

8 RAY PEREZ Y EL GRUPO CASABE | Ray Perez Y El Grupo Casabe | El Palmas

9 LOS DEMENTES | Manicomio A Locha | Vampisoul

10 AFROSOUND OF COLOMBIA VOL. 3, THE | various artists | Vampisoul

30 years of more sabor

When you think of Richmond's most famous musical exports, what comes to mind?  Maybe Jimmy Dean the sausage king?  Or possibly jazz legends like Lonnie Liston Smith and James "Plunky" Branch?  Probably Richmond's punk and metal scene: Lamb of God, Avail, Municipal Waste, Strike Anywhere and of course Gwar.

 

Well, if you're in Colombia, the correct answer by a mile is Bio Ritmo, Richmond's salsa machine and one of the top salsa bands anywhere in the world.  Gwar may have opened their own bar in Richmond, but Bio Ritmo actually has a bar named for them in Cali, Colombia!

 

Bio Ritmo is celebrating 30 years of "more sabor" with a special event next Sunday afternoon, October 23, at Hardywood's Richmond taproom, with emeritus members Jorge Negrón, Gabo Tomasini and Jim Thomson jetting in from Puerto Rico, New York and DC, respectively, to sit in.  Global A Go-Go will get you warmed up for the event with a set of Bio Ritmo music on this week's program.

Also this week (Sunday October 16, 1:00-3:00 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): new music from Benin's all female (ages 12-18 to boot) Star Feminine Band, Derya Yıldırım's Anatolian rock, Kabyle folk by Hamsi Boubeker, French rockers La Femme go Brazilian, and even more sabor from Spain's El Combo Batanga.

Charts October 3-9, 2022

WRIR World's NACC Top Ten

1 REDDY AMISI | Bailo Canto | Casa Do Canto Entertainment

2 STAR FEMININE BAND | Star Feminine Band In Paris | Born Bad

3 ERNESTO DJEDJE | Roi Du Ziglibithy | Analog Africa

4 JULIVERT | A Tamarit! | Microscopi

5 ALHAJI WAZIRI OSHOMAH | World Spirituality Classics 3: The Muslim Highlife Of Alhaji Waziri Oshomah | Luaka Bop

6 14 MAGNIFICOS BAILABLES | various artists | Vampisoul

7 DUNGEN | En År För Mycket Och Tusen Aldrig Nog | Mexican Summer

8 EL COMBO BATANGA | "El Que La Rompe La Paga" [Single] | Lovemonk

9 KABAKA PYRAMID | The Kalling | Ghetto Youths International / Bebble Rock

10 PAPA SAN | "Love About You" b/w "Lessons" [Single] | Beloved Group

A brother with perfect timing

Abdullah Ibrahim (formerly known as Dollar Brand) is 88 years young on October 9.  This week, Global A Go-Go gives him his roses while he's still among us (and still making fine music: he's doing a solo concert in Riedering, Germany on his birthday) with three selections from his vast catalogue, including the song that's been described as what you would get if you combined "A Love Supreme" with "Say It Loud - I'm Black And I'm Proud."

 

Also this week (Sunday October 9, 1:00-3:00 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): we recognize another piano playing birthday boy, Chucho Valdés (a mere 81 years old on Sunday); new Catalunyan folk-rock by the band Julivert; an introduction to Zamrock pioneers Witch, who come to Richmond on October 15; and Afropop classics from Cote D'Ivoire and Cameroon.

Charts Sep 26 - Oct 2, 2022

WRIR World's NACC Top Ten

1 ORCHESTRA FUEGO | Candela | self-released

2 REDDY AMISI | Bailo Canto | Casa Do Canto Entertainment

3 RIVERITA Y SU ORQUESTA NOCHE CALIENTE | Mi Linda Musica | Jibaro Productions

4 OLIVER NAYOKA | Oka Mmadu | Odogwu Entertainment / Palenque

5 LOS PAO PAOS | Los Pao Paos | Devil In The Woods

6 AYAHUASCA VOL. 2: CUMBIAS PSICODELICAS PERUANAS | various artists | Repsychled

7 CROSSROADS KENYA - EAST AFRICAN BENGA AND RUMBA, 1980-1985 | various artists | No Wahala Sounds

8 JOAO SELVA | Se Acabou [EP] | Underdog

9 SON ROMPE PERA AND GIL GUTIERREZ | "El Saleroso" b/w "Proteus" [Single] | Barbes

10 SONNY SINGH | Chardi Kala | self-released

The creator has a master plan

Pharoah Sanders, the American saxophonist who passed away on September 24 at age 81, was perhaps the most spiritual, ecstatic musician that jazz has ever produced.  Not surprisingly, musical traditions from around the world were essential elements of his body of work.  On this week's edition of Global A Go-Go, we pay tribute to Pharoah by playing three of his recordings that reflect his interest in global music: Indian, Moroccan and West African.

 

Also this week (Sunday October 2, 1:00-3:00 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): a tribute to the amazing music of the République de Guinée (aka Guinée Conakry) on the occasion of that nation's 65th Independence Day featuring Bembeya Jazz National, Kaloum Star and more; and a deep dive into the music of two artists who will be performing at this year's Richmond Folk Festival: Mauritania's Noura Mint Seymali and Son Rompe Pera from Mexico.

Charts September 19-25, 2022

WRIR World's NACC Top Ten

1 LEE SCRATCH PERRY | King Scratch: Musical Masterpieces From The Upsetter Ark-ive | Trojan

2 WGANDA KENYA | Africa 5000 | Vampisoul

3 VIEUX FARKA TOURE AND KHRUANGBIN | Ali | Dead Oceans

4 AL-QASAR | Who Are We? | Glitterbeat

5 ROBERTO LOPEZ | Ritual [EP] | Curura

6 WESLI | Tradisyon | Cumbancha

7 ALHAJI WAZIRI OSHOMAH | World Spirituality Classics 3: The Muslim Highlife Of Alhaji Waziri Oshomah | Luaka Bop

8 14 MAGNIFICOS BAILABLES | various artists | Vampisoul

9 GYEDU-BLAY AMBOLLEY | "Yekor Ye A Yeaba" [Single] | Agogo

10 TIMPANA | "Pajaro" [Single] | Sounds & Colours

King Scratch

Jamaican popular music has long been a producer's medium, and no Jamaican producer has ever been more prolific, confounding or just plain unique than Lee "Scratch" Perry.  Perry's oeuvre runs the gamut from unlistenable to transcendent (often from the same session), and his output was so vast that it's hard for the uninitiated to get a handle on it.

 

The folks at Trojan and Sanctuary Records have done all of us the great favor of putting together what is for the moment the definitive Lee "Scratch" Perry beginner's compilation.  Entitled King Scratch (Musical Masterpieces From The Upsetter Ark-ive), its short version includes 40 mostly essential tracks, and its long version expands to a box of 4 LPs, 4 more CDs and a 50 page book.  I'll play you a few tracks from the short version this week, and add a couple more that I assume they just weren't able to license.

Also this week (Sunday September 25, 1:00-3:00 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): Nigerian highlife's Etsako Super Star, new music from the James Brown of Ghana, Al-Qasar's Arabian fuzz, songs Bio Ritmo has covered and hot new Haitian mizik rasin by Wesli.

Charts September 12-18, 2022

WRIR World's NACC Top Ten

1 BABA COMMANDANT AND THE MANDINGO BAND | Sonbonbela | Sublime Frequencies

2 DOGO DU TOGO | Dogo Du Togo | self-released

3 DEERHOOF | "My Lovely Cat!" [Single] | Joyful Noise

4 BOMBA ESTEREO AND MANU CHAO | "Me Duele" [Single] | Sony Latin

5 LORRAINE KLAASEN AND MONGEZI NTAKA | Ukubonga (Gratitude) | Justin Time

6 SHOTNEZ | "Contagious" [Single] | Batov

7 AYAHUASCA VOL. 2: CUMBIAS PSICODELICAS PERUANAS | various artists | Repsychled

8 MOVERS, THE | The Movers Vol. 1 - 1970-1976 | Analog Africa

9 SUPER DJATA BAND DE BAMAKO | Authentique 80 | Numero Group

10 OMAR PENE AND SUPER DIAMONO | Direct From Dakar | Real World