No Rhyme or Reason Show (or, It's New-to-me-Music)
Have you ever gone clothes shopping and picked out so many new clothes, that you couldn't wait to wear them--even if it was all at once? Though that wouldn't be too prudent (unless the pieces coordinate), this week's World Music Show (3/3) is sort of like that feeling of newness.
I recently took advantage of a sale on the Putumayo record website, in which I was able to garner a bunch of new CDs. And, to add to that, a few other new CDs came my way, courtesy of the folks at Cornershop as well as from our own Jazz guru Peter Solomon. What this means for you is a whole new cornucopia of sound. And it also means that the sources of sound will eminate from all over this fine planet of ours. For instance, in one set we'll be in the Republica Dominica and in another, Israel, while in another Japan. If only we could collect frequent flyer miles for all the places we travel on the World Music Show.
For instance, that stopover in the Dominican Republic, will be with Luis Vargas and Chichi Peralta. The style of music from this rich Caribbean island are the beats most commonly associated with merengue, which is an energetic dance rhythm that is popular throughout the Americas. From there, we'll bounce to Colombia to hear Los Warahuaco and Joe Arroyo, whose songs have both boogaloo and salsa influences.
In other chunk of music, we'll head to Scotland to hear the band Capercaillie, who like to fuse traditional Gaelic music with modern technology. And from that region, we'll also hear the band Keltik Elektrick, whose song "Wild Mountain Thyme," was conceived as a Scottish Party song, in the tradition of "Hogmanay" or New Year's celebrations. From there, we'll head around the globe to Israel to hear Etti Ankri and Itay Pearl. But don't think their tunes will be old world (not that there's anything wrong with that). Instead, their sounds are fresh and modern.
One of the highlights of this week's show (and next week's too, becuase it's so good), are the cuts I'll be playing from a new CD by Ladysmith Black Mambazo (thanks Peter!). They just released a CD called "Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Friends," which features two-discs of great music. On this week's episode, we'll hear tracks that feature Lucky Dube, Bhejumuzi Luthuli, Thandiswa Mazai and horn player Hugh Masekela (who'll we'll hear on another track right after--thanks again Peter!).
Another highlighth on this week's "No Rhyme or Reason Show," will be some new music from Matsuki Ayumu (Thanks Cornershop!). Don't know him? Well, if you lived in Japan you would. Ayumu started out playing classical piano to packed auditoriums from the age of 10. But when he got older, he turned his sights to the world of electronic sounds, creating songs that are both melodic and catchy.
In hour two, another couple of stand out songs will be some Swing World Music. From Zimbabwe, we'll hear The Cool Crooners of Bulawayo, who are a bunch of old world musicians who have been playing Swing music pratically since swing was first in vogue. And we'll hear from Renzo Arbore e i suoi Swing Maniacs, who are from Italy.
With so much new music to play, you know we'll be hearing new stuff for weeks to come. The World Music Show aires Saturday nights at 10:00 p.m. on WCVE Public Radio or online at ideastations.org/radio. If you want updates on the World Music Scene or other musings, you can follow me on Twitter, @wcveworldmusic.
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