We send a mountain of respect to Charif Megarbane, head honcho of the Cosmic Analog Ensemble, for producing an album that combines the best of jazz, funk, noir, soundtrack music and deep groove. We’re looking forward to more from him!
Ethno-Jazz
[Music] Three Interesting Articles from Bandcamp
“Batsumi” Is A South African Gem Made In The Face of Oppression
A classic jazz album from South Africa is highlighted.
Ken Vandermark’s Indefatigable Drive and Avant-Garde Vision
The leading light of American free jazz speaks.
The New Wave of East African Sound
A good primer on what new music is popping up in the region.
[Music] Medeo Ensemble – Medeo
The Medeo Ensemble were a jazz-fusion band out of Almaty, Kazakhstan (then a part of the USSR). As far as I can tell, this is the only album they ever released, but it holds up nicely.
[Music] Kayno Yesno Slonce – Mare Verborum
Kayno Yesno Slonce are a band based out of Sofia, Bulgaria, who straddle genres so easily that they’re nearly impossible to classify. There is a gentle beauty in the music that reminds me of Bert Jansch or The Incredible String Band, but one can hear elements of Wyrd Folk like Shirley Collins or the more instrumental endeavors of Current 93. For those of you who like neofolk, Balkan music, or something slightly hazy and psychedelic, this album is a stunningly good choice for your ears.
[Music] Fatoumata Diawara – Fatou (Full Album)
World Circuit Records, a longtime leader in World Music, produces another magnificent album. This one is by a Malian singer born in Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) called Fatoumata Diawara. She’s worked with such luminaries as Paul McCartney, Damon Albarn and Beninese legends Orchestre Poly Rythmo de Cotonou.
[Music] Polish Jazz: Era-Defining Records From Behind The Iron Curtain
Cezary Lerski lived in Los Angeles last I remember, and his label should be sainted for providing so many re-releases of classic Polish Jazz. This new series is being handled by Languidity Records, and they also do amazing work.
Liza Premiyak of The Calvert Journal has more here.
[Music] Noël Akchoté – All I Have To Say
If this is all Noël Akchoté has to say, I’d say it’s quite a lot. Not since Derek Bailey has anyone, at least to my ears, make skeletal sketches sound to full. This is a solo album of standards sparsely arranged and performed on electric guitar. The most touching piece, Are You Lonesome Tonight, shows the beauty of the instrumentation, even if we’re lacking the voice of Elvis to fill this out.
Expect a few more reviews of Noël’s work here. He’s always busy crafting some new work of art, and collaborating with some fine new talent.
[Music] Marimba Plus – Apocalypse (The 15th Anniversary Concert)
With all due thanks to my friend in Kazakhstan, Vyacheslav Popatov, who introduced me to the work of Marimba Plus, a Russian ethno-prog-jazz-fusion band whose work is currently blowing me away. You can hear more from the band at their Bandcamp page.
[Music] Verneri Pohjola – Pekka
I’m absolutely pleased to announce an upcoming album by Finnish trumpeter Verneri Pohjola, titled Pekka. For those of you whose age hovers between 45 and 70 and were card-carrying members of the magic-hat-and-bunny-slippers brigade of prog rock aficionados, you will remember the legendary bassist Pekka Pohjola, who performed with such bands as Wigwam and collaborated with Mike Oldfield, among many others.
Verneri’s album will be a tribute to his father’s memory, and judging by the quality of the track being shared at the moment, it’s quite a lovely tribute.
[Music] Girma Bèyènè & Akalé Wubé – Enkèn Yèlélèbesh
Girma Bèyènè was one of the leading lights of Ethio-jazz during the 1960s and 1970s, before the rotten Deng ruined music for decades. He moved on to Washington D.C. and continued to make music with fellow Ethiopian ex-pats. He ended up getting asked by French band Akalé Wubé to come out of retirement and sing, and this groovy cut is but one of the tracks they paired up with. Their collaboration album is available on Bandcamp.
A Miscellany Of Tasteful Music 