I noticed that the great Cal Tjader passed away around 40 years ago today (May 5th), and while I typically don't like doing death anniversaries, it did feel like a good time to revisit some of his records. The feeling of his music can't be understated - it just feels GOOD. Especially right now as spring moves toward summer, it seems perfect to break these albums out. This episode is also a bit of a sequel to an earlier Tjader mix on episode 24 of PFTS - I made sure to play a different selection of tracks, so go back and check that one too if you haven't already! Hope you enjoy.

May 5 2021

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Pullin from the Stacks - Episode 166 (More Cal Tjader)

Brazilian broadcaster, producer and music aficionado Béco Dranoff returns to Afropop Worldwide with a set of great new music from South America’s music cauldron. We’ll hear current sounds from Bahia, Sao Paulo, Rio and Belo Horizonte, including Caetano Veloso, Afrocidade, Lucas Santtana, Ze Manoel, Da Cruz, Jadsa and more. Produced by Béco Dranoff and Sean Barlow.

Béco’s Brazil: New Sounds for 2023

There’s been a lot of speculation about the chain of musical events that link the blues back to Africa. Most of that chain is unrecorded and shrouded in mystery. But there is one chapter, just before the blues, that we do know something about. And that’s the history of African-American string bands. This program explores that history, with music and memories from a special guest, the late string maestro Howard Armstrong. Along the way, we hear music from Canray Fontenot, Blind James Campbell, Hobard Smith and other legends of this little known chapter of Americana. Originally produced in 2000 by Banning Eyre.

APWW #326

The African American String Music Tradition

In 2010, to mark the 5th anniversary of the Katrina disaster, we went way way back to honor New Orleans as the unique American treasure it is. This program tells the story of how jazz emerged in the context of all the other African American musics that proliferated in late 19th and early 20th century New Orleans: blues, ragtime, Mardi Gras Indian music, vaudeville and minstrelsy, spiritual church music, and more. With our guides Bruce Boyd Raeburn and Lynn Abbott, we'll comb through a vast world of interviews, recorded music, photographs, ephemera, and curatorial knowledge at one of the great American music collections, the William Ransom Hogan Jazz Archive at Tulane University. Produced by Ned Sublette.

The Prehistory of New Orleans Music - Treasures from the Hogan

They call Sam Mangwana "Le Pigeon Voyageur" - a roaming pigeon. He could also be called a rolling stone because wherever he lays his microphone is his home. In this episode, we behold the amazing return of rumba's living legend - Sam Mangwana. Produced by Georges Collinet.

Sam Mangwana - Le Pigeon Voyageur

We are proud to present the Mr Bongo pressing of Guilherme Coutinho E O Grupo Stalo's self-titled mythical album. Blending lo-fi, Brazilian tropicalia, jazz, funk and MPB with a unique aroma, this record is pure perfection.

It was originally released in 1978 on Erla - Estudio Rauland, an obscure record label from Belém in Brazil, that only released 7” singles, with this album being one of two exceptions. During the 1970s, Belém had a thriving nightclub scene, but it is thousands of miles away from the music industry hubs of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, making this record insanely difficult to find, even in Brazil. Added to the scarcity factor is the magical nature of the recording, which has naturally resulted in a hefty price tag to match. Original copies have become a prized, collector’s item.

The elusive Brazilian band leader and keyboard player, Guilherme Coutinho is a true cult artist. He passed away in 1983, at the age of just 41, and during his career he only seems to have appeared on a handful of marvellous records, which makes them all the more special. This album feels individualistic and distinctive from other albums of the day. Listening back to vocalist Elinho’s (aka Hélio Rubens de Oliveira) delivery, it sounds not too dissimilar to some of Belle & Sebastian’s songs. ‘Guilherme Coutinho E O Grupo Stalo’ is rich in charm, quirky and playful. It feels cinematic, soothing and benefits from being heard in its entirety. A proper album experience.

Guilherme Coutinho E O Grupo Stalo - Tema Pro Alvarito

The 700-year period of Muslim courts and conquerors in Medieval Spain (711-1492) leaves behind many mysteries. In the first of a three-part look at the musical legacy of Andalusia, this program presents period recreations of medieval Spanish music and considers the lasting influences the era would have on Europe. This program takes a provocative look at instruments--the lute and the violin--at the tradition of troubadours, European poetry and vocal styles, and much more, all informed by the insights of Al-Andalus scholar Dwight Reynolds (University of California, Santa Barbara). Many enigmas remain, but you may never hear European music in quite the same way after this venture into the heritage of Al-Andalus. This is part of Afropop Worldwide's "Hip Deep" series exploring the historical roots of musical cultures of the Afro-Atlantic world. Produced by Banning Eyre.

APWW #432

The Musical Legacy of Al Andalus, Part 1 - Europe

The oud is the ancestor of many modern string instruments, including the lute and the guitar.  Its origins may lie in Persia or ancient Arabia, but now, it is played all over the world, used in spiritual and secular music, in classical, pop, and jazz settings.  In this program, we hear oud music from Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Iraq, and elsewhere, exploring the instrument’s history, lore, and rich variety of styles and sounds.  We will talk with oud masters and innovators, and delve into mysteries surrounding this seminal string instrument.

Journeys With The Oud

Free download via Bandcamp:
https://kondiband.bandcamp.com/album/the-freetown-tapes-2006-2016

In 2006, blind Kondi (thumb piano) player Sorie Kondi was surviving by busking on the streets of Freetown, Sierra Leone, abandoned by relatives and friends who had fled the rebel takeover of the city in the late ‘90s. Demos for his debut studio album had also been lost during that time. His sound was marked by his electrified Kondi, run through a small distorted amplifier that he carried on his back whilst performing on the street.

Since then, Sorie has recorded and finished five albums in total in Freetown, using whatever means available to him, culminating in the ‘Without Money No Family’ album, which happened to catch the ear of US producer / DJ Chief Boima (also of Sierra Leonean descent) after chancing upon a YouTube link.

The two joined forces as Kondi Band, combining Sorie Kondi's traditionalist performances with Boima's globally-informed electronic production. The duo released an EP this year on Strut, recently performed acclaimed sets to thousands at Transmusicales and Womex, and have received accolades from tastemakers including Gilles Peterson, leading to a recent takeover of Worldwide FM by Boima. With a Kondi Band album, ‘Salone’, coming in 2017, Boima has created a free mix to showcase Kondi's incredible history.

As well as collecting songs from across Sorie Kondi’s recorded music career, this mix also includes one original and two remixes of songs from the forthcoming debut Kondi Band album. 

For more info:
https://www.facebook.com/kondiband
http://www.strut-records.com/

FREE DOWNLOAD

Sorie Kondi - The Freetown Tapes (mixed by Chief Boima)

Musics & politics 🇳🇬 October 1st, 1960. Nigeria celebrates and dances its independence. Fela Kuti shouts : Viva Africa! Freedom High-Life & Pan-African Beats. Music is the weapon. Full Power to the People ✊🏾
📷 Photo credit : Fela Ransome Kuti designed by FRED MARTINS (https://www.pinterest.com/fredmartinx/) 
🎶 Track list - Nigerian artists only (most of songs are taken from vinyls, except * taken from cds) : 
E.C. ARINZE Freedom highlife / E.C. ARINZE Saturday night / FELA RANSOME KUTI &  HIS KOOLA LOBITOS Nigerian independence / FELA RANSOME KUTI & NIGERIA 70 Viva Nigeria / EBENEZER OBEY & HIS INTERNATIONAL BROS. BAND Africa is my home / GERALDO PINO & THE HEARTBEATS Africans must unite / ABIODUN BAKARE & HIS KOBIS BAND Nigeria / BOLA JOHNSON Lagos special / SEGUN BUCKNOR Son of January 15th / PETER KING Freedom dance / SINA BAKARE Africa / KALETA & ZOZO AFROBEAT Get up / CHRISTIANA ESSIEN Freedom / THE APOSTLES Black is beautiful / SONNY OKOSUNS Power to the people / WILLIAM ONYEABOR You better change your mind / JONI HAASTRUP Wake up your mind / FELIXSON NGASIA & THE SURVIVALS Black precious color / DELE ABIODUN Confrontation / SEUN KUTI + FELA'S EGYPT 80 African problems */ BANTU & AYUBA Where di water, where di lighter */ TERRY THA RAPMAN I am a Nigerian */ FEMI KUTI Truth don die */ RED HOT + RIOT Colonial mentality

NIGERIA 🇳🇬 FREEDOM HIGH-LIFE & PAN-AFRICAN BEATS ✊🏾 01-10-2020

just b/c u want to get rich, u want to get rich quick

www.Patreon.com/Chanceswithwolves
www.CHANCESWITHWOLVES.com

Don't Kill To Get Money - Grace E Jackson & The Galaxy

Afropop Worldwide is an internationally syndicated weekly radio series, online guide to African and world music, and an international music archive, that has introduced American listeners to the music cultures of Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean since 1988. Our radio program is hosted by Georges Collinet from Cameroon, the radio series is distributed by Public Radio International to 110 stations in the U.S., via XM satellite radio, in Africa via and Europe via Radio Multikulti. 

The Prehistory of New Orleans Music - Treasures from the Hogan

Afropop Worldwide

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