This is one of those songs I’ve searched for on Youtube for years, having no luck in ever finding a copy of it. Today, after digging through my own personal archives, I found this gorgeous track, which is apparently a folk song of some note in Georgia, even appearing in films.
To find this version, order the CD here from Wergo Records.
Bani are a folk music band from Georgia who sing, at least in this song, in Georgian and Nakh. Interesting, and extremely energetic music from the Caucasus!
From the island which gave the world Cesaria Evora comes another wonderful, husky voice in Carmen Souza, accompanied by bassist, composer and producer Theo Pas’cal, who is a hell of an arranger.
Phạm Mộng Hải is yet another new name to me. Vietnam seems rich in musical talent, but there simply isn’t enough information on artists from the country available in a language I can decipher.
Still, many thanks to Glitterbeat Records for enlightening the world with this release.
Kassa Tessema was a master of the kirar, an ancient stringed instrument from Ethiopia and Eritrea. He would accompany his playing with a healthy baritone singing voice.
While working as a buyer at Aron’s Records in Hollywood during my youth, I came across ECM Records. Up until then, the only thing I had ever heard off of the label was Keith Jarrett’s The Köln Concert. As I was able to listen to promo versions of new releases, I came across Anouar Brahem, but forgot about him for over a decade. My friend, Max Franosch, whose photographs grace a few classic ECM releases, reminded by of his work via a post several years ago, and I’ve been following his music intently ever since.