Monday, December 31, 2018

Gathering by the Sea with Friends: Hapa and "E Hele Ana E"



Today's random tune is played by the Hawaiian group Hapa. Hapa means "half," and refers to the fact that one of the members, Barry Flanagan, is a white guy from New Jersey who is currently working with Hawaii natives Kapono Nāʻiliʻili, Tarvin Edwin Lono Makia, and Radasha Ho`ohuli. Flanagan has been a consistent 30 year member of the group. He started out partnering with Keli'i Ho'omalu Kaneali'i. Following Kaneali'i, Flanagan teamed with Nathan Aweau, who eventually left for a solo career. Flanagan then partnered with Hawaiian chanter Charles Ka'upu, who described Hapa's goal as helping revive the Polynesian language and to totally change the way the world perceives Hawaiian music. Unfortunately, Ka'upu died suddenly and unexpectedly in his early 50s in 2011. In its new incarnation Hapa continues to draw from jazz, folk, blues, bluegrass, Latin, flamenco, rock, Irish music and slam poetry as well as traditional Hawaiian music. Hapa's debut CD in 1995 became the biggest selling album ever by a Hawaiian group, and they have since released eight albums. This song, E Hele Ana E, can be found on Hapa's 2002 album In the Name of Love.

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.hapahawaiimusic.com/index.html

Sunday, December 30, 2018

Late Winter Carol: Tomás Kočko & Orchestr with "Kračún"



I know, I know, it's a little past Christmas for a carol, but it's still technically the Christmas season. Today's random tune is called Kračún and it is by Tomás Kočko & Orchestr. Tomás Kočko is a Czech singer, songwriter, composer and arranger and also a researcher into the art, history, culture and religion of Moravia and the Slavs. His orchestra combines elements of rock, folk and jazz with traditional music and has won awards for their work. The instrumentation is modern acoustic stringed and woodwind along with percussion and traditional folk instruments. You can find Kračún on their 2011 CD Koleda/The Carol.

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://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomáš_Kočko; http://www.kocko.cz/

Saturday, December 29, 2018

A Tangled Web: Fuasi Abdul-Khaliq and "Anansi"



It is delicious irony that on the day of my, Mike's, birthday that the song for today is called Anansi. Anansi refers to the trickster spider god of West African and Caribbean folklore and I happen to be very fearful of spiders. The song is performed by Fuasi Abdul-Khaliq, a Los Angeles clarinetist, saxophonist and flautist who works both as a collaborator with the Pan African Peoples Arkestra and as a solo artist. Anansi can be found on his 2008 album The Abakuá.

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.fuasi.com/

Friday, December 28, 2018

Legendary Bands at Legendary Venues: Franco Luambo and TPOK Jazz Orchestra with "Instrumental Dance Chant"



Today's random tune is by Franco Luambo and the TPOK Jazz Orchestra. A huge figure in African music, Congolese musician Franco Luambo was known for his mastery of rumba and as the founder of OK Jazz, later known as TPOK Jazz, a seminal African music group. Along with other musicians, Luambo founded OK Jazz in 1956 and the band lasted for over 37 years, and its roster of musicians reads like a Congolese musicians hall of fame. This song, Instrumental Dance Chant, was recorded live at the now legendary Zaire 74 concert which featured the cream of the crop of African and American musicians of the time. You can find it on the 2917 album Zaire 74: The African Artists.

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/Franco_Luambo; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TPOK_Jazz

Thursday, December 27, 2018

Poplar Trees: Sabahat Akkiraz feat. Erkan Oğur and "Kavaklar"



Sabahat Akkiraz brings us today's random tune, called Kavaklar. A Turkish folk music singer, was raised in Germany before returning to Turkey where she released her first professional album in 1983. She is not only well known for her contributions to Turkish folk music, but also as a politician and a member of the Turkish parliament where she represented Istanbul from 2011 - 2015. She resigned her position following the Soma mining disaster in Turkey and in protest of the ruling Justice and Development Party's response to a call to investigate the mine's safety record. She said at the time that being in parliament did not give her the ability to change the direction of the country. She is joined on Kavaklar by Erkan Oğur, a Turkish guitarist known for his invention of the fretless classical guitar, and his combination of Turkish classical and Turkish folk music with ancient traditional music. You can find Kavaklar on the 2006 various artists collection Homegrown Istanbul, Vol. 1.

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/Sabahat_Akkiraz; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erkan_O%C4%9Fur

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Traditional: Christine Salem and "Ti Blé"



Today's random tune is by Christine Salem. Salem hails from the island of Réunion in the Indian Ocean, a French territory about 120 miles southeast of Mauritius. Her music centers around "maloya," the traditional music made up of work songs and chants of the former African slaves of the island. These songs are percussion driven and of the call and response type and are often used to induce a trance where one communes with their ancestors in a musical gathering called "servis kabaré". The music was illegal on the island until 1981, as it was considered by the Catholic Church to be "devil's music" and by the authorities as a political threat. In fact, a woman singing this type of music upset some of the older generation, because it was also generally seen as "men's music." Salem came upon the music while attending a servis kabaré, and she became hooked. She has received international acclaim for this music, and has performed at WOMAD. This song, Ti Blé, can be found on her 2012 EP Mikonépa, and on her 2013 full CD Salem Tradition.

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.christinesalem.com/

Tuesday, December 25, 2018

Martial Art: Mestre Saussuna & Dirceu with "A Morte do Capoeira"



Merry Christmas! Our random tune today is from Brazil and is called A Morte do Capoeira. It is performed by Mestre Saussuna & Dirceu. Reinaldo Ramos Suassuna, who also is known as Mestre Saussuna, is the founder and the head of an international capoeira organization called Cordão de Ouro. Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian martial art combining dance, acrobatics and music. Saussuna began practicing capoeira in the 1950s as treatment for a physical handicap in his legs. He has since produced many capoeira shows and has released four CDs, as well as conducting workshops in Brazil and internationally. He has also created a capoeira discipline called the Miudinho Game, with a distinctive rhythm based in the berimbau, which has become known as the distinctive discipline of his school of capoeira. You can find A Morte do Capoeira on his album Capoeira - Cordão de Ouro, released in 1994.

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/Reinaldo_Ramos_Suassuna

Monday, December 24, 2018

Gift of Gabby: James "Bla" Pahinui and "Gabby Kai"



Today's random song is by Hawaiian guitarist James "Bla" Pahinui. The second son of legendary guitarist Gabby Pahinui, James built his first instrument at age 10 and then learned to play ukulele starting the following year. He switched to guitar in his teens, and as a left hander he turned the guitar upside down and developed a distinctive style of playing by picking the bass strings with his index finger while playing the other strings with this thumb. He has also developed a signature slack-key style, which in his words, stretch out the notes and take melodies in new directions. Since the early 60s, he has been exploring the music of his Hawaiian roots. This song, Gabby Kai, can be found on his 1997 album Mana (re-released in 2009), and on the Putumayo compilation Music From the Coffee Lands.

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.allmusic.com/artist/james-bla-pahinui-mn0000089511

Sunday, December 23, 2018

A Full One: Naked Rhythm and "Moon Over Ala Nar"



Today's song is by Naked Rhythm, a Los Angeles based band that was founded in 2003 by drummer Avi Stills and percussionist Alex Spurkel. Envisioned as an effort to break down borders and bring the world together through cross cultural music and dance, they fuse exotic world music and percussion with contemporary electronic dance, recalling sounds of the Middle East, India, Africa and South America. You can find this song, Moon Over Ala Nar, on Naked Rhythm's 2006 album Frequency.

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.nakedrhythm.com/

Saturday, December 22, 2018

Tightly: Cha Wa and "Hold 'Em Joe"



From New Orleans comes today's random tune, called Hold 'Em Joe. The song is performed by Cha Wa, a band that melds New Orleans brass band sounds with the Mardi Gras Indian musical tradition and explores contemporary interpretations of traditional Mardi Gras Indian songs through the vocals of Big Chief Monk Boudreaux of the Golden Eagles Mardi Gras Indian tribe. Founded by drummer Joe Gelini, the band also features J'wan Boudreaux, grandson of Monk Boudreaux and himself the spyboy for the tribe. The name of the group, Cha Wa, means "we're coming for you" in the Mardi Gras Indian vernacular. You can find Hold 'Em Joe on Cha Wa's debut album Funk 'n' Feathers (2016).

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.chawaband.com/#chawa-section

Friday, December 21, 2018

It Won't Put You To Sleep: The Secret of Roan Inish and "Piper's Lullaby"



The soundtrack from a movie set in Ireland is on tap for today's random tune. The Secret of Roan Inish centers on the tale of selkies - seals that can shed their skin to become human in appearance. The music for the film was written and arranged by Mason Daring, an American composer and musician who is largely known for his scores to films by John Sayles. This song, Piper's Lullaby, can be found on The Secret of Roan Inish soundtrack (1995).

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/Mason_Daring; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Secret_of_Roan_Inish

Thursday, December 20, 2018

Traveling: Fiamma Fumana and "Check In"



Our tune for today is from Italy. Check In is by Fiamma Fumana, an Italian world music band that mixes traditional Italian tunes with electronica. To date, they have released four albums. Check In is from their 2006 album Onda, and can be found on the 2008 compilation Putumayo Presents: Euro Groove.

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/Fiamma_Fumana

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

An Ant on a Rubber Tree Plant Has It: Glen Hansard and "High Hope"



Glen Hansard sings today's random global tune, called High Hope. Glen Hansard is an Irish musician, vocalist, songwriter, and actor. He is the guitarist for the group The Frames, and one half of the folk-rock duo The Swell Season. Hansard quit school at age 13 to start busking on the streets of Dublin. He appeared in the 1991 film The Commitments as guitarist Outspan Foster. In 2007 he starred with The Swell Season partner Markéta Irglová in the film Once. The songs in Once were composed by Hansard and Irglová, and they won an Academy Award for Best Song - the movie was made for only €112,000, but saw significant financial and critical success. Hansard says that his music is influenced by Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and Leonard Cohen. He is also a devotee of the Hindu deity Krishna. You can find High Hope on his 2012 album Rhythm and Repose and on the various artists compilation The Music of Ireland, Disc 2 (2011).

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/Glen_Hansard; http://glenhansardmusic.com/

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Longing for Home: Van Morrison and The Chieftains with "Carrickfergus"



Okay, okay, it looks like I'm violating my rule again, but I'm not. This song is by Van Morrison and The Chieftains, so it's different. The Chieftains are one of the greatest ambassadors of Irish music to the world, and have formed their distinctive sound around the Uileann pipes. Van Morrison, from Northern Ireland, is a singer-songwriter and musician who has been described as mystical and transcendental. Some of his albums have appeared near the top of many lists of the greatest albums of all time. He has released 39 albums. The collaboration between Van Morrison and The Chieftains goes back to at least 1979, when they met at the Edinburgh Rock Festival, and agreed to record an album together. The result, 1988's Irish Heartbeat, received positive critical acclaim, including 4 stars from Rolling Stone and was called one of the best albums of the year by The Village Voice. You can find this song, Carrickfergus, on Irish Heartbeat.

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://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Morrison; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chieftains

Monday, December 17, 2018

Ring Ding Dinging: The Chieftains and "The Bells of Dublin/Christmas Eve"



I'm forgoing a rule I have, in which I don't play the same group within the same month. Because it is getting toward Christmas, and a Christmas themed song has come up by the Chieftains, I am going to use it anyway. The Chieftains are an Irish ensemble formed in Dublin in 1962, and they developed their music primarily around the distinctive sound of the uileann pipes. They took their name from the title of a novel by Irish author John Montague. Besides releasing several critically acclaimed albums, they are just as well known for their collaborations with such artists as Van Morrison, The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Sinead O'Connor and Roger Daltry. They have released 44 albums. This song, The Bells of Dublin/Christmas Eve, is from their 1991 album The Bells of Dublin.

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/The_Chieftains; http://www.thechieftains.com/main/

Sunday, December 16, 2018

Because of You: Zlatni Dukati and "Zbog Tebe"



Today's random tune is by a Croatian band called Zlatni Dukati, who later transformed themselves into Najbolji Hrvatski Tamburasi. Playing a style of music called tamburasi, or tamburica music, the band was formed in 1983 in the Croatian district of Slavonia and made a name for themselves on a tour of the United States sponsored by the Croatian Fraternal Union. That tour led them to start composing and playing Croatian patriotic songs coinciding with the breakup of the Yugoslav Republic, the establishment of Croatia as an independent nation and the subsequent war. In 1997, they made their name change to Najbolji Hrvatski Tamburasi, which means The Best Croatian Tambur Band. The band meant to use the name only temporarily, but has kept it. You can find this song, Zbog Tebe, on the Zlatni Dukati album Nek Zvone Tambure (1988) and on the Najbolji Hrvatski Tamburasi album 50 Originalnih Pjesama (Disc 2).

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/Najbolji_hrvatski_tambura%C5%A1i

Saturday, December 15, 2018

It's Laotian: Lo'Jo and "Vientiane"



Today's random song is by Lo'Jo, a French band that performs songs drawing from world music, gipsy music, North African music and French folk songs. Lo'Jo began in 1982 in the French city of Angers and performed locally for several years - with a rotating cast of band members and alongside acrobats, street actors, mimes and dancers. They became known worldwide in the 1990s after touring around Europe and appearing in New York City. In 1995 they solidified their lineup by adding Berber musicians Yamina Nid El Mourid and her sister Nadia - which opened the band to influences from North African music. This song, Vientiane, can be found on their 2012 album Cinéma el Mundo.

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/Lo'Jo; http://www.lojo.org/

Friday, December 14, 2018

Have Some Heart: The Souljazz Orchestra and "Courage"



Today's song, Courage, is by Ottawa-based band The Souljazz Orchestra. Their music is a fusion of soul, jazz, funk, afrobeat and Latin styles. They came to worldwide attention when their 2006 song Mista President was voted into the top 10 of BBC DJ Gilles Peterson's worldwide radio program. They have shared bills with Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder and Femi Kuti, bringing them more attention. They have released seven albums. Courage can be found on their newest 2015 release, Resistance.

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/The_Souljazz_Orchestra; http://www.souljazzorchestra.com/

Thursday, December 13, 2018

Where Do I Come From: ChocQuibTown and "De Donde Vengo Yo"



Today's random tune, De Donde Vengo Yo, is by ChocQuibTown. ChocQuibTown is a hip-hop group from Colombia, whose name comes from the department (Chocó) and city (Quibdó) where Gloria and Miguel Martinez met Carlos Valencia. The three met up again in Cali after having moved there and Valencia told them of his idea to build a hip hop group that would fuse Afro-Caribbean music with hip hop from the perspective of the people who lived in Chocó. The band has been nominated for two Grammy awards, and has been nominated seven times for Latin Grammy's and has won twice. Their most recent win was in 2015 for best tropical fusion album. De Donde Vengo Yo was the 2011 winner for best alternative song, and can be found on their 2010 album Oro.

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.chocquibtown.com/

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Let's All Go to the Lobby: Nik Phelps and the Sprocket Ensemble with "Intermission"



Today's song comes from an animated movie called Sita Sings the Blues, which was written, drawn produced and directed by Nina Paley. The film juxtaposes in parallel the plot of the story of Rama and Sita in the Ramayana with Paley's own marriage and relationship. The film has garnered some controversy among some Hindu believers because of its unorthodox portrayal of Rama. This song, Intermission, was written and performed by Nik Phelps and The Sprocket Ensemble. Phelps is a wind instrument performance specialist who has made a career in film composition. He has recorded with musicians such as Tom Waits, and has appeared with Frank Zappa and Tony Bennett. The video shows the various characters, including Rama, Sita, Ravan and Hanuman, heading to the lobby for snacks. If you are interested in the Sita Sings the Blues, which uses music from old Annette Hanshaw recordings as well as original music, you can download it for free at Paley's website.

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/Sita_Sings_the_Blues; http://niksprocket.org/bio_08.html

Tuesday, December 11, 2018

We're Almost There: The Twain Shall Meet and "Solstice"



The Twain Shall Meet brings us our song of the day, entitled Solstice. The Twain Shall Meet is comprised of Egyptian cellist Ashraf Hakim and guitarist Scott Wurtz. I couldn't find much substantive information on the musicians. Solstice can be found on their 2008 eponymous album The Twain Shall Meet.

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: Not much

Monday, December 10, 2018

Like Marco Polo: Tom Teasley and "The Jade Emperor"



Today's song is by Tom Teasley,a multi-instrumental performer who uses instruments from around the world to cross cultural boundaries in his solo performances. As well as being a multi-instrumentalist, Tom Teasley is a State Department cultural envoy, and has given performances with indigenous musicians in various venues around the world. He also shares his experiences in speaking engagements. He has performed with an eclectic set of visual and performing artists, including Nick Cave, and at art museums around the world. The Percussive Arts Society International Convention broke tradition three times to feature his presentations. This song, The Jade Emperor, is from his 2016 album Eastern Journey.

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.tomteasley.com/

Sunday, December 9, 2018

Labyrinthine: R. Carlos Nakai and "Resonance: Into the Maze"



R. Carlos Nakai brings us the random tune today. Born in Flagstaff, Arizona, R. Carlos Nakai is of Navajo and Ute heritage. Given that his music is so peaceful, it is hard to believe that he started out his musical career at Northern Arizona University playing brass instruments in a marching band, and that he enlisted in the US Navy as a sophomore so that he might play with the US Navy Band. After passing the audition, he was 28th on the Armed Forces School of Music waiting list, but an auto accident damaged his mouth and made it impossible for him to play brass. Not long after his accident, he was presented with a traditional cedar flute as a gift, and challenged to master it. And master it he has! Drawing from Native tradition but also blending Native music with that of other cultures, Nakai has created the only two Native American albums to be certified gold and platinum. He has worked with musical luminaries such as American composer Philip Glass, Israeli cellist Udi Bar-David, Tibetan flautist Nawang Khechog, American flautist Paul Horn and slack key guitarist Keola Beamer. He has been inducted into the Arizona Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame. This song, Resonance: Into the Maze is on his 1993 platinum album Canyon Trilogy.

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/R._Carlos_Nakai

Saturday, December 8, 2018

Wise Like Savages: Sages Comme des Sauvages and "Asile Belleville"



Sages Comme des Sauvages brings us the random tune for today, called Asile Belleville. Other than finding that they are a "Franco-American-Greco-Corsican-Brussels duo", it is hard to get a bio on them. They seem to make folk music using indigenous instrumentation, but this song sounds almost punk in its sensibilities. You can find Asile Belleville on their 2015 album Largue la Peau.

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://sagescommedessauvages.org/

Friday, December 7, 2018

Joanie Loves Tcha Tcho: Koffi Olomide and "Loi"



Today's random tune is by Koffi Olomide, and is called Loi. Koffi Olomide is the performing name of Antoine Christophe Agbepa Mumba, a Congolese soukous singer, dancer, producer and composer. After studying in Bordeaux, France and obtaining a bachelors in business economics and reportedly a masters in mathematics, Olomide returned to The Democratic Republic of the Congo in the 1970s and joined Papa Wemba's band Viva la Musica where he became lead vocalist. In 1986 he formed Quartier Latin International, and performed with them and solo, along the way developing the slower type of soukous into a genre he called Tcha Tcho. He is not afraid to take on controversial topics in his music, such as current events and taboo subjects, but unfortunately, he has also been controversial and known for assault - he kicked a cameraman at a concert, assaulted his producer, and kicked a female dancer in his show which led to his temporary deportation and a prison sentence. You can find Loi on his 2014 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: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koffi_Olomide

Thursday, December 6, 2018

Guitar Hero: Ali Farka Touré and "Yenna"



The great Malian guitarist and singer Ali Farka Touré brings us today's song, Yenna. Ali Farka Touré was a Malian singer, multi-instrumentalist and one of the most renowned African musicians. His music fits right into the intersection of traditional Malian music and North American blues. Known as the "African John Lee Hooker," he sang in several African languages, and was once ranked by a panel of critics for Rolling Stone magazine at number 76 of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time and was ranked by Spin Magazine in 2012 as number 37 on the 100 Greatest Guitar Players of All Time. In 2004, he became mayor of a small town and spent his own money on improving infrastructure. He died in 2006 of bone cancer.  Yenna can be found on his 1992 album The Source.

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://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Farka_Tour%C3%A9

Wednesday, December 5, 2018

But I Want to Samba Today: Ballaké Sissoko & Vincent Ségal with "Samba Tomora"



Today's random tune is called Samba Tomora and is performed by Ballaké Sissoko and Vincent Ségal. A well-regarded player of the kora, Malian Ballaké Sissoko is the son of renowned griot Djelimady Sissoko. Those born into the griot caste learn music a young age, and Sissoko is no exception - he taught himself kora by watching his father. He has collaborated with Toumani Diabaté, Taj Mahal, and Vincent Ségal with whom he has done three albums. Vincent Ségal, from France, is a cellist and bassist who is known for his interesting collaborations with artists as varied as Elvis Costello, Blackalicious, Cesaria Evora, Sting and others. He is also the co-founder of the down-tempo electronica band Bumcello, with which he won France's prestigious Victoires de la Musique and was named France's Electronic Musician of the Year in 2006. Samba Tomora can be found on Ballaké Sissoko and Vincent Ségal's 2015 album Musique de Nuit.

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://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballak%C3%A9_Sissoko; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_S%C3%A9gal

Tuesday, December 4, 2018

Looking for Something Sweet: The Luminescent Orchestrii and "Nasty Tasty"



Our random tune for today is performed by The Luminescent Orchestrii, an experimental group based in the United States and active from 2002 - 2012. Their oeuvre consisted of music influenced by Middle Eastern, gypsy, and traditional European music along with Appalachian fiddles, hip hop beats and an attitude often found in punk bands. They often used instruments that they had modified to create their sound. This song, Nasty Tasty, can be found on their 2009 album Neptune's Daughter.

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://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Luminescent_Orchestrii

Monday, December 3, 2018

Oud Prodigy: Mohamed Abozekry & Heejaz with "Sérague"



Today's tune is by Mohamed Abozekry & Heejaz, a quartet of French and Egyptian musicians formed in 2010 that focuses on instrumental music. Led by oud prodigy Mohamed Abozekry, who at age 15 became the youngest professor of the oud in the Arabic world, the seeds of the band formed when he met French artist Guillaume Hogan at a concert in Cairo, where Abozekry was persuaded to continue his musical studies at the University of Lyon. It was there that Abozekry met the other musicians that would form Heejaz. This song, Sérague, can be found on their 2015 album Ring Road.

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://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohamed_Abozekry_%26_Heejaz; http://mohamedabozekry.com/en/

Sunday, December 2, 2018

World Music Pioneer: Pangea and "Mangbetu Girl"



Our random tune today, called Mangbetu Girl, is by Pangea. Pangea was a project of Dan Lacksman, a Belgian composer and sound engineer. He mixed and produced albums in a variety of genres, such as pop, rock, jazz, classic, dance and electronica. He is a co-founder and member of the avant-garde electronica group Telex, and a producer of the world music group Deep Forest. On the whole, Pangea was formed to make world music more accessible to European and American audiences and was one of the early pioneers of the genre. You can find Mangbetu Girl on the 1996 album Pangea.

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://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Lacksman

Saturday, December 1, 2018

Dark Seas: Cirque du Soleil and "Mer Noire"



From realms of fantasy and delight comes our random tune for today, by Cirque du Soleil. This song, Mer Noire, along with the entire soundtrack of Cirque du Soleil's Las Vegas (Bellagio Hotel) water and stage show O, was composed by Canadian Benoit Jutras. Jutras' eclectic music combines worldbeat, classical, rock, trip hop and electronica, and the score of O is no exception, with instrumentation that includes classical Western, erhu (Chinese violin), bagpipes, African guitar, African kora (harp), Colombian guitar, cello, ancient woodwinds and a wide variety of percussion instruments. Mer Noire can be found on the soundtrack for O, released in 1998.

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://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cirque_du_Soleil; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beno%C3%AEt_Jutras

Friday, November 30, 2018

Firm Joiks: Värttinä and "Raijan Joiku"



Our random tune for today is byVärttinä, a folk group from Finland founded in 1983 by sisters Sari and Mari Kaasinen when they entered a youth arts contest and read poetry. They made it into the finals that first year, and the next year they switched to music, named themselves Värttinä, and won the event. They added some male musicians in 1985 and entered the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival, becoming known as the group that sings high and loud. In 1987, at the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival, they were chosen "Ensemble of the Year," and in 1988 they released their first album. In the early 1990s, they moved to Helsinki and began training at the Sibelius Academy and perfecting their skills. The band first performed traditional Finnish folk songs, but in the mid-1990s began playing its own original compositions. Over the years the band has had many forms and lineup changes, and is currently made up of three female vocalists and three acoustic musicians. They have performed worldwide to international acclaim and have released 16 albums, including 3 compilation albums and one live CD. You can find this song, Raijan Joiku, on Värttinä's 2016 album Viena. A joik is a type of personal or spiritual chant associated with the Sami peoples of the Nordic countries.

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://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%A4rttin%C3%A4; http://varttina.com/

Thursday, November 29, 2018

Don't Leave: Inti-Illimani and "Tú No Te Irás"



Chilean folk group Inti-Illimani plays today's random tune. Formed in 1967 by university students, Inti-Illimani gained popularity in Chile due to their song Venceremos (We Shall Overcome) which became the anthem of the populist movement. This led to their exile - Allende's government was overthrown while they were on tour in Europe and, fearing for their safety, they stayed in exile in Italy until 1988, leading them to joke that their exile was the longest tour for any band ever. While in exile, they began to combine their Latin musical heritage with elements of European baroque and popular music, and by doing so helped create some of the first "world" music. Their music was banned in Chile, though distributed underground, and in 1988 they were allowed to return to their country. They participated actively in the campaign that ousted Pinochet from power in a democratic election, and continue their political activism to this day. However, in 2001 the band split over musical and political differences, and there are now two bands. The first retained the name of Inti-Illimani, and the second became Inti-Histórico. This song, Tú No Te Irás, is on Inti-Illimani's 2002 album Lugares Comunes.

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/Inti-Illimani

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Image of Love: Metá Metá and "Imagem do Amor"



The performer of today's random tune, Metá Metá, is a Brazilian band from São Paulo with musical roots in the Candomblé religion. This song is called Imagem do Amor and it's from album Metá Metá's 2016 album MM3. The album is influenced by Brazilian political crisis, and its songs incorporate Northern African influences from their travels to Morocco, as well as a post-punk/thrash sensibility.

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://metametaoficial.com.br/; https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/sep/08/meta-meta-mm3-review-brazilian-fusion-world-jazz

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Oh My Little Boat: Cathie Ryan and "Óró Mo Bháidín"



Cathie Ryan, an Irish-American native of Detroit, Michigan, brings us today's random tune. Ryan was exposed early to Irish musicians such as Tommy Makem and the Clancy Brothers as well as American musicians such as Johnny Cash, Jim Reeves and Hank Williams. In her childhood she idolized her father, a tenor, who taught her how to interpret and honor songs by knowing their histories and contexts. She was also exposed to the music of Appalachia from neighbors who had migrated to Michigan to work in the auto factories and gained an appreciation for the likes of Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn and Patsy Cline, as well as the local music out of Motown. Moving to New York, she learned more about traditional Irish music from her then husband singer-songwriter Dermot Henry and mentor Joe Heaney. After graduating from CUNY with a degree in English Literature and Secondary Education, she began teaching at Lehmann College in the Bronx, but left the classroom behind as her singing career began to blossom. She still continues to teach workshops in traditional Irish singing and Irish mythology and folklore. She was a member of the all female Celtic group Cherish the Ladies. This song, Óró Mo Bháidín, can be found on her 1997 debut album Cathie Ryan.

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://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jake_Shimabukuro; http://jakeshimabukuro.com/

Monday, November 26, 2018

It's Cool: Lord Echo and "Just Do You"



New Zealand native Lord Echo, who also goes by the name of Mike Fabulous (real name Mike August), brings us today's random tune called Just Do You. Exposed to music by his mom early in life, August learned to play ukulele and guitar at age 10, and currently his main instruments are guitar and bass with dabblings in percussion, keys and drums. He had a short stint studying music composition at Victoria University in Wellington before getting interested in reggae and performing with The Black Seeds. After 15 years with them, he moved on to do his own solo work. You can find Just Do You, a song that manages to be both funky and chill, on Lord Echo's 2017 album Harmonies. The song features Mara TK, another New Zealand musician, on vocals.

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://nzmusician.co.nz/features/lord-echo-melodies-harmonies-curiosities/

Sunday, November 25, 2018

Makes Me Wanna Uke: Jake Shimabukuro and "Less Cowbell, More Ukulele"



Jake Shimabukuro, a fifth generation Japanese-American who is redefining the ukulele through his virtuosity, brings the random tune for today. Known for fast and complex finger work, Jake Shimabukuro mixes all kinds of elements into his music, including jazz, blues, funk, rock, bluegrass, classical, folk and flamenco. He is well known in his home state of Hawaii, but gained international recognition in 2006 for a video capturing him and his rendition of The Beatles' While My Guitar Gently Weeps, which was posted on YouTube without his permission and became one of the first viral videos. He has become very popular in Japan, where he tours often. He originally used effects pedals to alter the sound of the ukulele, but in the past number of years has relied on the instrument's natural sounds. He has won numerous awards, and has been declared a "music hero" by Rolling Stone. This song, Less Cowbell, More Ukulele (also known as More Ukulele), can be found on his 2012 album Grand Ukulele. This version is a special in-studio performance he did for PBS Hawaii.

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://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jake_Shimabukuro; http://jakeshimabukuro.com/

Saturday, November 24, 2018

Early Christmas: The Chieftains with Renaissance Singers Belfast and "Ding Dong Merrily on High"



We're about a month away from the holidays, and the Global Music randomizer wants you to start getting in the mood, kind of like a department store after Halloween. Today's song is by The Chieftains with The Renaissance Singers Belfast, and is a holiday song called Ding Dong Merrily on High. The Chieftains are an Irish ensemble formed in Dublin in 1962, and they developed their music primarily around the distinctive sound of the uileann pipes. They took their name from the title of a novel by Irish author John Montague. Besides releasing several critically acclaimed albums, they are just as well known for their collaborations with such artists as Van Morrison, The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Sinead O'Connor and Roger Daltry. They have released 44 albums. Ding Dong Merrily on High is from their 1991 album The Bells of Dublin.

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/The_Chieftains; http://www.thechieftains.com/main/

Friday, November 23, 2018

Can You Twirl To It: The Mekaal Hasan Band and "Megh"



Pakistani group the Mekaal Hasan Band is on tap today with their song Megh. From Lahore, Pakistan the Mekaal Hasan Band is known as a Sufi rock band with musicians that have backgrounds in pop, rock and soul. The band was founded by composer, singer-songwriter and guitarist Mekaal Hasan, who was influenced early by his father's jazz albums and eventually studied at the Berklee School of Music. They have released three albums, the last of which was 2014's Andholan on which you'll find Megh. The lineup of the band is notable because it features musicians from Pakistan and India, traditional enemies.

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://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mekaal_Hasan_Band; http://mekaalhasanband.com/

Thursday, November 22, 2018

Neglected Colleagues: Paolo Conte and "Colleghi Trascurati"



Paolo Conte brings us today's random tune, called Colleghi Trascurati. Conte was born in Asti in the Piedmont region of Italy, and he began his music career as a vibraphone player traveling in local and touring bands. He started writing songs early on in his career with his brother Giorgio but eventually began writing on his own. His star rose in the 60s and 70s as he was the main creative songwriter behind hits of other well-known Italian artists. His solo career commenced in 1974. His songs are known for being evocative of colorful and dreamy Italian and Mediterranean sounds. His music is often jazzy, reminiscent of South America and French singers, and filled with a wistful melancholy. His music has also been used in many movies. Colleghi Trascurati can be found on his 1990 album Parole D'Amore Scritte a Macchina, and on the 1998 CD The Best of Paolo Conte.

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://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paolo_Conte

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Bolivian Mystery: Pukaj Wayra and "Inti Laya - Chanmun"



A band of native musicians from Bolivia called Pukaj Wayra bring the random tune for today. Pukaj Wayra sing and play traditional instruments such as the zampona and toyo (pan flutes), quena and tarka (Indian flutes), and wankara (big drum) along with guitar and charango. Their music often addresses passion, joy, despair and oppression based on their experience as native Indians in Bolivia. You can find this song, Inti Laya - Chanmun, on the 1969 album Music from Bolivia: Don't You Steal, Don't Be Lazy, Don't Tell Lies..

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://www.worldmusicstore.com/products/pukaj-wayra-music-from-bolivia-cd

Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Baby It's Cold Outside: Buckwheat Zydeco and "On a Night Like This"



Today's random tune is by the late, legendary Buckwheat Zydeco. On a Night Like This is the title track of his 1989 album On a Night Like This. Buckwheat Zydeco was the stage name of Stanley Dural, Jr. He got the name "Buckwheat" from his childhood resemblance to a character on the Our Gang film shorts. Dural's father was an accomplished Creole accordionist, but Dural preferred rhythm and blues, and actually started out backing artists such as Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown and Joe Tex. He started his own funk band in the early 70s with some success, but then began backing zydeco legend Clifton Chenier as an organist and discovered the popularity of zydeco. His relationship to Chenier led him to take up the accordion, and after a year he felt confident enough to start Buckwheat Zydeco in 1978. Buckwheat Zydeco opened for and collaborated with some of the biggest names in music, and it was one of the few zydeco bands to achieve mainstream success.

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://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckwheat_Zydeco

Monday, November 19, 2018

The Homeland's Cry: The Buena Vista Social Club and "La Bayamesa"



Today's random tune is by the Buena Vista Social Club. The Buena Vista Social Club was the name of a club in Havana, Cuba where musicians met and performed together in the 1940s at a time when new Latin styles were being created. Juan de Marcos González and Ry Cooder assembled a number of those musicians that had played there and recorded them for a CD in 1997. After the release of the CD, they were invited to play as a full ensemble in Amsterdam where filmmaker Wim Wenders captured the performance on film and interspersed that footage with interviews of the musicians in a documentary called Buena Vista Social Club. The documentary went on to receive an Academy Award nomination, and made stars of the once forgotten musicians as well as reviving interest in Cuban music and Latin music in general. This song, La Bayamesa, is a criolla and patriotic song about a woman from the city of Bayamo who tears up at memories of old traditions and yet answers the call of her homeland when needed. This La Bayamesa is not the national anthem of Cuba, which has the same name. It can be found on the 1997 CD Buena Vista Social Club.

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://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buena_Vista_Social_Club

Sunday, November 18, 2018

Poetry in Music: Afsaneh Rassa'i, Hossein Alizadeh and Madjid Khaladj with "Mavaraon'nahr, Avaz"



Today's random tune is from three Iranian musicians, at least two of which are considered to be masters of their craft. Mavaraon'nah, Avaz is by Afsaneh Rassa'i, Hossein Alizadeh and Madjid Khaladj. I couldn't find much information about vocalist Afsaneh Rassai, but Hossein Alizadeh is a leading Iranian classical composer and musician, and an instrumentalist on the tar and setar. He is considered to be one of the most important figures in contemporary Persian music. Madjid Khaladj is an Iranian percussionist living in France and an architect that has devoted himself entirely to music. Along with playing alongside some of the greatest names in Persian music, he also scores film. This song, Mavaraon'nahr, Avaz is from the 2006 CD Musique du monde: Musique Iranienne - Sâz-é Nô.

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://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hossein_Aliz%C3%A2deh; http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madjid_Khaladj

Saturday, November 17, 2018

Ugly Things Doing the Boogaloo: The Mediaeval Baebes and "Dance of the Trolls"



Today's random tune, Dance of the Trolls, is performed by The Mediaeval Baebes. The Mediaeval Baebes began in 1996 when a group of friends led by Katherine Blake of Miranda Sex Garden broke into a North London cemetery and sang a capella in flowing white robes and leaf garlands. They soon became an ensemble, and their first album, Salva Nos, shot to number two on the classical charts. The group has since had many incarnations. They sing in an array of obscure and ancient languages, and have placed three albums in the top ten of the classical charts and participated in the BBC's television series The Virgin Queen. Dance of the Trolls is from their 2000 CD Undrentide.

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://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medi%C3%A6val_B%C3%A6bes

Friday, November 16, 2018

Ancestors: Youssou N'Dour and "Generations"



A giant of global music, Youssou N'Dour, brings us today's random tune. Already a legend among African musicians, Youssou N'Dour is a singer, songwriter, composer, percussionist, actor, politickan and one of the most visible personas of Senegal. A man born into a griot family, he didn't take the traditional griot path (but he is considered a modern griot anyway) and he is the driving force behind the popular Senegalese music called mbalax, which he combined with a variety of international influences. He came to world notice thanks to his collaborations with Western musicians like Peter Gabriel, but his music stands on its own. He has released 33 solo albums. This song, Generations (Diamono), is from his 1994 album The Guide (Wommat).

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://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Youssou_N%27Dour

Thursday, November 15, 2018

Death is Terrible: Oumou Sangaré and "Saa Magni"



Oumou Sangaré performs today's random tune. A Grammy award winning Malian singer dubbed "The Songbird of Wassoulou," Sangaré is inspired by the music and traditional dances of her Wassoulou region. Her musical career began at an early age when she sang in the streets to help her mother earn money. At five years old she won a singing contest in Bamako and then performed before thousands at a local arena. Later, at 16, she toured Europe and the Caribbean with the percussion group Djoliba and her reception on that tour convinced her to start her own group. Her first album in 1990 was very successful and she caught the attention of Malian legend Ali Farka Touré, who helped her sign with a major record label. An advocate for women's rights who opposes child marriage and polygamy, her songs often have themes of love and freedom of choice in marriage. She has also used her fame and revenue to become a businesswoman who owns hotels, has launched her own car model with a Chinese firm, and agricultural ventures. She is a UN Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, and she has collaborated with musicians such as Béla Fleck and Herbie Hancock. This song, Saa Magni, can be found on her 1993 album Ko Sira (released as Bi Furu in Mali), and on the 2003 greatest hits compilation Oumou. The song is an ode to the premature death of a friend.

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://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oumou_Sangar%C3%A9

Wednesday, November 14, 2018

Fula Good Stuff: Prince Diabaté and "Fulbe Fouta"



Today's random song, Fulbe Fouta, is performed by Prince Diabaté. griot from Guinea in West Africa, Diabaté's father was a kora player who broke tradition and also taught Diabaté's mother to play. Prince Diabaté gained proficiency by accompanying his parents to their concerts. His father initially disapproved of Diabaté's interest in music, but when former Guinean President Sekou Touré came to his hometown, the eight year old threw himself at the former president's feet with his kora and played a song for him. The former president was so touched that he became Diabaté's benefactor and enrolled him into the National Children's Theatre. At 16, Diabaté first heard cassettes of Jim Hendrix in the Ivory Coast, and was so inspired he entered an international kora competition where he won first prize and earned the nickname "Prince of the kora." He takes as inspiration traditional Mandingo and Malinké music, but he also borrows from reggae, rap, blues and funk. He has been called the "Jimi Hendrix of the kora," and he is responsible for creating the sound he calls Mandingo reggae. Fulbe Fouta can be found on his 2006 album Djerelon. The song is traditional of the Fula people.

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.princediabate.com/; http://africanmusic.org/artists/pdiabate.html

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

A Less Punky Manu: Kad Achouri and "Mi Negra"



Kad Achouri is the performer of our random tune for today, called Mi Negra. A London-based musician, Kad Achouri is of Spanish-Algerian ancestry and his music falls somewhere between Mediterranean traditional music, French chanson, jazz, and hip hop - in fact he has been compared to a hip hop Manu Chao. Initially deciding between music and professional tennis, he chose music and gained traction in the industry after Natacha Atlas recorded three of his songs in 2001, which led to the recording of his first solo album. He continues to perform as well as produce albums for other musicians. Mi Negra can be found on his 2002 debut album Liberté, as well as the 2004 various artists compilation Putumayo Presents: Nuevo Latino.

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://www.allmusic.com/artist/kad-achouri-mn0000293849

Monday, November 12, 2018

Belief: Sol y Canto and "Credo"



Today's random song is by Sol y Canto, a pan-Latin group led by Puerto Rican-Argentine singer and bongo player Rosi Amador and native New Mexican guitarist and composer Brian Amador. The group includes musicians from Uruguay, Panama, Peru and Argentina. Formed in 1994 and based out of Boston, the band delivers unique compositions and sometimes quirky interpretations of Latin music. They have won a "Best of Boston" music award, and Brian Amador was the first Latino to be chosen by Boston's Celebrity Series to compose a Latin orchestral suite. The band seeks to connect Hispanic and non-Hispanic audiences in music, poetry, humor and playfulness. This song, Credo, is from their 2008 CD Cada Día un Regalo.

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.solycanto.com/

Sunday, November 11, 2018

Major if Minor: 8½ Souvenirs and "Minor Swing"



Today's random tune is by 8½ Souvenirs, an Austin band of the 1990s that disbanded about 2000. While called an American swing jazz band, this group led by French-turned-American lead guitarist Olivier Giraud was clearly influenced by gypsy jazz and other European and Latin American styles. The band's name came from the Fellini movie and the Django Reinhardt song Souvenirs. This song, Minor Swing, is from 8½ Souvenirs' 1995 album Happy Feet.

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://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8%C2%BD_Souvenirs

Saturday, November 10, 2018

An Ancient City: Amine Bouhafa and Fatoumata Diawara with "Timbuktu Fasso"



Today's song, Timbuktu Fasso, was written and performed by Amine Bouhafa and Fatoumata Diawara on the soundtrack to the 2014 movie Timbuktu, set during the fundamentalist Islamist takeover of that ancient Malian city. A French-Tunisian composer of film music, Amine Bouhafa began playing piano at the age of three and attended the conservatory in Tunis where he graduated with honors in at the age of twelve. He began composing music for film at the age of 15 and has provided music for short films, television and feature films. Along the way he also has obtained a degree in mathematics and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of California at Riverside. His score for the movie Timbuktu gained him many awards. Fatoumata Diawara is a Malian musician born in the Ivory Coast and currently living in France. She initially moved to France to try acting, but later took up guitar and began composing music that mixed her native Wassalou music of southern Mali with international influences. She has appeared in eight films and has released one solo album, Fatou, in 2011. She has collaborated with artists such as Bobby Womack, AfroCubism and Dee Dee Bridgewater. Timbuktu Fasso can be found on the Timbuktu Original Motion Picture Soundtrack from 2014.

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://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amine_Bouhafa; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatoumata_Diawara

Friday, November 9, 2018

Here We Come: Voices of a Nation with "Voices of a Nation"



Today's random song is by Voices of a Nation, a group out of New Orleans that does music in the tradition of the Mardi Gras Indians. Unfortunately, I can't find much information on Voices of a Nation, however, it is a project led by Big Chief Juan Pardo of the Golden Comanche and includes Big Chief Kentrell Watson of the Wild Mohicans, 2nd Chief Jeremy Stevenson of the Monogram Hunters, and Romeo Bougere of the Ninth Ward Hunters. The Mardi Gras Indians are 38 organizations in New Orleans known as tribes, loosely separated into Uptown and Downtown tribes. The Indians base their history on escaped black slaves finding help and shelter from local Native Americans, though the first Indian tribe, the Creole Wild West, may have actually been created out of members of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. The Mardi Gras Indian tribes traditionally mask and parade during Mardi Gras season, and in the early days it was also a time for violence and to settle scores with other tribes. However, Mardi Gras Indian Chief Tootie Montana almost singlehandedly stopped the bloodshed in the late 1960s by promoting the creation of beautiful costumes. "I was going to make them stop fighting with the gun and the knife and start fighting with the needle and thread," he said, and today, when Mardi Gras Indian tribes meet on the streets of New Orleans, the "fight" is a show of elaborately sewn and beaded costumes and bluster, rather than violence. You can find this song, Voices of a Nation, on the Voices of a Nation CD (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://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mardi_Gras_Indians

Thursday, November 8, 2018

Raven-Haired: Marcy D'Arcy and The Prodigal Sons with "Black is the Colour"



Today's tune is by Marcy D'Arcy and the Prodigal Sons. Sadly, I could not find any information on Ms. D'Arcy and her band, though there is a lot of information on the Marcy D'Arcy character played by Amanda Bearse on the former TV sitcom Married...with Children. This song, Black is the Colour (of My True Love's Hair), is an old Scottish tune that came to the United States and is found as a staple in the Appalachian Mountains. It has since become a part of the repertory of traditional Celtic artists, going full circle in a sense. The song has been recorded since the 1940s by musicians such as Burl Ives, Jo Stafford, Pete Seeger, Nina Simone, Joan Baez, Judy Collins, The Corrs, Natacha Atlas, Rhiannon Giddons and Lauryn Hill. You can find Black is the Colour on The Prodigal Sons and Marcy D'Arcy album The Anvil (1995) and on the various artists compilation Putumayo Presents: Women of the World - Celtic II (1997).

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://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Is_the_Color_(of_My_True_Love%27s_Hair)

Wednesday, November 7, 2018

It's the Breath: Mercan Dede and "Souffle"



Turkish-French and Sufi-influenced musician Mercan Dede performs today's random tune. Also known as DJ Arkin Allen, Dede is a composer, player of the ney (a Turkish flute) and the bendir (a hand drum). He fuses traditional Turkish acoustic music and other eastern styles with electronic sounds, horns, dance beats and his Sufi spirituality. This song, Souffle, is from his 2007 CD Nefes (Breath). While it is easy to associate the song's title with a cakey savory or sweet, in medicine souffle actually refers the breath.

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://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercan_Dede

Tuesday, November 6, 2018

In Memory: Gippy Grewal and "Chamkila"



Todays random tune is by Punjabi Indian actor, singer, songwriter and film director Rupinder Singh "Gippy" Grewal. Known for his Punjabi songs, Grewal made his music debut in 2002 and has released ten albums with an eleventh in production. In 2010, he made his film debut in a Punjabi film and his Bollywood debut in 2015. He has also directed two films. You can find this song, Chamkila, on his 2016 album Desi Rockstar 2. He is accompanied on the song by DJ Flow, a Punjabi DJ and music producer based in Italy. Chamkila is a tribute to the famous Punjabi singer-songwriter, musician and composer Amar Singh Chamkila. Chamkila and his wife were gunned down by a gang of youths in 1988 as they arrived for a performance, spawning numerous conspiracy theories.

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://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gippy_Grewal

Monday, November 5, 2018

Never Fear a Master: Kate Rusby and "Jolly Ploughboys"



Today's song is by English singer-songwriter Kate Rusby. Described as a "superstar" of English acoustic musicians, and often called "the Nightingale of Barnsley" (after her home town), Kate Rusby was born into a musical family and learned to play guitar, fiddle and piano. She became the lead vocalist of the all-female Celtic band The Poozies before she broke through in her own right in 1995 on a collaborative album with fellow Barnsley native folk-songer Kathryn Roberts. She recorded her first solo album, Hourglass, in 1997. She was married in 2001 to Scottish musician and former Battlefield Band member John McCusker. She has since divorced and married Northern Irish musician Damien O'Kane, with whom she has two daughters and a dog named Doris who is often a part of Rusby's stage banter. This song, Jolly Ploughboys, can be found on Rusby's 1998 album Hourglass.

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://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Rusby; http://www.katerusby.com/