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Ian Stewart

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Ian Stewart

Articles by Ian Stewart

Funk Rock Eruptions

Each week on The World Music Show little tidbits of sound collide together into a cacophony of global sound which ends in a two hour triumph of fun for your ears. And, each week, after culling through the tracks, a theme will emerge that enables me to write this blog. But in some rare cases, a theme or a special bit of tracks will stand out as something that I feel needs to be saluted and/or addressed. Which leads me to this week's explanation of the title, "Funk Rock Eruptions."

New to Me

You know that old expression "like a kid in a candy store"? Well, when I get a chance to visit an honest to goodness record store (like Plan 9 in Carytown), it's hard to figure out what to purchase. On the one hand, I'm pretty frugal and have a certain budget I should follow. On the other hand, I know that the more I get, the more I'll get to share with you. On either hand, the bottom line is that we're both winners.

It's a Concrete Jungle Out There

I have a confession. I'm all over the map on this week's World Music Show (10/22). But that's ok, right? I mean, the whole fun of doing a radio show in the World Music genre is that you and I get to be globe trotters. So, for fun this week, you should grab your World Atlas and play follow the bouncing ball with me as we head to some great musical regions.

Tinkering Around Latin America

Coming up on this week's World Music Show:

I've always been sort of a mobile person. You know, jumped from one location to the next every few years. And though I'm currently calling Richmond home, my starting place was in California. That state is one big plot of land, and for the most part, I've lived in some of the best places that state has to offer. I grew up in Los Angeles, but also lived in Santa Barbara, San Francisco and Oakland. And one of the benefits of those cities is the amount of great music that each has to offer.

Stars and their Sitars

On last week’s World Music Show we looked back at some of the originators of World Music from the 1950s & 60s. This week (October 8th), we’re taking a similar vein in looking back. But let’s start with a question. Do you remember when you first heard The Beatles song “Norwegian Wood?” I do. I was very young of course and into playing my older brother’s records (eventually I’d get my own) and I remember putting on “Rubber Soul” and really liking that sound that I knew wasn’t a guitar, but I wasn’t sure what it was. Turns out, it was a sitar.

Props to the Originators

It's time to give some props to a few of the originators who were able to bring World Music to an American audience. On this week's World Music Show (Saturday, October 1st) we'll tip our hats to artists like: Desi Arnaz, Harry Belafonte and Carmen Miranda. Where would the world have been without their contribution? I'm not sure, but they, along with many others, were able to highlight some really great music from places like Cuba, South America and the Caribbean.

A Night of Duo & Trios

It's time to focus. I tell this to myself on a regular basis--especially when listening to tracks that I've culled together for The World Music Show. You see, my mind tends to wander aimlessly while listening to beats from faraway places. And, while listening, and contemplating, I try to focus on what type of theme will emerge from the artists I've pulled together. So, after much review, a theme for this week's show (on 9/24) emerged as if from a fog. This week's show is about: Duos & Trios.

Time to Dig Dan Zanes

Once in a blue moon or once in a millennium I'm able to craft together a pretty decent World Music Show. This week's show could be one of those shows, because there's so much good music in both hours that each hour could stand on it's own as a stellar piece. Ok, maybe as host and producer of the World Music Show, I'm biased, but I'll let you be the judge.

Dub this Reggae Vibe

Listen: There are sometimes when I just need to relax, you know "chill," as they say. Weeks will go by until I realize that, "hey, life's been moving kind of fast lately, so I'd better slow down." (That's right, I talk to myself in quotes). But the point is, things are moving fast. Summer has just officially ended (though, I wish the weather would get the memo), my first daughter just started Kindergarten and there's the 10-year anniversary of the September 11th attacks.* So, it's with all these heavy things happening, that I really need some musical time to relax.

Big Noise for Saturday’s Show

There is some Big Noise happening this weekend on the World Music Show. What do I mean by that? Well, it’s actually a nod to the title of a CD I’ll be playing in the second hour of Saturday night’s show. It’s called “Big Noise, Funky Tropicalismo,” the music of which can be heard in a club based in Brixton, London which features some swinging Mambo music spun by the DJ’s. But, I also thought it was a great title to describe this week’s show.

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