Finally, the two titans of East European Gypsy music go head to head in a Balkan brass encounter of epic proportions. Following the tradition of brass battles from Serbia’s legendary Guca Brass Festival to New Orleans’ mean streets, the Balkan Brass Battle showcases the wit, passion and musical genius of Europe’s Romany Gypsy people.
Initially the vinyl-oriented 45RPM Electric Cowbell record label politely shunned any concern that their singles be made available digitally until our family members and friends without turntables began asking how they were going to get a chance to hear the songs. This formatting issue, coupled with the label’s intrinsic desire to promote and disseminate the bands and their music to a wider audience, has been resolved by offering digital album version-also available as CD-of the label’s first year of singles. 101 Things To Do In Bongolia is a sonic brochure of Electric Cowbell’s first batch of singles from 2010-2011 with the addition of some bonus tracks and remixes from the label’s current releases.
Amongst dance music fans Joaquin “Joe” Claussell needs no introduction. Anyone who ever danced to his sets at New York City’s Body & Soul knows. And as a DJ, a remix producer, a record label head (Sacred Rhythm, Spiritual Life), or even a record store manager/owner (Dance Tracks), he’s been deeply involved in New York’s and the international dance scene since its early days of loft parties.
Now, thanks to his recent work with Fania Records with the breath-taking double album – Hammock House ‘Africa Caribe,’ Claussell’s talent, especially with the art of remixing (from analog to digital back to analog – seamlessly not being able to tell which is which) showcases how his music can be embraced by a wide fanbase of music lovers – young and old, from the dancefloor to the living room – and everywhere in between.
Known for his spiritual and eclectic approach to dance music, Claussell’s musical roots can be traced back to the early Afro-Latin soul and jazz experiments of New York City, where he was born from Puerto Rican parents (Please note the upcoming National Puerto Rican Day Parade is happening June 12th on 5th Ave., NYC). That’s why he was the “ideal choice for a remix project featuring old classic Fania Records tracks.” as PopMatters states. KCRW’s Raul Campos agrees: “There are a bunch of great producers in the world of dance, but there is nobody more perfect for this project than Mr. Claussell.” “He has a way of taking the music to that higher level,” says BamaLoveSoul, “and it seems (and sounds) that this release is no Exception.”
Claussell is taking the “Africa Caribe” experience on the road with a full band starting off June 17th at Best Buy Live in Union Square – NYC. Then Joe’s off to DJ at one of the hottest Bay Area clubs, Public Works in San Francisco on July 20th. Then he heads to Los Angeles on July 22nd to perform live with his band on the prestigious KCRW Morning Becomes Eclectic program and then live at Downtown LA’s Grand Performances that night. Just like his infamous “Body & Soul” Sunday afternoon dance parties, which he hosted with Francios K and Danny Krivit for six years in NYC, prepare to experience a totally unique musical journey. The tracks are brought to an infinitely higher level by the synergy of each DJ’s unique of live performance artistry and the incredible creative and conscious crowd.
Joe’s music is in such demand that great artists and record labels have sought him out for collaboration and remixes of works by Femi Kuti, Herbie Hancock, Beth Orton, Steward Mathewman (Sade), Cassandra Wilson, Diana Ross, and Manuel Göttschin to name a few. His remixes have revived classics such as Hector Lavoe‘s Classic “Alejate;” Cesoria Evora’s “Sangue De Beirona.” Featured on TV programs such as “Sex In The City” Joe’s remix of “Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good;” was single handedly responsible for the rebirth of the song, as well as the spawning of countless remakes.
“Mambo Mongo (Joaquin Joe Claussell Remix)” – Mongo Santamaria (FREE DOWNLOAD – HERE)
It’s fitting that Red Hot + Rio 2 would pay tribute to Brazil’s Tropicália movement since both exhibit a desire to act on social-political issues through music. Red Hot + Rio 2 is the natural successor to the 1996 original Bossa Nova inspired Red Hot + Rio.
Owing its roots to musical tolerance and innovation, the arrival of Tropicália on the scene began in the 1960s. Despite its success, the movement lasted few years, its influence on Brazilian music was broad and far-reaching.
Politically engaged lyrics and artistic forms of activism drove much of the movement following the coup of 1964. Its initial leaders, Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil, were incarcerated by the military government over the political content of their work. Their 1968 collaboration album Tropicália: ou Panis et Circencis is largely considered the musical manifesto of the movement. The two, along with other artists commonly associated with the movement, experimented with unusual time signatures and other means of unorthodox song structures.
After two months, Veloso and Gil were released and exiled to London by the military government, where they lived until 1972. “Others in the Tropicalismo movement were less fortunate; several underwent torture or were forced into ‘psychiatric care’. Not unlike what those living with AIDS today face daily in countries where violence and ostracization are part of the culture.
Red Hot + Rio 2, a pays tribute to late 60’s Brazilian Tropicália movement with over 30 original collaborations between Brazil’s legendary musicians and today’s international indie artists including John Legend, Os Mutantes, Devendra Banhart, Caetano Veloso, Dirty Projectors, Seu Jorge, Beck, Bebel Gilberto, José Gonzalez, Beirut, Tom Zé, Of Montreal, Marisa Monte Gogol Bordello, DJ Dolores, Aloe Blacc, Angelique Kidjo, Rita Lee, Madlib, Money Mark, Céu, Apollo Nove, Mayra Andrade, Trio Mocotó, Tha Boogie, Alice Smith, Carlinhos Brown, Los Van Van, Brazilian Girls, Marcos Valle, St. Vincent, Neon Indian, Forró In The Dark, Mia Doi Todd, Javelin, and many more.
Summer 2011 sees the release of the long awaited exciting new album project from Bah Samba titled ‘Shake The Dog’ on Favouritzm. Three years in the making, this incredible selection of songs sees band leader Julian Bendall bounce between New York City, Brighton and everywhere in between! With the help of executive producer and close friend Ben Johnson (Syam), he’s rounded up all kinds of heavyweight singing stars, musicians and indeed characters to be involved on the project. The result is a rich tapestry of real heartfelt music that weaves between delicious soulful house, ghetto fabulous grooves, hip-swaying jazzy boogathons and sun-drenched love songs.
Sporting an all star cast, guests on the album feature a gaggle of soul-sista vocalists: Monique Bingham who sings on the soulful smash ‘Run’ and ‘Do It’; Alice Russell who appears on ‘Tired Little One’ and Bah Samba’s current single ‘Have You Got Your Bootz On?’, Brooklyn’s Anna Cavazos on ‘Sabor’, Copenhagen’s Liv Lykke on ‘Moonlight’, Atlanta’s Nadirah Shakoor on ‘Spring And Autumn’ which also features birdsong from Club Shelter’s Byrd, famed for her black bean stew in Shelter, who’s birdsong acted as an alarm to let clubbers know that food was ready. Also featured on the album is Daddy’s Girl (a famous songstress who we can’t name) who appears on ‘It’s Just Your Love’, Princess, a Times Square “lady of the night” who was hired and delivered an incredible honest spoken word about Pimps and Bronx Poet, Tanto on ‘Planet’. And not forgetting all of Julian’s Brighton chums who enjoyed a cheese and wine party on the street for 3 hrs to record a 12 second vocal for the album title track! ‘Shake The Dog’ also employs the talents of top NY producers Quentin Harris, Filsonik, Sting International and Jephte Guillaume, along with homegrown UK talents Ashley Beedle and Phil Asher. Bah Samba the band include keys wizard Julian Bendall, Oli Savill – percussion (Basement Jaxx), Mark Ralph – guitar (from a famous rock band), Tristan Banks – drums (Da Lata), Dom Glover – Trumpet (Groove Armada) and Nichol Thompson -Trombone.
After winning a Grammy Award in 2011 and backing the Tony Award winning broadway show “Fela!” with their respective bands Grupo Fantasma and Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra, Adrian Quesada and Martin Perna return to their sun-soaked Latin-psychedelia project Ocote Soul Sounds with their fourth studio album, Taurus.
Like its bullish namesake, their latest album smashes through sonic barriers with a heavy and dynamic mix of pan-Latin flavor, conscious political attitude, afrobeat and hip-hop rhythms. Taurus was produced by Eric Hilton of Thievery Corporation at the Washington DC based ESL Music Studios and features vocal collaborations with fellow ESL Music regulars Natalia Clavier, Sitali, Verny Varela and Chico Mann.
The endlessly inventive musical creator known as Dego will release his own solo debut “A Wha’ Him Deh Pon?” this summer in 2011. Having recorded several seminal albums with his previous musical collectives 4hero, 2000black, Silhouette Brown and under the moniker, Mr. GoodGood, “A Wha’ Him Deh Pon?” marks Dego’s continuing musical evolution, integrating his past as an avatar of electronica, jazz, dub and soul, while blazing a new path forward beyond convention and expectation.
Youssou Ndour’s journey to Kingston began with the music pulsing from the Dakar market stalls of his childhood. It began during long hours of listening to reggae LPs from his uncle’s record store. It continued decades later, long after Ndour became one of the world’s best known and best loved African singers, as circumstances conspired and he found himself at Tuff Gong studios, walking in Bob Marley’s footsteps and jamming with Marley’s musical friends.
Dakar-Kingston (Emarcy Records; June 7, 2011) maps this road, turning Ndour classics and several new originals into reggae anthems, reflecting reggae’s deep impact on West African music and culture. Guided by veteran reggae producer and former Marley collaborator Tyrone Downie, Ndour finds the sunny and urgent, the laid-back and the hard-grooving sides of Jamaican music, supported by a multigenerational crew of Jamaican and African reggae voices.
Ndour, a pioneering performer whose strikingly expressive voice transformed both the mbalax music of his native Senegal and Western pop, is an experienced traveler. He has effortlessly climbed charts in North America and Europe thanks to duets with Peter Gabriel, Neneh Cherry, and Sting. He has traced the roots of his griot (traditional oral historian) heritage, and explored his Muslim faith and its sonic impact by collaborating with Egyptian musicians, winning a Grammy® for his efforts.
Arby mesmerized audiences at this year’s SXSW in showcases for NPR, The Fader Fort, National Geographic Music, All Music is World Music (The World on WGBH Boston and KUT Austin) in standout performances at a festival known for once-in-a-lifetime shows. This intensity comes as much from her home as it does her unique spirit. Born in a village not far from the famed city of Timbuktu , Arby is firmly planted in the desert sand. Her creativity flows in part from the people of her home region of Northern Mali-the young musicians in her band all hail from Timbuktu-and from their past and present struggles. As Arby puts it, “Trab is our land, our home, Timbuktu. Its history, its mystery, everything…”
Vieux Farka Touré premiered his new video for “All The Same” featuring Dave Matthews on PopMatters, which is directed by Sam Bathrick and produced by Adam Barton of Native Resonance.
Vieux is hot on the heels of the release of his third studio album, The Secret (Six Degrees Records), which has already entered the Billboard World Charts top 3 and Billboard Indie Chart top 200. The album is produced by guitarist Eric Krasno (of Soulive fame) also features Dave Matthews, Derek Trucks, John Scofield, Ivan Neville and Vieux’s final collaboration with his legendary father, Ali Farka Toure.
John Tripp Creative 