Rolling Global Outernational Non-West Non-English (Some Exceptions) 2017 Thread Once Known as World Music

Not much out there....Bandcamp; Pitchfork seems to have dropped coverage of this stuff;Folk Roots aka FRoots; the Afropop Worldwide website ; if its got programmed beats - Fader;

ouch

otoh i find music listening much more pleasant when i'm not expected to write about it

I think that bland site Paste sometime has African music coverage

http://kronosquartet.org/news/article/out-this-fall-collaborative-album-with-malian-super-group-trio-da-kali

Back in 2014 I think, I saw Malian group Trio Da Kali do a live collaboration gig with the Kronos Quartet. An album is now due in September, and the link has an advance stream of one song

Great Zimbabwe band Mokoomba who were in the UK recently, are now touring the US again. Their one hour free gig on Tuesday August 1st from 6 to 7pm at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage in Washington DC will be videostreamed on the Millennium Stage website and on Facebook. It will also be video-archived.

Mokoomba did a few too many instrumental solos at that gig, but it was still enjoyable.

http://sahelsounds.com/2017/08/mdou-moctar-usa-tour-2017/

Includes NY, DC, and Philly shows plus more (no Ohio tho )

Latin Arabia! Check out excerpt and or full article below

https://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/music/from-south-america-to-a-dance-floor-near-you-looking-at-the-rise-of-reggaeton-1.614324

Marshall says all this points to the fact that popular music is drawing more of its inspiration from Africa and across the Caribbean.

“It’s that same Afro-Caribbean rhythm that underpins reggaeton,” he says, mentioning the recent success of Drizzy and RiRi.

“The rise of these Afro-Diasporic polyrhythms over the last 10 to 15 years across the global pop and dance landscape is the bigger story here. Reggaeton is playing the role of one crucial vector for that spread.”

Also paying close attention to the trend is Taymoor Marmarchi. As head of one of the Arab world’s most powerful music labels, Dubai-based Platinum Records, Marmarchi has this week launched a sub-branch of the label, called Latin Arabia.

With the aim of fusing Latin sounds with Arabic pop, the initiative was launched with a pair of tracks featuring Arab stars who have collaborated with one of the world’s leading reggaeton acts, Cuban duo Gente De Zona.

While young Moroccan stars Grini and Jamila’s La Gozadera is an Arabic remix of last year’s hit by De Zona, it is the original composed collaboration featuring Palestinian star Mohammed Assaf that hints at Latin Arabia’s promise.

Released last week as part of Assaf’s second album Ma Wahashnak, Baddek Enayah is a monster hit in the making with its seamless blend of Arabic folk and reggaeton beat with bright splashes of horns and flamenco guitars.

An accompanying music video featuring both artists is in the works, and Assaf says he is particularly proud of the song because it proves that Arab artists can keep up with the latest trends and can release work relevant to their fan base at any particular time.

“I think it has that nice modern touch that my Arabic fans want now from their music,” he told The National in an exclusive interview last week.

“They hear these western styles every day – I mean, just look at how big Despacito is around the world, I want to tap into that and prove that I, as an Arab artist, can do that, too.”

On a Diplo thread and elsewhere his interest in Afrobeats/afropop is discussed re a recent GQ story on him. Jordan linked to another story there, that works for this thread too

http://africasacountry.com/2017/07/sunday-read-cultural-appropriation-revisited/

As I write this, I’m sitting in a bit of limbo in London in one of my music partner’s dad’s flat (nice digs, but not a fancy Ace Hotel corner room by any means). I’m here because I’m on a promotional tour for the Kondi Band. Our label is based in London, and I know that Europe is a better place for us to tour this kind of music. They have tons of festivals, often funded by their national governments, that allow up and coming, experimental, underground, classic and lesser known acts to get their foot in the door or sustain a career. There’s one big problem: Sorie Kondi is not here since his travel has been put in limbo by the UK’s immigration agency. We have had several shows cancelled, even though we’ve offered an alternative set up that resembles more of a Jamaican Soundsystem-style show. So, we are losing money, and I’m stuck here waiting for my scheduled flight home (we don’t have enough money to change the flight.) I don’t know the future of the project because Sorie’s passport is also in limbo somewhere called Sheffield, and we don’t know if future tours will be put in jeopardy because of this situation. Add this to the fact that we are currently on a race against time to get enough attention to be able to justify the financing of the recording of a second album to our label and distributor. An international project like this needs infrastructure and capital to survive. The project as a whole is currently in several thousands of Euros debt, and after five years of hard work, it is in danger of falling apart.

That's Bomia Tucker writing

god dammit khun narin cancelled pdx tonight due to flight difficulties. :( honestly though i'm surprised anybody from outside america can get here. or that anybody from outside america would _want_ to get here.

mdou moctar supposed to be here next month. we'll see. we'll see.

they cancelled at Pickathon, too. but the bar gig was supposed to still happen, as of yesterday. bummer.

Youssou N'Dour's short US tour in August included a free show the other night in Chicago and an upcoming free one Saturday/tomorrow night in Brooklyn. He's in DC tonight and Columbus, Oh Sunday and then done. He did a few west coast dates to start. I'm just now catching up to his 2 most recent albums. I'm a big fan of his live gigs over the years (that are all mostly Senegalese mbalax with little of his cross attempts from decades ago, not that those are that terrible). The albums are solid enough (in my quick listens so far).

I like the 2017 N'Dour album Seeni Valeurs that I think was self-released better than the 2016 one Africa Rekk, that was on a major label (but I missed it till now). The 2016 one does have him dueting I think with someone else doing an autotuned vocal on one song (I think it's someone else and not his vocals dubbed in to duet with himself).

afropop worldwide is knockout ep after knockout ep right now. the malawi ep that just came out, and the bayaka pygmies ep they just reposted are both brilliant. the janka nabay ep was great. and now i see they just put out a new ep about afro-dominicana and "afro-syncretic religious parties."

I have donated $ to them in the past and should do so again

heads up that the playlist is up to date these days

ILM's Rolling Global Thread 2017 Spotify Playlist

This is exquisite

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxDsn-8eymk

Full-length version (Spotify) stretches it out a bit more

heads up for 2018 for NYC folks, Brooklyn Bowl is doing an April Festival of Mali:

April 13 – Toumani Diabate and Sidiki Diabate
http://www.brooklynbowl.com/event/1527525-toumani-diabate-sidiki-brooklyn/

April 14 – Sidi Touré
http://www.brooklynbowl.com/event/1528493-sidi-toure-brooklyn/

April 15 – Trio da Kali and Derek Gripper
http://www.brooklynbowl.com/event/1528524-trio-da-kali-derek-gripper-brooklyn/

April 16 – Fatoumata Diawara
http://www.brooklynbowl.com/event/1528532-fatoumata-diawara-brooklyn/

April 28 – Ibibio Sound Machine
http://www.brooklynbowl.com/event/1528534-ibibio-sound-machine-brooklyn/

Trio da Kali & Kronos were awesome playing together live several years ago, and I liked the advance I heard of their album

Mdou Moctar US tour underway. Los Angeles folks, free show Thursday September 7th at 6 pm at Amoeba in Hollywood.

and free nyc show on the 28
http://www.lincolncenter.org/show/mdou-moctar

is Moctar actually *in* the U.S.? is this confirmed?

he had to cancel UK/EU which made me nervous

he's got a few ny dates so there's some trust he's on the way

Do you think NY dates indicate more trust that he's on the way than Oakland or Cedar Rapids or Louisville?

I know how tours work ... he also just canceled a bunch of announced dates in Europe because of visa issues.

not trying to be coy or naive here, but i think multiple NY dates (as opposed to Louisville) means that more than one east coast promoter are working to make sure he gets into the country which a) helps his case with the visa office and b)suggests that people with money think he can jump through the necessary hoops else they wouldn't be actively promoting

that said i did not know he just canceled EU dates... I will reach out to a venue friend and ask

in portland he's playing at the same venue which booked khun narin. frankly i'm amazed that anybody can get in the country these days, things being how they are.

sorry, i didn't mean to be snarky w/ my last post. came out wrong.

i guess i just don't have the view that multiple east coast promoters who've booked shows w/ him have that much more pull w/ the visa office than dozens across the country. i know east coasters think east coast shows are a big deal (no shots, just saying) but i can't imagine the visa office cares more about a promoter in NYC than Louisville or L.A. but maybe i'm wrong.

he had EU dates announced for 8/19-9/2 but they announced cancellations on 8/31 ... not sure if the shows before that were canceled or not?

and this is why - as is the case with a lot of overseas acts these days - i will feel better when i see Moctar on U.S. soil.

he is supposed to play L.A. tomorrow night:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DG0NSzIV0AAqcy-.jpg

Eruv Sukkot in philly sadly or I'd go

i'm certainly no expert but having spoken with a lawyer who specializes in artist visa issues more or less exclusively, i think having the backing of folks with money, power and specific dates/programs to bring you into the country (and maybe moreso in a venue immediately adjacent to the airport where an artist touches down) makes for a stronger case. it's less about NYC I'M WALKIN' OVAH HEAH culture politics and more about being in a port city with heavy trade in artist transportation and people in power on the side of the angels (like lincoln center as a for instance) who have systems in place to better help mitigate than, say, Macon GA. that said, with the current administration in power, who knows anything about anything? i hope he don't run into any bullshit as i'd like to see him play.

let me know if that LA show does/doesn't come off please?

ooh, ok, that all makes me feel better. thanks for the insight. that's what i get for worrying out loud about something i don't know much about. :)

will do, re: LA

just called the hollywood amoeba (yay living in the future), they said it's a go

My source says he's due to arrive in US today and do the Amoeba gig tomorrow. So hopefully things run smoothly today!

Successful Moctar entry into US, first gig tonight at Amoeba in Los Angeles area

woohoo!

as long as we're in Moctar mode, he's playing live (and Sahel Sounds dude is DJing) from Noon to 2 Pacific today here: http://dublab.com/events/27840/live-broadcast-slayron-analogue-players-club/

https://www.musicinafrica.net/directory/yehunie-belay

Had never heard of this guy, but he's doing an Ethiopian New Year's gig near me this weekend. I like his voice on the first few cuts I have heard.

Ethiopian New Year is on the 11th this year.

Just got back from a screening of Akounak... followed by a Moctar concert and can confirm that he's in the states, has a warm smile and absolutely slays live.

Yes! Have seen some clips on Instagram of Moctar and band out west.

Oh, saw Senegalese group Bideew Bou Bess for free at Kennedy Center Millennium Stage last night. 3 vocalists, including one who played some guitar, plus 2 more folks- a drummer and a percussionist. A but uneven but impressive at times. They sing N'Dour style mbalax but also rap and add some r'n'b bits. Rapping was impressive in an oldschool golden era meets backpacker way-- verbose and polished inflection-wise(I don't speak Wolof) . They were in NYC the night before. Not sure where they play next.

The gig should be available soon on the K. Ctr M. Stage site's video archive.

Returned to K. Center last night and saw Cambodian Space Project do their psych/garage rock/Khmer pop thing. I liked it. They're doing a free NYC gig Friday night at the Cutting Room

https://daily.bandcamp.com/2017/09/20/africa-seven-feature/

Sonodisc African reissues

2nd Songhoy Blues album is a tad uneven but not bad

Songhoy Blues are touring the US right now. IN DC Thursday the 28th

TRANSGLOBAL WORLD MUSIC CHART TOP 15
August’s favourite albums compiled from a worldwide panel of broadcasters and writers.

1.TRIO DA KALI & KRONOS QUARTET Ladilikan (World Circuit)
2.TOKO TELO Toy Raha Toy (Anio)
3.BOKANTÉ Strange Circles (Groundup)
4.OUMOU SANGARE Mogoya (No Format!)
5.MAGÍN DIAZ El Orisha De La Rosa (Noname)
6.SABÎL Zabad (Harmonia Mundi)
7.TRIO TEKKE & DAVE DE ROSE Zivo (Trio Tekke)
8.RAHIM ALHAJ Letters From Iraq (Smithsonian Folkways)
9.FRIGG Frost On Fiddles (Frigg)
10.DIMITRIS MYSTAKIDIS Amerika (Fishbowl)
11.LILA DOWNS Salón, Lágrimas y Deseo (Sony)
12.MEÏKHÂNEH La Silenceuse (Buda)
13.SONGHOY BLUES Résistance (Transgressive)
14.DANYÈL WARO Monmon (Cobalt/Buda)
15.RANK LONDON Glass House Orchestra (Piranha)

The Oumou Sangare record is nice. What a great voice. Wish she would tour the US. Last time I think she came to my neck of the woods was at the Smithsonian Folklife Fest in like 2004 or 2005 (and I missed the show as I was busy coaching my son's baseball team or something...).

Songhoy Blues did a a 1 1/2 hour set in DC last night. Fun and lively, though their songwriting is a bit uneven and sometimes the guitarist goes from that cool North African sound to less interesting to me blues-rock power chords.

Also saw more Mdou Moctar footage on Youtube of him live on this US tour. Looking forward to seeing him for free Sunday night at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. That 6 to 7 pm est gig will be streamed live on FB & at the K Ctr M. St. website too I think.

Then seeing Sun Ra Arkestra open for Solange there (paid ticket) at 8 that night in another Kennedy Center theatre.

Moctar was great last night; they had a lot of technical issues though. Line to the free show around the block!