Red Cheeks: The Big Spank and "Gypsy Rug Burn"

Albuquerque band The Big Spank provides us with Gypsy Rug Burn, our random tune for today. Described as providing high energy New Mexican music, the band doesn't have much more of a bio on the internet. You can find Gypsy Rug Burn on their 2007 album of the same name.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Source: http://www.thebigspank.com/

A Sign of Peace: Rahim AlHaj and Amjad Ali Khan with "Release of the Dove"

Today's random tune, Release of the Dove, is by Rahim Alhaj and Amjad Ali Khan. Rahim Alhaj is an Iraqi-American oud player and composer living in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He began playing the oud at age nine and soon revealed a great talent for the instrument. A political activist against the Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq, he was forced into political exile, first in Syria and Jordan and finally in the United States. He combines traditional Iraqi maqams with contemporary stylings and influences. Amjad Ali Khan is an Indian classical musician who plays the sarod, an instrument that his family claims to have invented - he is the sixth generation of his family to be a musician. He is a recipient of India's second highest civilian honor, the Padma Vibhushan. Release of the Dove can be found on their 2009 collaboration Ancient Sounds.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rahim_AlHaj; http://www.sarod.com/

Fishing: Mala Maña and "El Pescador"

Mala Maña, an all-female voice and percussion ensemble from Albuquerque. brings us today's random tune. Mala Maña focuses on Latin American music with flavors of the African diaspora to the New World. Formed originally around a love for the music of Colombia's coastal regions, they play traditional music as well as their own original tunes. In their music, you can hear elements of Caribbean reggaton, African-American traditional, salsa, and Mexican cumbia. The band has had a fluid lineup, allowing them to explore music of different genres and as we can attest, are a favorite on the Albuquerque music scene. This song, El Pescador, is from their 2013 debut CD Mala Maña.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Sources: http://www.malamanamusic.com/

Beautiful Bird: Baracutanga and "Peregrina"

Baracutanga, a band out of New Mexico, and their song Peregrina is today's random tune. Made up of musicians from Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and the United States, they are past winners of the New Mexico Music Awards Albuquerque Song Competition. They play infectious music of South America incorporating rhythms of Brazil, Peru, Colombia and more, and their name is an African voicing that means "people dancing," and hearkens back to the percussive instruments brought by Africans to South America. Through their music, they hope to overcome barriers of discrimination by building bridges between the north and south. You can find this song, Peregrina, on their 2015 debut album Importados.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Source: http://baracutanga.org/

It's a Rough Iiná: Def-I and "Tour Life"

Some rap on tap for today. Tour Life is performed by Def-I, an Albuquerque, New Mexico-based Native American rap and hip hop artist. A member of the Diné Nation (Navajo), Def-I ranges his styles from hip hop to spoken word to contemporary Native American acoustic. He recently formed a fusion quartet called DDAT and has performed around the country on tour and at festivals. He is also an active member of the community, leading workshops for students ranging in age from elementary school to college in creative writing, song creation and the art of hip hop recording and hip hop culture. He was an active supporter of the Standing Rock protests and helped raise $1.8 million dollars to support the cause with the aid of celebrities such as Taboo from the Black Eyed Peas. His example has made him a model and inspiration for a new generation of indigenous artists. You can find Tour Life on his solo CD Arrow-Rhymanics, released in 2017.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Source: https://dreamwarriors.co/artists/def-i/

Tune into the KUNM Global Music Show tonight, 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Time

I know today's a tough day. Music can help heal. Tonight on the Global Music Show I will start with some new Afro-beat and Afro-funk, then I will indulge my latest musical crush, Estonian Ethno-folk and folk rock, by highlighting some modern Estonian bands. After that, more new music mixed with some older stuff from all over the place. Join me from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Time at KUNM 89.9 Albuquerque/Santa Fe, or stream live at kunm.org.

It's a whole world of great music you never knew about. Here's a preview:

Makes My Dog Bark: Le Chat Lunatique and "Cri du Chat"

Albuquerque's own Le Chat Lunatique brings us the random tune for today. Le Chat Lunatique is an Albuquerque band who style themselves purveyors of "filthy, mangy jazz." Their inspiration is the Hot Club of France, mixed with some western swing, Latin rhythms, reggae and "anything else we damn well please." This song, Cri du Chat, is from their debut 2008 release Demonic Lovely.

Stop This Killing: Baracutanga and "Deja de Matar"

New Mexico's Baracutanga and their song Deja de Matar (Stop This Killing) graces our random tune for today. Made up of musicians from Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and the United States, they are past winners of the New Mexico Music Awards Albuquerque Song Competition. They play infectious music of South America incorporating rhythms of Brazil, Peru, Colombia and more, and their name is an African voicing that means "people dancing," and hearkens back to the percussive instruments brought by Africans to South America. Through their music, they hope to overcome barriers of discrimination by building bridges between the north and south. You can find "Deja de Matar" on their 2015 debut album Importados. This award winning song is a plea to stop violence written in the aftermath of the James Boyd killing by the Albuquerque police, and includes a rap by Albuquerque poet Hakim Bellamy.

Striking Some Blows for Women: Mala Maña and Tres Golpes

Today's random tune is by Albuquerque group Mala Maña. An all-female voice and percussion ensemble, they focus on Latin American music with flavors of the African diaspora to the New World. Formed originally around a love for the music of Colombia's coastal regions, they play traditional music as well as their own original tunes. In their music, you can hear elements of Caribbean reggaton, African-American traditional, salsa, and Mexican cumbia. The band has had a fluid lineup, allowing them to explore music of different genres and as we can attest, are a favorite on the Albuquerque music scene. This song, Tres Golpes, is from their 2013 debut CD Mala Maña.

Those Crazy Cats: Le Chat Lunatique and "Fou"

Happy anniversary to us! We come back home to Albuquerque for our second anniversary of the Global Music random tune (this just randomly came up, I promise!). Le Chat Lunatique is an Albuquerque band who style themselves purveyors of "filthy, mangy jazz." Their inspiration is the Hot Club of France, mixed with some western swing, Latin rhythms, reggae and "anything else we damn well please." This song, Fou, is from their debut 2008 release Demonic Lovely.

In the Gulag: Beirut and "Prenzlauerberg"

Today's song is called Prenzlauerberg. The song is performed by Beirut, a band initially formed as a solo project by Albuquerque-born Zach Condon and later expanded into a full band. Condon recorded the bulk of Beirut's debut album, Gulag Orkestar, in his bedroom and finished the album with the assistance of Neutral Milk Hotel's and A Hawk and a Hacksaw's Jeremy Barnes. The strength of the recordings brought Condon a contract with Ba Da Bing Records under the name of Beirut, and the album was released in 2006 in conjunction with some live shows in New York - Condon recruited some friends to play the concerts and they became the band Beirut. Beirut has released three albums, the last in 2011, and Condon has been involved in several side projects. Prenzlauerberg is from Beirut's 2006 debut CD, Gulag Orkestar.

Playlist (and links) for the 2/1/16 Global Music Show - Listen to the Two Week Archive!

Hey friends!  Check out the playlist for last night's Global Show and if you are curious, listen to the show on the KUNM two week archive. There was a lot of emphasis on songs about love, along with some brand new releases from January 2016 and a Carnival set. I've arranged the playlist here in order of artist, song and album with designations as to when they appear in the show.

10 pm to approx 11 pm

Sidestepper IColombia), Supernatural Soul, Supernatural Love

Manu Théron, Youssef Hbeisch & Grégory Dargent (France), Ar mi puesc Ieu lauzar d'Amor, Sirventés

Kočani Orkestar (Macedonia), Mangelma Stoposto (I Love You 100%), The Ravished Bride

Emrah (Turkey/Kurdish), Kusursuzsun (Acoustıc Versıon), Kusursuzsun

e2K (UK), The Water is Wide, Shift

Celtic Woman (Ireland), Siúil a Rún, Destiny

Polyrhythmics (US), Maruken, Octagon

Baaba Maal (Senegal), Fulani Rock, The Traveller

Buyepongo (US), Pegao, Todo Mundo

Karsh Kale (US), Butterfly Effect, Up

Gippy Grewal w/ DJ Flow (India), Chamkila, Desi Rockstar 2

Approx 11 pm - 12 am

Arturo O'Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra (US), Second Line Soca, Cuba: The Conversation Continues

Galactic w/ Casa Samba (US/Brazil), Magalenha, Carnivale Electricos

Galactic w/ Moyseis Marques (US/Brazil), O Côco da Galinha, Carnivale Electricos

Un Solo Pueblo (Venezuela), Macoklis Mango, Putumayo Presents Carnival!

Max de Castro (Brazil), A História da Morena Que Abalou as Estruturas do Esplendor do Carnaval, Orchestra Klaxon

Chaba Fadela & Cheb Sahraoui (Algeria), Mani, Putumayo Presents: Arabic Groove

Bally Jagpal (UK), Pheli War, Dark & Direct

Kailash Kher & Sanjay Divecha (India), Naino Sey, Putumayo Presents: India

Kiran Ahluwalia (India/Canada), Teray Darsan, Wanderlust

Sanjay Chitale & Sandeep Chowta w/ John Scofield and Lincoln Goines (India/US), Thodi Thodi, American Pilgrimage

Approx 12 am - 1 am

Yungchen Lhamo (Tibet/US), Nyebe Nilam, Ama

Carla Bruni (France), Quelqu'Un M'A Dit, Quelqu'Un M'A Dit

Värttinä (Finland), Taivasranta, Viena

Värttinä (Finland), Raijan Joiku, Viena

Trio Da Kali (Mali), Yirimadjo, Trio Da Kali - EP

Sainkho Namtchylak (Russia/Tuva), Erge Chokka To, Like a Bird or Spirit, Not a Face

Lenka Lichtenberg (Canada), Hey Tsigelekh, Yiddish Journey: The Music of Lenka Lichtenberg

Zusha (US), Mashiach, Kavana

Idan Raichel (Israel), Lifney She'Yigamer (Before It Ends), At the Edge of the Beginning

Yorkston/Thorne/Khan (UK/India), Everything Sacred, Everything Sacred

Buena Vista Social Club (Cuba), Murmullo, Buena Vista Social Club

Day of the Dead: Listen to the Global Music Show on the KUNM Two-Week Archive!

Hi readers and visitors: Want to hear the Global Music show that spawns this blog? Go to the KUNM Two Week Archive!

Just key in Monday, November 2 at 10 pm and let the player go. The show is three hours of global music with some commentary!  If you wonder why songs about death are sprinkled in, we did the show the day after Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead.

 Here's the playlist for the show:

All Souls Night - Loreena McKennitt (Canada)

Wheel Inside the Wheel - Mary Gauthier (United States)

A Todos Ellos - Mexican Institute of Sound (Mexico)

Dead Man - Nitin Sawhney (United Kingdom)

He No Dead Yet - King Fighter (Guyana)

Cumbia de los Muertos - Ozomatli (United States)

Aankharli Pharookai - Karam Abbas & Mai Dhas (Pakistan)

Piya Dekhan Ko - Nafees Ahmad Khan & Ustad Amid Ali Khan (Pakistan)

Jig O' Beer and Chai - Zakir Hussain (India)

Debho - Daby Toure (Mauritania)

Selfie - Koffi Olomide (Dem. Republic of Congo)

Tiè Faring - Kandia Kouyate (Mali)

Meshe Dehina Ederu - Ephrem Tamiru & Roha Band (Ethiopia)

La Llorona - Kočani Orkestar (Macedonia)

El Baile de la Lechuza - Daniel Santos (Puerto Rico)

An Cailleach - Salsa Celtica (Scotland)

Baba Yaga - Lily of the Valley (Germany)

Baba Yaga - Tuatha (United States)

Good Men - Buika (Spain)

Colibria - Nicola Cruz (France/Ecuador)

Avalanche - Boogarins (Brazil)

Oile Le La - Forro in the Dark (United States)

El Lado Mas Bestia de la Vida - Albert Pla (Spain)

Low Rider - Jake Shimabukuro (United States)

All Along the Watchtower - Eliades Ochoa (Cuba)

Harvest Moon - Bebel Gilberto (Brazil)

Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Israel Kamakawiwo'ole (United States)

Claire In Heaven - Capercaille (Scotland)

I Am Stretched On Your Grave - Kate Rusby (United Kingdom)

Ghost Lake - A Moving Sound (Taiwan)

Deep in the Heart: Los Texmaniacs and "Viva Seguin"

Today's song is very appropriate since as you're reading this, Megan and I are somewhere deep in the heart of Texas. Viva Seguin is by the group Los Texmaniacs. Created in 1997 by Max Baca, Los Texmaniacs wanted to play traditional conjunto and tejano music but also incorporate rock and jazz while honoring the old traditions. Baca was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico and followed is grandfather and father in learning the accordion starting at age 5. He was invited by one of his idols, the great Flaco Jimenez, to play in Jimenez' band in San Antonio where he learned to play the bajo sexto (bass) using all six strings in the traditional style. In forming Los Texmaniacs, Baca wanted to keep alive the style of another groundbreaking band, the Texas Tornados. Viva Seguin can be found on their 2012 release Texas Towns and Tex-Mex Sounds.

DakhaBrakha in Albuquerque Video 1

The Ukrainian group DakhaBrakha performed in Albuquerque on Monday, December 1 at the Dirty Bourbon Dancehall and Saloon and I was glad to see them for a second time. The performance was arranged by AMP Concerts and Avokado Artists. I first saw them at Globalquerque two years ago. They seemed to be in a playful mood as they wowed the crowd with a variety of genres, often in the same songs. This video is of their opening number, and was filmed on my little Samsung phone and edited with YouTube. The sound is very good quality.

Listen to the KUNM Global Music Show tonight, and hang out with us!

That's right, it's the first Monday of the month and time for your favorite hosts to bring you Global Music from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain time. And boy howdy, do we have a show for you! Megan is interviewing an organizer of the OneBeat Albuquerque at the Rail Yards, a world music event that will bring 25 musicians from 17 countries to Albuquerque. We will play some selections from these musicians, as well as listen to some of the newest recently released world selections (including Robert Plant, if you can believe it!). Of course, it will all be sprinkled with the wit and banter of your two hosts, Megan Kamerick and moi. 10 pm - 1 am on KUNM 89.9 FM or at http://www.kunm.org. If you MUST miss it tonight, then catch us on the two-week archive starting tomorrow. But don't miss it!

Globalquerque Video 8: Golem (Klezmer, United States)

Today's video captures a performance by klezmer band Golem from New York City, performing on the Plaza Mayor stage at the National Hispanic Cultural Center during Globalquerque 2014 on September 20th in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Golem was founded in 2000 by Annette Ezekial Kogan. They perform what they refer to as Eastern European folk punk, and their song are sung in Yiddish, English, and various Slavic languages. You can get a sense of their kinetic performance here.

I shot this on my Samsung Galaxy - good sound and video.

Globalquerque Video 7: Rahim AlHaj and Liu Fang

Today's Globalquerque video is of Albuqerque's own oud master Rahim AlHaj and Chinese pipa master Liu Fang performing in the Fountain Courtyard at the National Hispanic Cultural Center during Globalquerque 2014 on September 20th in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Liu Fang was born in China and currently lives in Montreal. She is described as the "empress of pipa" and is considered one of the foremost players of the pipa and the guzheng. She plays both traditional Chinese songs as well as classical Chinese music and modern compositions from the East and West. Rahim AlHaj was born in Iraq and emigrated to Albuquerque as a political refugee. He has been playing the oud since the age of 9 and studied in Iraq under the greatest masters of the oud. His political activism against the Saddam Hussein regime forced him to leave Iraq in 1991, and he lived in Jordan and Syria before coming to the US. He detailed in the concert how he wrote songs for oud and pipa and found Liu Fang to play them - and this song is one of those that he wrote.

I shot this on my Samsung Galaxy and because I was using zoom the video is a little grainy. There is also a bit of background sound from cicadas, which Rahim Alhaj notes before they play.

Globalquerque 2014 Video 6: Söndörgö (Hungary)

This video is of Hungarian Serb band Söndörgö (my best attempt at phonetics - SHURN-dur-gur) performing on the Plaza Mayor stage at the National Hispanic Cultural Center during Globalquerque 2014 on September 20th in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Focusing on the tambura, a stringed instrument of the Balkans, Söndörgö seeks to revive the once popular instrument through rapid-fire playing of traditional dance music and instrumentals.

This video was shot on my Samsung Galaxy, and the sound is good! Enjoy!

Globalquerque Video 3: Calypso Rose and Kobo Town (Trinidad & Tobago)

This video is of calypso legend Calypso Rose appearing with Kobo Town on the Roy E. Disney Stage at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico for Globalquerque 2014. Born McArtha Linda Sandy-Lewis, Calypso Rose has written over 800 songs and has recorded 20 albums. She dominated the Calypso Queen title for 5 years running (1972-1976) as well as garnering other awards and honors. Despite having health problems due to cancer in the 1990s, she still tears it up at 74 and, in the song after this one that I recorded, she actually twerked a little on stage. Kobo Town is led by Canadian-Trinidadian Drew Gonsalves, and the band blends calypso with ska, reggae, dub, rapso, zouk and hip hop, among other genres. Formed in 2004, the band has released two albums. The latest, Jumbie in the Jukebox, was released in 2013.

I recorded this video with my Samsung Galaxy on September 29th, 2014. I was sitting in the balcony to the left, so was able to get a wide shot. However, Calypso Rose kept moving out of the shot and one thing I've learned about shooting video is that it's best not to pan back and forth. The sound is okay, given that I was above the speakers. I hope you enjoy it.