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The Unwound Third => Other Musical Interests => Topic started by: Slack on February 06, 2022, 01:08:20 PM

Title: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Slack on February 06, 2022, 01:08:20 PM
We are living in the golden age of audio with huge catalogs of all kinds of music at our fingertips over a great variety of streaming services (which is another topic i'd like to bring up).  I hope we all post some music we are listening to, all genres, all formats so we can share our passion for music and discover new music we hadn't heard or maybe even considered.

I'm a long time Ry Cooder fan and I know Rivers is too -- in fact it may be his influence that got me to listening.  Anyway, I loved the Cuban/African influenced of 'Buena Vista Social Club' and 'Mambo Sinuendo'. So, seeking out more I came across this podcast on spotify... which includes a couple of Ry Cooder cuts.  Not a big World Music guy, but I'm going to explore a few more of these podcasts.  On iTunes, spotify, FB, IG.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1O428uE2xfu4SPMpLAGy23?si=bc5478cd1be84751 (https://open.spotify.com/episode/1O428uE2xfu4SPMpLAGy23?si=bc5478cd1be84751)

Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Slack on February 06, 2022, 01:13:57 PM
Got a have a bit of Dr John every so often.  Recording quality is great, a little New Orleans funk and it will give your woofers a work out. 

Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Slack on February 06, 2022, 01:19:28 PM
And Dr. John leads to The Neveille Brothers -- great live concert from 1994.  Hot stuff!
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Rivers on February 06, 2022, 01:38:34 PM
Funny you should mention Dr John. I had my phone connected via bluetooth to the van's stereo yesterday, playing randomly, and Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya came on. At the time I was battling through a blizzard on back roads in Vermont delivering milk. It was perfect, strangely enough. I don't have that Creole Moon album, must get it.

Richard Thompson albums "Electric" and "13 Rivers", "Serpent's Tears", others, on heavy rotation here. I listen to a lot of different stuff all across the map, all the time. My blues improvisation studies are drawing me back into that whole enormous genre also.
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Slack on February 06, 2022, 02:40:44 PM
 
Quote
I don't have that Creole Moon album, must get it.

You still buy albums?  Surely you stream stuff too, even to endoftheearth upstate NY...?
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Rivers on February 06, 2022, 02:52:39 PM
I use Apple Music, can download unlimited number of albums (or single tracks) within the monthly $9 subscription. I download them to my Mac, they magically sync to my iphone for listening on the go. If I quit Apple Music I lose access to everything downloaded.
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Slack on February 06, 2022, 03:00:34 PM
Got it.  I'm going to start another topic on streaming as I am checking out various services now.
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: David Kaatz on February 06, 2022, 03:11:28 PM
Lots of country music for me - and the Cocaine and Rhinestones podcast. Finishing the last episode of the season right now, about George Jones' late career. I think the podcast has been mentioned here before. Great informative stuff, incredibly well researched, with lot of song clips. I wasn't hip to George Jones before, but I'm now convinced he was an amazing singer. So troubled, though.

https://cocaineandrhinestones.com/
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Slack on February 06, 2022, 04:12:37 PM
Yes!  It's a great podcast.  Tyler Mahan Coe gets a little tiresome at times, a little strident about debunking misinformation, but wow has he done the research.  It's a fascinating take on Country Music and especially George Jones.  G. Jones is a one of a kind singer -- incredible voice and control.
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: lindy on February 06, 2022, 05:09:30 PM
Two CDs I've been listening to a lot lately:

The Kora Band, a Seattle group that mixes contemporary jazz with West African kora music. One of my favorite cuts is Sinyaro:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRe9I0iorbs

Che Apalache, a band from Buenos Aires that plays music from all over the place. The instrumentation is classic bluegrass:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmoOQiUHcRw&list=RDEMNnR750ePI8u4F13wHUmLJg&start_radio=1

But seeing that they're from Argentina, they can't avoid latin rhythmic sensibilities:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNStoTSXhsw&list=RDEMNnR750ePI8u4F13wHUmLJg&index=2

And lots of Rev. Gary Davis.
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: David Kaatz on February 06, 2022, 05:18:13 PM
Finishing the last episode of the season right now, about George Jones' late career.

https://cocaineandrhinestones.com/
Correction - the penultimate show of the season was just released Feb 1. I agree with Slack, a little tiresome and opinionated, but his opinions are a large part of the appeal. This particular show, a bit too long at ~2 1/2 hrs!
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Slack on February 06, 2022, 05:29:55 PM
Ha!  I have not finished season 2 - so I'll get back to it.  A good listen on my daily walks. Wikipedia has a good overview.  My friends in south Texas love the podcast and it's how I learned about it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocaine_%26_Rhinestones
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Rivers on February 06, 2022, 05:49:17 PM
Thanks Lindy, I enjoyed those a lot.
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Johnm on February 06, 2022, 05:53:00 PM
Hi all,
Here's what I'm listening to right now, on another browser--Bobby Timmons, with his trio, playing his composition, "Dat Dere". What a great tune!

https://youtu.be/aUt5hN_plws

All best,
Johnm
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Rivers on February 06, 2022, 06:18:46 PM
Thanks Johnm, that was excellent.
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: MarkC on February 07, 2022, 04:56:15 AM
Thanks for sharing that one John. I’m surprised I hadn’t heard of him.

Here’s “Brother John” from The Wild Tchoupitoulas album, which included the Neville Brothers, the Meters and some other members of the New Orleans musical community:

https://youtu.be/YvMofiuaW98

When Louis Armstrong came up in another post here, I dove back into some of his early recordings. This version of “Cake Walking Babies From Home” by the Clarence Williams Blue Five from 1925 includes Armstrong and Sidney Bechet, vocal by Eva Taylor. Don’t miss the last 45 seconds when Louis lets out a blast and let’s it rip:

https://youtu.be/oZOuKRwoIVU


Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: blueshome on February 07, 2022, 06:11:57 AM
https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a1033060779_10.jpg
This is nice
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: eric on February 07, 2022, 09:28:16 AM
That's some great stuff folks are posting. In addition to the usual evening jazz roundup down here, I've been listening to a lot of Mance Lipscomb while trying to learn a couple of his tunes with the help of john Miller.  I've reached the conclusion that Mance was a genius.

Here's some Dexter Gordon to get you through the morning.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDpyO2JUerQ&list=PLMm9m6dhCpc677cm1lb16ZjwwuWiX2VXL
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Johnm on February 07, 2022, 09:28:16 AM
Thanks for posting the Che Apalache videos, Lindy. I particularly liked "Maria". That fiddler has a great and very strong voice--he was standing about three feet away from the microphone. It's neat to see someone sing full voice like that while using a microphone. The band's rhythmic groove on that tune is well worked out, it's really a treat.
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Blues Vintage on February 07, 2022, 09:32:56 AM
Hi all,
Here's what I'm listening to right now, on another browser--Bobby Timmons, with his trio, playing his composition, "Dat Dere". What a great tune!

https://youtu.be/aUt5hN_plw


All best,
Johnm


One of my favorite jazz players. Very underrated.
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Norfolk Slim on February 07, 2022, 10:22:07 AM
I am not much of a jazzer, but I can see the appeal in that Bobby Timmons tune.

My tastes stray rather further from the general weenie consensus.   At the moment I having a bit of a Tindersticks phase, ahead of seeing them in concert in May.  Music and voice so rich and melancholy, but in a powerful joyful way- if that makes sense.   They are masters of layering and building- this tune is beautiful throughout but shifts to a crescendo after about 3.30....  Gets me every time.

https://youtu.be/7o-oMrdYahk
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: lindy on February 07, 2022, 11:13:40 AM
I held back from posting this one because I didn't want to overwhelm everyone with Che Apalache. But your positive feedback makes me want to share it.

The story I heard--it might even be true--was that the fiddler spent time in Japan as an exchange student or something like that, which is where he learned this very old Japanese melody. The band uses various parts of their instruments to create the sounds of Kotos, Gottans, and Shamisens. I heard them play this at the last live Wintergrass Festival two years ago. Brought down the house . . .

(Wintergrass is going live in-person later this month, yay!)

Lindy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7V_VLjFBfw

Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Slack on February 07, 2022, 12:27:06 PM
Don't know why you hesitated Lindy, that is very cool... I like it better than the first tunes you posted!  What creativity and a beautiful melody.
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: lindy on February 12, 2022, 11:05:08 AM
I love salsa, son, rumba. Someone sent this link to me this morning, so I got up and danced around the room. Dare you to listen without moving your body:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcHFr1v24pQ&t=158s

This one's more sedate, but still makes the body want to move:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Yz1o75hXXI&t=409s

Lindy
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Stuart on February 12, 2022, 02:08:31 PM
Hi Lindy:

I'm guessing they may have been tipped off by today's Town Hall Seattle e-mail. Here's the link to the event page:

https://townhallseattle.org/event/global-rhythms-kiki-valera-y-su-son-cubano/

It looks like there's going to be a reception before the show in the lobby at 6:00--hopefully a "meet and greet."
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: lindy on February 12, 2022, 04:04:29 PM
Yup, that's the same message my friend forwarded to me. Hopefully there'll be a dance floor in the reception area.

L
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: islandgal on February 13, 2022, 09:20:23 AM
Afro Cuban music. Here is a great example. I love everything about this video, but especially the powerful singing of Eliades Ochoa and Kasse Mady Diabate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXMyK6hbQZc

Jean
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: eric on February 13, 2022, 10:12:23 AM
Really enjoyed that one, Jean.  Thanks
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Slack on February 13, 2022, 01:06:04 PM
Fantastic Jean - thanks for posting!
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Forgetful Jones on February 14, 2022, 09:59:07 AM
Here's a song I've been listening to lately. I don't know anything about the artist, Bert Hare, besides the fact that he was recorded by Art Rosenbaum in the 1970s. This song was included in the compilation Art of Field Recording Vol. 1.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM4HSfD6A_s
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Johnm on February 15, 2022, 11:04:33 AM
Thanks for posting that, Forgetful Jones, that is some beautiful and soulful singing, and Bert Hare's guitar had a pretty bright tone. The melody and chord progression of the song remind me a little bit of this song that Bill Monroe's brother, Charlie, recorded--"Rosalee McFall":

https://youtu.be/HYSiPrQ5wFc

All best,
Johnm
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Forgetful Jones on February 16, 2022, 01:09:28 PM
Hi John-
When posting the Bert Hare song, I tried to also describe his singing. The post was wordy & awkward so I deleted that part. "Beautiful & Soulful" sums it up perfectly. Glad you enjoyed it.

I never realized Bill Monroe had a musician brother.

Cheers!
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Johnm on February 16, 2022, 01:48:11 PM
Hi Forgetful Jones,
Yes, Bill and Charlie started out as a duo act, similar to the Blue Sky Boys, the Callahan Brothers or the Armstrong Twins. They were popular doing that, too, but had a falling out and went their separate ways, professionally. Here they are doing "Feast Here Tonight":

https://youtu.be/4XwLSbhqm_Y

All best,
Johnm
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Forgetful Jones on February 17, 2022, 01:03:09 PM
That is some fast pickin'! Thanks for sharing that one, John. I haven't really explored Bill Monroe beyond his Folkways album with Doc Watson. I'll dabble a little bit more now.

Cheers!
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: eric on February 22, 2022, 09:58:39 AM
This LP was my intro to Django.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXBrsttdfbM
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Slack on March 01, 2022, 12:19:49 PM
I have a playlist of 'Female Jazz Vocalists' ... that I keep in regular rotation.  It's a broad brush from the classic like Billie, Etta, Ella to more contemporary like Diana Krall or Norah Jones to young unknowns -- love them all.   The genre, which is genre bending, can serve as background music or mighty fine listening... the recording quality and studio musicians on modern jazz recordings is incredibly good -- so you need good earphones/headphones or speakers to fully appreciate IMO.

These women are by definition strong and independent, there are so many good songs, or albums, but here is Heather Rigdon, who was raised in the Pentecostal and generally not allowed to listen to secular music as a youth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y03Lk5YbOB4
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Stuart on March 02, 2022, 10:21:45 AM
I saw both Bria Skonberg and Jen Hodge with their bands live before the shutdown and I suggest checking them out if you haven't done so already. Bria mentioned, "Jazz On A Summer's Day," and then proceeded to channel her inner Anita O'Day. (I see it's back up on YT.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uE5ExjDIzIQ

Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: eric on March 16, 2022, 03:16:20 PM
One thing I find particularly cool about Thelonious Monk is that as he proceeds through a tune, my brain kind of anticipates a certain sound, but Monk always surprises with something unexpected but perfect.  I have no idea what he's doing technically, maybe one of you all can explain it. Anyway, he's a great and unique player.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icFRHJ9VZaw
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Rivers on April 20, 2022, 02:48:31 AM
B.B .King, T-Bone Walker, Howlin' Wolf, Otis Rush. Plus some later guys, Jimi, SRV, EC, etc.
Learning to improvise on electric guitar at present. No guitar snobbery for me, I just wanna be an all-rounder on the guitar.
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Rivers on May 05, 2022, 06:48:11 PM
Well I managed to kill this thread stone dead by cleaving to 'music in general' rather than 'musical genres as a superior ideology"! FFS

Y'all should chill out a bit, get yourself a Strat and a tube screamer... you can still fingerpick acoustically later!

The two things are not mutually exclusive, unless you're a bit of a purist.

Good luck with that approach to music, you'll need it.  :P
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Rivers on May 05, 2022, 06:51:34 PM
I will now fade away again for a while since I have stuff going on musically that is way more interesting.
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Stuart on May 05, 2022, 07:52:30 PM
Don't put any artificial limitations on yourself
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: eric on May 06, 2022, 03:50:11 PM
Quote
Well I managed to kill this thread stone dead
I thought that was my job.
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: David Kaatz on May 06, 2022, 05:13:40 PM
Rivers, I don't get what the problem was. Did you get dissed in some private messages? This thread is pretty hot and cold. Busy, slow, busy, ...
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Slack on May 06, 2022, 08:24:44 PM
David is right, the thread is not one to 'keep going' necessarily - just one to post to if you feel like it, with no judgement calls on what you might be listening to ... we all, I'm pretty sure, listen to a huge variety of stuff.  Just another small way to stay connected.
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: eric on May 06, 2022, 09:29:58 PM
Most folks here are pretty serious about music, and I appreciate what they post on this topic. Just my two cents.
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Stuart on May 07, 2022, 09:12:13 AM
Yeah, imagine stumbling onto something that you really like, but then saying to yourself, "This isn't Country Blues, so I shouldn't listen to this, never mind enjoy it." And then turning it off. A descent into madness, IMHO.
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: eric on May 10, 2022, 06:09:21 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQVe4nCzCQw
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Devils Son Inlaw on May 11, 2022, 06:03:13 AM
This CD this morning, Buddy Boy and William Harris.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt5kAfwxDuE
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Rivers on August 28, 2022, 08:34:07 PM
Currently still working on improvisation. Electric initially but it bleeds back naturally into acoustic, as one does one's scales.and modes.

Presently hooked onto an early Freddy King jag, in particular absorbing his immaculate phrasing which is pretty much how I would like to be remembered on an electric guitar. What a  great player and singer he was. Go for the early recordings initially.

All the best players do their homework, practice scales and study theory in general. Very few of the multitude reading this live in the MS Delta, c.1928. If we want to express ourselves as artists we eventually have to move ourselves outwards.

I figure it's not that you're suddenly going to forget how to fingerpick country blues if you suddenly nail a good electric blues lead with a plectrum, or any other genre kind of lead break. That concern is not a concern, fingerpicking country blues is like riding a bicycle, once you've got it you never lose it.

That's where I'm at right now. I apologize, I is what I is.
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Stuart on August 29, 2022, 11:53:05 AM
I is what I is.

cogito, ergo sum "I think, therefore I am" --René Descartes

“I Feel, Therefore I Am” --Antonio Damasio

"I yam what I yam and that's all what I yam" --Popeye

I follow Popeye

Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Rivers on August 31, 2022, 04:52:50 PM
Nice correlations there Stuart :)
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Johnm on September 28, 2022, 10:38:42 AM
Hi all,
First two tunes are from the late Jazz pianist/composer/arranger, Clare Fischer. First "Inquietacao", in his re-harmonization then his own tune, "Morning":

https://youtu.be/mj8K89JV7XI

https://youtu.be/PyxKssjWHSE

Then from Furry Lewis, "Kassie Jones, Part 1":

https://youtu.be/kLu_zWaPol0

All best,
Johnm
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: David Kaatz on September 28, 2022, 02:43:31 PM
Man, I'm always listening to something. Yesterday, it was a lot of Joe Bussard's Fonotone records from Dust to Digital. Today, it's the Beat TV Show. If you aren't familiar, most if not all episodes are available on YouTube. There's a lot of lip sync-ing, but a lot of live performances as well. This episode features Freddie King and Joe Simon.
https://youtu.be/vsKCDTN6zEo
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: blueshome on September 29, 2022, 04:35:30 AM
https://youtu.be/aSQAQhIOLXc
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Slack on October 28, 2022, 04:49:13 PM
Listening to the new Super Deluxe release of Revolver - which may be my favorite Beatles album.  Slate did a nice job of putting the album in context.  I love listening to the outtakes, or alternate takes, or just goofing around takes.

https://slate.com/culture/2022/10/beatles-revolver-2022-super-deluxe-reissue-stax-motown.html
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Johnm on October 30, 2022, 05:40:42 PM
Hi Slack,
I always loved that song, "For No One" on Revolver. And "She Said", if that one is on there.
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Stuart on October 30, 2022, 05:57:43 PM
Hi Slack:

Great record--part of the sound track of my high school years. A fool's paradise...

Like John, I like those two cuts--along with all the rest.
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Slack on October 30, 2022, 07:07:39 PM
Johnm and Stuart,

Yes, high school sound track for many of us!  Yep Johnm it's on there - it is a great transitional album ... from old style performance songs to new style studio songs.  I'm just amazed by the creativity -- how an acoustic sketch of a song, morphs into something completely unexpected. 
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: banjochris on October 31, 2022, 10:40:01 AM
I really want to get that new "Revolver" – it has always amazed me, coming off of "Rubber Soul," that "Tomorrow Never Knows" was the first number recorded for that album!
Chris
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Slack on October 31, 2022, 11:26:14 AM
"Tomorrow Never Knows" - mind blowing at the time and still is!
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Forgetful Jones on October 31, 2022, 11:33:24 AM
I'm flipping through Super Deluxe Revolver right now. She Said is one of my favorites as well. Ringo's drumming is fantastic on that one.

Taxman is one of my favorite album openers.
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: lindy on November 01, 2022, 01:37:00 PM
IMO, this article doesn't really have a lot new to say about the new remastered Revolver release, but you might think differently, so have at it:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/31/arts/music/the-beatles-revolver-reissue.html?action=click&module=Well&pgtype=Homepage&section=Music
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Stuart on November 01, 2022, 05:54:28 PM
Thanks, Lindy. I'll be interested in listening to the new re-mix of the album. There's a lot of separation in/on the original album, something that went with the territory back in the day.
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Slack on January 29, 2023, 09:02:30 AM
Belgium 1964.  The coolest bunch of bankers and insurance salesmen ever.  Love the shoot angles and the listening intensity on their faces.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT9Eh8wNMkw&ab_channel=ToriChitic
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: eric on January 29, 2023, 10:32:25 AM
Great one, Slack. Absolute professionals, no gimmicks.
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Slack on February 04, 2023, 03:23:26 PM
Gustavo had a really fun idea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYvEvP2cmdk&ab_channel=DeutscheGrammophon-DG
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Johnm on February 04, 2023, 03:28:11 PM
Wow, that is a complete gas, Slack! Thanks for the find. That is major happy-making. The audience and the players are all having so much fun. That made my day!
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Slack on February 04, 2023, 03:54:08 PM
ha!, yeah it's really good.  Classical has such a struggle to attract young audiences.  It looked like lots of young Venezuelans in the audience though... many/most in blue jeans and t-shirts.
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: lindy on February 05, 2023, 02:21:14 PM
Slack's comment about classical music struggling to find young fans reminded me of a film I recently watched on the pbs.org website, called "Children of Las Brisas." It's about three Venezuelan kids growing up in a gang-dominated neighborhood. They see classical music as a way to escape their situations. The country was also falling apart politically during the 10 years it took to do all the shooting of film footage.

I can't embed the vid, you need to go to https://www.pbs.org/independentlens/, scroll *down* to the "WATCH NOW" section, then scroll *right* to the Las Brisas link.

90 minutes, worth the time, a powerful film.

Revised to add: in my experience, pbs gives free access to these films for XX days, then you need to be a member of your local pbs station to watch them. If you're interested, you might not want to delay watching it.

Lindy
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Stuart on February 07, 2023, 01:03:43 PM
Gustavo Dudamel, Star Maestro, to Leave L.A. for New York Philharmonic

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/07/arts/music/new-york-philharmonic-gustavo-dudamel.html

Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Slack on February 08, 2023, 08:54:21 PM
That's a nice write up.  Never heard of him until I came across the video - now he appears on the cover of NYT!  Quite the accomplished conductor at age 42, wow.
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: eric on February 14, 2023, 09:49:15 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylHlqKAsvt8
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: btasoundsradio on February 16, 2023, 01:40:09 PM
I have been completely engrossed in the guitar based classical music of Mauritania which uncannily resembles blues on many levels.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuEbeFmxOtg
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Forgetful Jones on February 16, 2023, 02:29:01 PM
btasoundsradio-
This is great.
Cheers!
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: btasoundsradio on February 17, 2023, 07:45:41 AM
The clip I posted is of Zeynabou Mint Hembara, daughter of famous Mauritanian vocalist and multi instrumentalist Baba Ould Hembara. The Hembara's are a family of brilliant musicians. I first heard this clip in 2021 when it came out on YouTube via Bellewar Media. I was already somewhat aware of Mauritanian and other African guitar music, but Zeynabou's voice made me really pay attention to the singers. Her voice reminded me of Mavis Staples and then I came to learn about her father Baba Ould Hembara through a recently issued collection of field recordings from the 90's from Mississippi Records called "Wallahi Le Zein". This set features mostly blistering electric guitar instrumentals and some vocals. Many of the tracks feature Baba's guitar and singing and those were the most impressive. The Hembara family musical legacy and close father daughter exchange reminded me alot of the Staple Singers early gospel sides from the 50's and 60's. Baba's killer voice and use of effects on his electric guitar and mixolydian scales reminded me alot of Pop Staples. Zeynabou's slightly lower register and soaring but slightly rough voice is what reminded me of Mavis a bit. Also guitars in Mauritania are refretted to feature microtones to create that psychedelic ambience and lightning fast bare fingered picking style. They did this so as to match the playing style adapted from their instrument called the tidinit, which audibly and visually resembles a small gourd banjo. The instrument called ardin resembles the kora and is solely played by women as also is most of their percussion. Men play the electric guitar. They also have wild sounding micro tonal synthesizers. I've noticed over time how their long form performance style and instrumental arrangements of this classical form resembles alot of aspects of Indian classical performance. I feel like there must be some ancient historical connection.
The most revered vocalist of recent Mauritanian music was Dimi Mint Abba who was called the "Diva of the Desert". She cut 2 studio albums of traditional music with her husband in the 80's and passed away while on tour with her husband in Morrocco in 2011. She was referred to World Circuit records at the recommendation of Ali Farka Toure. Her sister Garmi Mint Abba is also an incredible singer. Some more recent and contemporary sounding Mauritanian singers are Noura Mint Seymali, who is currently touring with a band and a singer Malouma Mint El Meidah also known as Malouma.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19aTW5lIygc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wfp1XMljLlw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrMWjWWGiaQ
https://mississippirecords.bandcamp.com/album/wallahi-le-zein
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: lindy on February 18, 2023, 06:16:39 PM
bta:

If you're not already aware of the sahel sounds label, based in Portland, OR, check them out:

https://sahelsounds.com/

Music from Mali, Mauritania, and Niger, and Tuareg cross-border music.

They do a lot of field recordings with smart phones (compare that with the recorders that the Lomaxes lugged around). They do stuff like record "various artists" on What'sApp and do a short run of vinyl pressings, with no intention of doing new pressings, purposefully keeping the music ephemeral.

https://sahelsoundscompilations.bandcamp.com/album/music-from-saharan-whatsapp?label=3079622170&tab=music

https://sahelsounds.bandcamp.com/

and a sampler: https://sahelsoundscompilations.bandcamp.com/album/sahel-sounds-label-sampler-2

The people who record the music in the field attend a lot of weddings, where musicians can play in front of large crowds. Plenty of vids on youtube for you to find.

Lindy
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: lindy on February 20, 2023, 11:28:41 AM
Here's another label to look at for obscure music from all parts of the globe: Mississippi Records. Hard to decipher where it's located, I think it started as a record store in Portland, Oregon (2,000-plus miles from Mississippi), but I've also seen a PO box number from Brooklyn (1,000 miles away). Whatever, they're all over the map musically, here's a link to their bandcamp transfer of a cassette tape containing acoustic guitar songs from West Kenya. Those familiar with Jean-Bosco Mwenda, Edouard Masengo, and East African acoustic fingerpicking guitar in general will love listening to this. The main player on the tape is Shem Tupe, a name I never heard of 'til today.

https://mississippirecords.bandcamp.com/album/guitar-music-of-western-kenya-45s-from-the-archive-of-shem-tupe   

Catalog:

https://www.mississippirecords.net/

Lindy
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: eric on April 14, 2023, 09:34:38 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5-z1c-9QmE
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: eric on April 17, 2023, 06:39:26 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtU-YceZCrU
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Rivers on June 25, 2023, 08:56:36 PM
So anyway, I got a great craigslist deal (steal) on a 2005 American Deluxe Strat with a great setup and all the switching and electronics in perfect working condition. As a result most of what I listen to are guitar tutorials on music theory & improv on YouTube.

I gotta tell ya, it's fed back into my acoustic fingerpicking in a good way. Wife and I have always jammed-out acoustically regularly. Practice your scales people, they are complimentary to our understanding of why stuff works, particularly in the ear training department for improving one's hearing of intervals before landing on them.
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Old Man Ned on June 27, 2023, 02:35:58 PM
https://youtu.be/poYFln5s4e0
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Johnm on June 27, 2023, 03:05:31 PM
Thanks so much, Ned, for posting this. What a perfectly beautiful tune and playing by Abdullah Ibrahim. I have this on his wonderful CD "African Marketplace".
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Rivers on August 26, 2023, 08:07:36 PM
Watchhouse, previously known as Mandolin Orange

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEt2lf7L13g&list=RDEMJoEExaOt7Ps5ksvhM6xGNA&start_radio=1
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: btasoundsradio on October 07, 2023, 04:32:43 PM
more Mauritanian music: Ooleya Mint Amartichitt and family:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5KLy98aoK4&list=WL&index=315&t=536s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PNgVzIL0yg
Audio in this clip is Adja Mint Aali from a French 78 rpm from the 20's (Excavated Shellac, Dust To Digital):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1_wqUGGdh4
Title: Re: What are we listening to now?
Post by: Forgetful Jones on January 13, 2024, 09:36:45 AM
Hello All-
A podcast I've recently found is Andrew Hickey's "A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs." It's a very interesting & entertaining podcast. There are tons of references and backstories in each episode, and I've learned a lot about the many connections and collaborations with the musicians involved.
He's been going for a few years, and he's a little bit more than a third of the way through the 500 songs. His starting point song-wise is 1938, but some there are mentions of some of our favorite Pre-War & Post-War Blues musicians along the way.

https://500songs.com/

Cheers!
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