Lazaro Ros and Grupo Olorun - Olorun I

barabara sounds sez:

Here's another album I picked up on the same trip. There are plenty of people who know a lot more than me about the Yoruba/Orisha religion and the praise music for the various gods. All I can say is that the old religion of the Mother Continent underpins all the music that comes out of Cuba. On one level, the rhythms of the drumming and the call and response-style chanting seem simple; but at the same time they are compelling and profound. This is probably the first time this music has appeared in the blogosphere.

Here's a comprehensive list of Orisha music (originally put together by Ish, the man behind the primo, not-to-be-missed Ile Oxumare) that offers a multitude of possibilities for further listening.

And here is an article on women's contribution to the sacred music. Definitely worth a read.

Juan Formell y Los Van Van - Te Pone La Cabeza Mala

barabara sounds sez:

Los Van Van are playing Key West later today, so in honor of this new crack in the musical embargo, it's time to dust off this old CD... and a host of memories along with it.

It was 1997 and we were in Santiago de Cuba for Carnaval (it happens in mid-summer, not at mardi gras time) and we heard a rumor that Juan Formell and his crew were going to play a free gig, but nobody knew when. Turned out they had to wait until after Fidel's speech finished (it was being broadcast on every radio in the city). That eventually happened some time after midnight -- after a mere 4 and a half hours (short for the legendary long-winded el Jefe). The crowd was huge, and the cheap malty slightly sour beer dispensed from ancient tanker trucks soon ran out, but it was definitely a memorable night.

Te Pone La Cabeza Mala (standard translation: 'You make my head spin') was a massive hit on the island at the time, and each time they sang the chorus everyone made this spinning circular motion around their heads. These days I don't listen to timba too much, but at the time those indefatigable incessant rhythms were fresh, a new direction with Juan Formell in the vanguard. Needless to say, I went out and picked up the CD the next day, just for the title track alone.

There's a bit more on Los Van Van here.

blue note nonstop 60 trax

barabara sounds sez:

Here we go with the full album complete with artist/track names. In case anyone missed the first post, this was a Japan-only sampler CD issued in 1999 to mark Blue Note's 60th anniversary. What you get is 60 snippets from some of the biggest artists on the label -- most of the obvious names and some classic riffs.

barabara brainteaser pt.2

Here's the album again, this time with the tracks separated.

And here's a clue: the track names are arranged in alphabetical order.

blue note nonstop 60 trax - a barabara brainteaser

Here's a barabara sounds Boxing Day brainteaser to nurse your neurons back to life after all that Christmas over-indulgence...

Blue Note Nonstop 60 Trax was a Japan-only sampler CD issued in 1999 to mark the label's 60th anniversary. As the name suggests, you get 60 snippets from most of the big-name artists, some of them classic riffs and some perhaps less known. So can you figure them out?

Today's post is the whole album nonstop; to make it easier, tomorrow I'll post a new link with the tracks separated; and after that, I'll post it again with the tracks identified.

Then, go over to the prodigious and brilliant Black Classical for some serious Blue Note action. Greg's Blue Note 70 mix — marking the 70th anniversary this year — is still up and still sounds outstanding.

[update: unfortunately Greg's blog is now long gone]

Asylum Street Spankers - Merry Christmas Baby

A whole album of Spankers weirdness is far too much to take, even with the festive theme. But here's clarinetist and all-round hipster Stanley Smith delivering the Yuletide greetings in his inimitable way. And if you don't know Stanley (and few do) you need to check out his bluesy album In the Land of Dreams — it's one of those under-the-radar lost-in-the-ozone all-time classics.

A very Merry Christmas to one and all.

Kronos Quartet - Winter Was Hard

barabara sounds sez:

Chilly weather all around the globe it seems (well, northern hemisphere only of course) so the time seems right for this old favorite. For free-jazz heads (and maybe for free jazzheads too), it's the John Zorn track that may grab — though it's far from jazz. More accessible is Lurie's more stately Bella by Barlight and the lovely choral title track. And the last track is a gas.

an amazon reviewer sez:

This is a terrific CD. From Webern to John Lurie, to John Zorn's wild "Forbidden Fruit," to a stunning rendition of Barber's Adagio in its original String Quartet form, this album rocks. Okay, probably not the most appropriate description of a string quartet album, but it does — it rocks. I think this is my favorite recording of the Barber Adagio. Some challenging pieces, but for anyone that loves contemporary classical music, this is a great set.