Leave it to Miguel Santos of LIFEM to introduce the world to one of the most amazing acts I’ve heard in some time.
Olcay Bayır is a Kurdish singer who hails from Turkey. Nizar Rohana plays the oud, and comes from Palestine. They make a formidable duo.
Cuncordu e Tenore de Orosei are a vocal group out of Corsica, a land famous for its gorgeous tradition of polyphonic singing. They’re joined here by trumpeter Paolo Fresu, another son of Sardinia for a new release on Buda Musique which should be out very soon.
Ghazal are an Iranian-Indian supergroup of sorts comprised of Kayhan Kalhor from Kurdish Iran on kamencheh, sitarist Shujaat Khan and tabla player Swapan Chaudhuri, who both hail from India.
From Éthiopiques 21: Ethiopia Song, this is Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou, one truly bluesy nun of the the Ethiopian Orthodox persuasion.
A Czech gypsy and former prostitute, Věra Bílá is a Romany institution. This was the first song I ever heard from her, probably about 7-8 years ago, and you can hear elements of jazz and flamenco inside the tune.
Adam Stângă is a trumpeter from Moldova. Something wonderful to tap your feet to.
Máddji (Norwegian info only) is a Sámi singer from Norway. The vocals are light, but powerful. Lyrics in both English and Sámi are shown below:
Lyrics (English):
You flew in from the dawn
Such a sight when you came into view
You stretched your white wings
Careful embrace
Swan, my swan
Dive, heat my blood
Swan, my swan
Before dawn breaks
You flew in from the dawn
Such a sight when you came into view
You whispered softly
Youthful caress
Swan, my swan
Dive, heat my blood
Swan, my swan
Before dawn breaks
Bring out my yearning
The longing of the lonely
Lyrics (Sámi):
Iđitguovssus girdilit
Hávski lei go iđistit
Vilges dolggiid geigestit
Várrogasat salastit
Njukča, njuvččažan
Buokčal, ligge varan
Njukča, njuvččažan
Ovdal iđitroađi
Iđitguovssus girdilit
Hávski lei go iđistit
Jaskatvuođain savkalit
Nuorravuođain njávkalit
Njukča, njuvččažan
Buokčal, ligge varan
Njukča, njuvččažan
Ovdal iđitroađi
Riegádahte áibbašeami
Oktovuođa váillaheami
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.
Kitka come as an absolute surprise to my ears. A group of American women who do justice to the Eastern Orthodox choral music of Russia, Bulgaria, Romania and other locales, they treat the material with reverence and sing in a nearly angelic manner. One of the best choral collections I’ve heard in some time.
Iran has a musical tradition that I find even richer than the local Arab Gulf states have, and they aren’t exactly hurting in the music department.
There is precious little known to Anglophone readers of the Mah Banoo Esemble except that the composer of this particular piece is one Majid Derakshani, who is a legendary composer and oud player.
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