World Music--USA Style
Once, a few years ago, I was in the dark when it came to World Music. I assumed that the term World Music meant music from, you know, other parts of the world beside my own backyard. Well, fast forward a few years--and a few 100 shows of my World Music Show and I've come to learn that yes, Ian, there is World Music in your own backyard. And in fact, there is World Music to be found from all over the United States.
So, on this week's World Music Show (12/3), the show takes an inward view of the world, in that we'll focus strictly on American-made World Music. Kicking off the hour will be some Cajun music, which is purely American, but which has its roots in Canadian/French history. We'll also hear some fantastic Rumba music courtesy of Jesse Cook, who does a great version of the Paul Simon song "Cecilia." Besides Rumba music, you'll hear a Bossa Nova tune done by Stacey Kent and Jim Tomlinson. And, you'll hear some music from Alsion Brown, who has played with Alison Krauss' Union Station.
Also featured in this first hour, will be music from Pink Martini, who hail from Portland Oregon and a track by Gigi, who was born in Ethiopia, but who now lives in San Francisco (that counts right?). And, we'll hear a great duet featuring Toots and Maytals and Willie Nelson--yep, the Willie Nelson. A few other highlights in the first hour include tracks from Issac Delgado, Luis Conte, El Juri and Mary Z. Cox, who is from Tallehasse, Florida.
But, speaking of World Music in your own backyard, a special part of the first hour will be a couple of locally, homegrown bands who are spetacular at playing just great music, which happens be not your typical "pop" music. I'll play a track from local band Balkanize!, Bio Ritmo and Rattlemouth. All three of these bands play some really stellar music and they've played all over the world.
All that fun is just in hour one. In hour two, we'll hear some New York/Brazilian music from the now defunct band Mosquitos, as well as a track from the Los Angeles band Dr. Loco's Rockin' Jalapeno Band, as well as music from another great, long-running band Los Lobos. They've been playing for more than 20 years. And in that time, they even did a side project called Latin Playboys. These guys use everything to make some great music, including car manifolds.
If you're in the mood to stick around during hour two, then you'll want to listen for a chunk of American-made Reggae music. I'll play some music from a band called Northern Lights, they've been playing music for quite a long time, but they're mostly known for playing blues music, with people like Alison Krauss. And, speaking of unlikely sources of World Music, I'll feature a cover of a Bob Marley tune done by another legend in the music business, Peter Rowan. He's known for playing country music, instead of playing Reggae. The song "No Woman, No Cry," was recorded in Nashville.
And like many a World Music Show, they'll be plenty of suprises--those of which I don't want to divulge here, for fear of you not sticking around for the full two hours. Call this last bit a teaser of sort. I like suprises, I hope you do, too. The World Music Show aires Saturday nights at 10:00 p.m. You can follow me on Twitter, at: @wcveworldmusic.
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