NOTE:
Although this year,
time demands prevented me from getting to as many shows as I wanted to, and,
of course my CD acquisitions were limited by limited funds, it was
still a pretty rich year. So below are the CD's, live gigs, and
other musical highlights that stand out in my memory. If not the
"best" of 2007, they are my best memories.
I haven't separated this into
separate sections for CD's, live shows, etc., but have marked
CD or
Live where appropriate. I've also included numerous
links and references for most of the artists. Below my picks, I have collected
information and links to numerous music
critics' and
organizations' selections and awards for 2007. More to come...
"Mavis Staples doesn't so much sing a
song as baptize it in truth."
... Renée Graham, Boston Globe
Mavis's July 1 concert and her new CD,
We'll Never Turn
Back were both among my top two of the year. And of course, she
has had a great
and long career, both solo and with the Staples Singers.
From the moment she stepped on stage
for her Toronto Jazz Festival concert, there was no doubt about what
a memorable show we were in for. The audience was on its feet in a
lengthy, enthusiastic, and heartfelt standing ovation. The
performance Mavis then put on showed exactly why she had
earned that love and respect.
She's a truly great artist, and not just for
her singing, but also for the spirit, energy and soul she puts into
that music, into life, and into her commitment to causes of social
justice and freedom.
Click the thumbnail
of me shaking her hand at the show. In the larger image, you can
clearly see the adulation in the faces of the audience. That sums up
the show. Don't ever pass up a chance to see her.
Her new CD, We'll Never Turn Back
might just be her best ever. The songs reflect, and in many cases
came from the civil rights struggle in the U.S. in the 1960's. (The
chilling "In the Mississippi River" recounts the true story of
investigators who, while looking for the missing bodies of 3 slain
civil rights workers, kept discovering numerous other bodies of
murdered and mutilated blacks). But on the CD, and on stage, Mavis
reminded us that these weren't stories of the past. Injustice and
racism continues today.
On her record company's
website, I came across these comments by Toronto musicologist Rob
Bowman about the CD. They sum up this album so perfectly, it seems
pointless to say anything else:
We'll Never Turn Back may have
started off as an homage to a period in which everyday citizens
exhibited incredible bravery and, in the process, wrought incredible
changes to American society. It ended up being a deeply personal
account of Mavis' life from childhood days in Mississippi, through
the Civil Rights era and on up to her current anger and indignation
over the fact that many Americans are still treated as second class
citizens.
The net result is perhaps her
greatest life work and one of the most moving albums this writer has
ever heard. If there is any justice, We'll Never Turn Back
will inspire many of us to find bravery in our own hearts, conquer
the rampant apathy that blankets our society and take action to
right the wrongs in our present day society.
Radio: Possibly my most enjoyable radio show ever was listening to Mavis as Charlie Gillett's guest on Christmas Day, 2004. Go to the
Mondomix radio page.
Under "The Sound of the World", scroll down under "Last programmes"
for Mavis Staples, Part 1 and Part 2.
NEW: January 19,2008:
Tragically, this wonderful artist died today in his native Belize,
following a massive heart attack and stroke. He was 47, and had just
received great recognition around the world in 2007 for this
brilliant album, as well as his tireless and selfless work for the
Garifuna people and culture. He will be sorely missed. More
I have updated my Links section
with more about him, his life and his death below.
Mavis may be my artist of the
year, but it could also have been Andy Palacio. His album
Wátina, might just be my favourite of the year. It's also on
almost all "world music" Top 10 lists that I've seen. I can't
imagine anyone not falling in love with the music halfway
through the first song (the title track).
Besides creating this gorgeous
music, Palacio is extremely active in preserving and promoting
the Garifuna culture, language, and of course music.
The Garifuna are the
descendants of African slaves, shipwrecked in the Caribbean, and
who settled with and married the Carib Indians. Since then, they
have become a unique (but now threatened) culture in Belize,
Honduras and Nicaragua.
But you don't need to know the
story, or his work in order to appreciate the music, a beautiful
concoction whose mysterious familiarity moves in and out of
your mind; you think you hear some Latin sounds, a bit of blues
influence, hear a little Latin tinge, a little blues, a bit of
funk; but it's none of those. All based on traditional Garifuna
music, and sung in Garifuna, it's a music all its own. Music as
good as it gets.
LINKS: (Updated with
information about his tragic death in January, 2008)
Interview: a
wonderful video interview from July 2007 done in San
Francisco. He never talks about himself, just about the
Garifuna people and culture. Interestingly, he notes that
there is no word for "music" in Garifuna... just "song",
which is why he says "voice" is the most important
instrument.
In October, 2007, he won
the coveted WOMEX award at the annual world music
conference. Information about the award is
here,
and a video excerpt of his speech and performance can be found on this
Mondomix page.
Toumani Diabaté's Symmetric Orchestra
Live:
July 5: Harbourfront Centre
(Harbourfront/Music Africa)
I'd been waiting years to see Toumani, generally acknowledged as
the greatest kora player in the world (He should be... he's a
71st generation kora player!) His great 2006
CD, Boulevard de
l'Indepdance further whetted my appetite. Unlike any of his previous releases, this
was recorded with his big dance band, known as the Symmetric
Orchestra. Those of us used to the beautiful, intricate sounds
of the kora in a solo or small group setting could be taken
aback by the sound and energy of that release, including some
"Malian salsa" that will get everyone up on their feet.
So, this was one of my most
highly anticipated shows in years, and the only disappointment
was that it could not run longer than Harbourfront's standard 90
minutes. He could have played twice as long and it wouldn't have
been enough. He opened with some beautiful solo kora, and later the
other musicians moved in. Diabaté himself can play multiple
parts on the 21 string instrument. The stories he told about the
music were captivating; the
music, intricate, driving, beautiful, and completely
overwhelming.
LINKS: Other CD's (besides Independance above): In the Heart of the Moon (Grammy winner), with Ali Farka
Touré New Ancient Strings, dual kora with Ballake Sissoko Songhai, with Flamenco performers Ketama and others
Video:
A
54 minute documentary (in 6 parts) of Diabaté and American
trombonist Roswell Rudd collaborating in Mali. A fascinating
look at Diabaté and two ways of looking at life and music
Mahmoud Ahmed
Live: Dec. 25,
Lithuanian Hall
I
couldn't have asked for a better Christmas present than getting
to see once again Mahmoud Ahmed, the greatest star in Ethiopian
music.
The date wasn't a problem for his core audience --
Ethiopian Christmas falls on Jan. 7 -- and even for those of us
celebrating that night, the show started late enough
(about 11:45pm) that there was plenty of time to celebrate both
events.
I'd been anticipating this
since seeing him here in 2003, and the show was as excellent as
I'd expected. The Lithuanian Hall was packed
of course, with a huge crowd of Ethiopian fans, and the place soon went into high gear when he
started in to one of his biggest hits, "Erè Mèla Mèla" as his
second song. Even after a long intermission, there was still a
huge audience, and if anything, the energy level went even higher.
The band cooked, Mahmoud's powerful voice kept going, the
audience never stopped dancing. A truly great night. Days later,
I'm still grooving.
If you get the chance, do not
miss seeing him live.
LINKS: CD: Erè Mèla Mèla:
Vol. 7 of the great
Ethiopiques
series. His classic late 70's recordings, and a release that had
a huge impact on European ears when it came out in 1986.
Video:
Two great clips that get a sense of the energy of one of his
shows, despite the poor sound and/or camera work:
from Paris,
and another
one of him doing the same song that just about raised the
roof at 2:45am in Toronto. There are a few short
YouTube clips
from his Christmas show. Or buy a
DVD of his full 2003 Toronto show.
Fathers and Sons:
a) Vieux Farka Touré
CD:
Vieux Farka Touré;
Live:
Feb. 10 Harbourfront Centre
Another highly anticipated,
and completely sold-out show. Most of the
world first heard of him following the 2006 WOMEX conference. (See John
Goddard's
Toronto Star article). I was skeptical at first
of the news of an unknown
musical son coming out of the woodwork a few months after his
father -- the great Malian guitarist Ali Farka Touré -- died.
But his press was all good, and eventually, hearing a few songs
on radio, I became interested.
So, one Saturday night in
February, the Brigantine Room at Harbourfront was filled to
capacity to find out how good this guy was. Almost all the chairs
had been removed, not only making more room, but also adding to the
energy of the night. Most of the audience started by sitting on
the floor, but spent the rest of the night on their feet. Sitting was not the way to go
for this show.
I was simply knocked out by his
music and his presence. At times, it felt eerie, hearing him kick
off the licks to a few of his father's best known songs, but
this was not "Ali Farka, Jr." we were hearing; he's his own musician.
While the guitar often
echoed the father, it was with his own touches, and many of the
songs were a much different music, from a different generation.
He's already a great showman,
and seems to love the stage and performing; the audience sure
loved him. The band may have had a bit of extra energy that
night as it was a
homecoming of sorts for his producer/bass player, Eric Herman,
who co-founded Modiba Records. Vieux's band also featured the
legendary ngoni player, Mama Cissoko.
I was impressed enough, that I
travelled to London, Ont. to see him perform again the next
weekend. His CD is still a regular visitor to my CD players.
The CD features the last 2
songs Ali Farka Touré played on before his death. In pain with
bone cancer, he joined Vieux for his first recordings. Two
other songs feature kora great Toumani Diabaté, with whom Vieux
apprenticed.
He's a great, accomplished
musician already at 25; I look forward to hearing how he grows
and improves over the years.
Video: He plays AFT's "Ai
Du" at Joe's Pub in NYC, shortly before his Toronto show. Some great video clips of him playing solo in Bamako, Mali.
Part
1,
2,
3,
4
b)Seun Kuti & Egypt 80
Live:
Jun 29, Harbourfront Centre
I admit, I didn't have high expectations for this show. I'd
heard little of his music, and knew him only as the youngest son of
the late Fela Kuti, who virtually grew up on stage with his father
and was
touring with Fela's old band. And while reports talked of the
great energy of his performances, I had the sense (reinforced by a couple of
YouTube videos), that the show was essentially a reproduction of Fela's stage show. I thought it was
getting a bit old for that (Fela had
been gone for 10 years). Older brother Femi's music was rooted
in their father's but he was doing his own thing as well.
But that night at Harbourfront, Seun made a believer of me.
He might have been channelling Fela, but he did it so magnificently,
so thoroughly, that it just sucked the entire audience into the
music.
At this year's WOMEX, Vieux
Farka Touré's producer, Eric Herman said of Kuti and the band,
"I had never seen them live before – hadn’t truly lived ’til I
did!"
Ba Cissoko: One hot show: two hot koras
Live:
May 11: Lula Lounge
(Small World/Music Africa)
Toronto was lucky this year to get two great, and
very
different kora shows. The acknowledged master of the kora,
Toumani Diabaté, a 53rd generation kora player put on one of the
best concerts of the year in July, but in May, Ba Cissoko
brought his charged and amplified twin-kora group
to a sold-out Lula Lounge. The group's music is rooted in the
ancient West African traditions, but their interpretation is from
another time and place, signified by the Hendrix reference in
the title of their 2006 CD,
Electric Griot Land. (Sadly, not released here
yet).
One veteran African music fan called it one of the best shows
she'd ever seen. This was one hot night of driving, high-energy,
rocking music, but music that still stayed true to its roots.
Stella Chiweshe: Queen of Zimbabwean
mbira
Live:
Jul. 22 with the Earthquake Band,
Berkeley Church
(Africville)
The phrase "Queen
of Zimbabwean mbira" does not do her justice. When Stella
first began performing, the mbira ("thumb
piano" in the west), now recognized as the core of Zimbabwean
music was banned during the time Zimbabwe was still a British colony. Even after independence, it was not easy for a woman to play and perform mbira.
But she brings more than musical talent to the stage. if you
have ever heard, or seen Stella perform, you know the power she
exudes, and you understand why she considers her performance more
spiritual than musical, and this spirit brings an added power to
her concerts and shows. This was one reason that many of us who saw her
that night felt privileged to be part of the concert.
She began the night solo on the
mbira, the soul of her music. But soon, she brought out the
aptly-named Earthquake band, a band built around acoustic,
traditional Zimbabwean instruments. Twin marimbas took the
powerful lead,
various drums kept the rhythm -- and the concert hall -- going.
Anderstated
electric bass didn't detract from the mostly acoustic sound, but gave it a solid
bottom. And Stella was at the centre on mbira, and occasionally
percussion.
A real treat.
(Stella has been living in
Toronto for a few months, giving performances, mbira lessons and
spiritual circles. We can hope that she will stay longer).
Grupo Vocal Desandann
Live:
Nov. 27 at the Church of the Holy Trinity
(Art of Jazz)
This group has been a favourite of mine since I first saw
them several years ago at Harbourfront Centre. A Cuban acapella group,
whose members all trace their ancestry back to Haiti, their
vocals are jaw-dropping beautiful. The only thing disappointing
about this concert was the much-too-small audience.
They will apparently be back in town in the spring. As they
have just finished recording a new CD with Jane Bunnett, it may
be safe to assume they will get much more attention at their
next show in town. They certainly deserve it.
LINKS My
photos of the show
Their wonderful 1999 CD, Descendants is available on
CD Baby, and the page
offers full 2 minute clips from every song
Some
YouTube clips (poor sound) are available from the concert.
a) Various Artists: Tribute to Boubacar
Dioubaté
Live:
Jan. 26, NOW Lounge
(Music Africa)
Senegalese
griot and kora player Boubacar Diabaté, who lived in Montreal,
passed away in October, 2006.
Many of the musicians who knew
and worked with him came out for this memorial night. The
show sold out, and the lobby was often jammed with people
waiting to get in.
The respect and love for
Dioubaté that
musicians and audience demonstrated was strong enough that even
those of us who didn't know him, knew we were attending a
special night.
We were treated to over four
hours of music by poet Kwame Stephens, Kassoum Diamoutene, Donné
Roberts, Muhtadi, Robert Simms, Jacques Yamdjie, Katenen Diobaté,
Njacko Backo (photo)
& the Toumkak Drummers, Tamsir
Seck & Sani Abu.
b) Various Artists, "Night of the Living
Dead II": Tribute to Handsome Ned Live: Jun. 16: Horseshoe
Tavern
In
the 1970's and 80's, Handsome Ned got the Queen Street scene --
artists, punks, and whoever else hung out there -- to appreciate
rockabilly and country music. His Saturday shows at the Cameron
House were filled, and he broadcast a weekly show on CKLN.
Ned (born Robin Masyk) passed away
in January, 1987. I remember him for his love of music, his
great smile, and the cowboy hat that seemed to never leave his
head.
In June, a huge list of musicians
who either played with, listened to, or hung out with Ned put on
a lengthy and impressive tribute at the Horseshoe Tavern.
I often associate the Horseshoe
with him; I remember going to the first show he played at the club
that was a legend in Toronto's country music scene, and the last
time I saw Ned, we were both there to see the Sir Douglas
Quintet, with the late great Doug Sahm.
Performers:
Steve Koch, Jim Masyk (his brother), Johnny Macloed, John Borra,
Greg Keelor, Tonny Kenny & Jill Austin, Emily Weedon, Teddy
Fury, Lori Yates, Scott B, Steve Leckie, Blair Martin, Frank
Nevada, Jack Nicholsen, Joanne Mackell, Mary Margaret O'Hara,
Troy Sinister, Heather Morgan, Big Rude Jake, Chris Houston,
Screamin' Sam Ferrara.
This deservedly won the BBC
Radio 3
World Music Album of the Year award, and has drawn critical
raves everywhere. Fans of acoustic West African music must not
miss this superb album, built around 4 ngonis. We should all
hope that someone brings this group to Toronto in 2008.
LINKS:
His Myspace
page. Also, you can hear their full 2007 WOMAD concert
here.
Various:
The Very Best of
Ethiopiques
This series (now up to 24 volumes)
is an astounding work, collecting the treasures of the great
Ethiopian music of the 1970's and 80's. Besides Mahmoud Ahmed
(above), it also features a huge range of lesser-known (to the West)
Ethiopian singers and musicians including Alemayehu Eshele and
Tlahoun Gessesse.
Brilliant, brilliant stuff, and
unlike most other music you've heard.
LINKS: Website for the CD.
Contains samples of most songs, and full plays of some cuts from
this CD, and other Ethiopian songs.
African Guitar Summit
There was no AGS performance in
Toronto this year or CD release, but a few solo events stand out
for their uniqueness:
Adam Solomon
'CD:
Roots Rhythms (Magoma
Asili)
A complete
change in pace from his two previous CD's, the last was with his band Tikisa, and the previous one, solo "African
Rennaissance Blues". This new CD,
which features drummer Muhtadi Thomas, is a homage to the roots
and rhythms of the Kenyan Mombasa Coast, which itself reflects
numerous regional rhythms and roots.
LIVE:
Mighty Popo: Jun. 8 at the
Lula Lounge (Music Africa)
The show, the Toronto CD
release of Muhazi
was unlike others I've seen of Popo's.
After one or two songs, he kicked the whole night into
overdrive.
LIVE:
Alpha Yaya Diallo, Dec. 9 at the Lula Lounge
(Music Africa/Small World)
Live shows by the Vancouver-based guitarist are rare
in these parts. (His last Toronto solo gig was at Afrofest,
2004). What a shame... his gorgeous guitar playing is missed. A
couple of dancers, Naby Camarra on balafon, and fellow AGS
guitarist Donné Roberts sitting in topped up a great night.
Billy Joe Shaver
LIVE:
Jul. 23,
Hugh's Room
(Richard Flohill) CD: (2): Everybody's BrotherandStoryteller: Live at the Bluebird 1992
One
of my favourite singers and songwriters, I particularly enjoyed
the night because of the opportunity to watch Billy interact with his fans
after the show. (I was helping out on the merchandise table).
The forthrightness and spare honesty of his music, which is
almost all based on his life, have built a passionate and devoted
base of fans, and it was enlightening to watch the interaction.
The year also brought the
release of two excellent Shaver CD's. Everybody's Brother is his
"gospel" album. Anyone knowing his life and music knows his tale
of religion saving him from ruin ("Old Chunk of Coal" for
example). All his recordings have some songs about religion;
this is the first to focus on that. But it's gospel, Billy Joe style,
with honesty and wit.
Songwriter releases for
the first time a live set recorded at the Bluebird Café in
Nashville in 1992, when he was still little known outside music
inner circles and a small coterie of avid fans. (This despite
almost 20 years in the business). An all acoustic set, including
son Eddy on lead guitar, and ex-wife Brenda in the audience.
Todd Snider's excellent liner notes capture the song by song
sense of the night, describing at one point the sense as Billy
played one song about some of the troubles they had in the
marriage, that "there was seemingly nobody in the room anymore
but Billy, Brenda and Eddy".
Afrofest
LIVE:Jul. 7-8, Queen's Park (Music
Africa)
As
it is every year, just about the best two days a lover of
African music could ask for. Two complete days of non-stop
African music, now on three stages, with thousands of African
music fans (or fans of great Toronto vibes), musicians from
across Canada and around the world, hot weather, cold beer...
and all FREE, put on by Music Africa.
Oliver Mtukudzi
LIVE:
Oct. 5, Healey's Roadhouse
(Small World Music)
Because he's Tuku, and seeing
him live in a room filled with his Zimbabwean fans is one of the
treats of living in Toronto. But boy, it was hot that night in
front of the stage!
CD: Various Artists: Summer Records Anthology 1974-1988
Last year, one of my CD picks was Jamaica to Toronto: Soul,
Funk & Reggae 1967-1974, classic Toronto R&B, funk, and
reggae produced by some of the great artists who had come here
from Jamaica. The CD Release Concert at Harbourfront (my
photos here) was one of
my top live gigs of 2006, and featured many of those original
performers.
That CD came from Seattle's Light in the Attic Records, which
continues the Jamaica to Toronto project with this new release,
containing some of the first reggae and dub recorded in Toronto.
Summer Records (its recording studio in Malton) was started in
1974 by Jerry Brown, a singer who had arrived in Toronto in
1968. Seven years after the first Caribana, it seemed the time
was right for to produce some real "Jamaica to Toronto" vibes.
Word got around about the facility; one of the singers, Bongo
Gene explains why it was needed:
You couldn't tell the engineer
to push up the volume needle. As soon as it start bucking he
pull it back down. Reggae music is not like that. The music have
to go bucking and the needle have be like breaking off, you
understand?
This is the beginning of the Toronto reggae scene, and Johnny
Osbourne, Noel Ellis, Jerry Brown himself, and others put out
some great – and groundbreaking – songs here, some being
released for the first time. The package also includes an
excellent booklet covering the history of the company and the
time, as well as a DVD with uncompleted documentary footage of
the local reggae scene in the 1970's, made by Brown over 25
years ago (and unseen till now).
Put the CD on; the music will go bucking.
LINKS: CD info from Light in the Attic
here.
Video: See the documentary on YouTube: Part
1,
2 &
3.
LIVE:
Daniel Nebiat
It's
become a real treat to watch Daniel perform live. He's an
Eritrean krar player (a 4 or 5 stringed instrument). He has
begun taking his music out of the Eritrean and Ethiopian clubs,
and has begun attracting attention, even outside the "world
music" circles. One night in February he impressed a large
Gladstone Hotel crowd waiting for the Friday night Karaoke.
In
March, he played a night in the Wavelength series at Sneaky
Dee's and "blew the room away" in Carl Wilson's words on his
Zoilus
website. In July, he played Harbourfront, opening for Seun
Kuti.
Jun 29: Seun Kuti Jul. 1: Mavis Staples Jul. 2: Andy Palacio & Los Munequitos de
Matanzas Jul. 5:Toumani Diabaté
Jul. 7-8: Afrofest .. the best way to spend 2 days in Toronto in the
summer! (Photo: Samba Mapangala and
Orchestra Virunga)
Double Bill of the Year:
Jul. 2: Andy Palacio & Los Munequitos de
Matanzas Los Munequitos are a legendary
Cuban rumba band whose history goes back over 50 years.
My photos
from this show.
A Wedding: Jun
2, Njacko Backo & Valerie Woloshyn
I
was very happy to be asked to do the wedding photographs of
Toronto drummer and kalimba player Njacko Backo and Valerie
Woloshyn. They were married on stage at the Muhtadi
International Drumming Festival in Queen's Park... the same
place they first met. It was a great day, sunny and warm.
Friends joined for an informal lunch after the ceremony, and
they wrapped up with a reception the next day at the Gladstone
Hotel.
BOOK:
Lonely Avenue: The Unlikely Life and Times of Doc Pomus by Alex
Halberstadt
One of the best music books
I've ever read. The book tells a fascinating tale of Jerome
Felder, a short, crippled Jewish kid in Brooklyn who became, as
Doc Pomus, a blues shouter in the black clubs of New York in the
late 40's and 50's and then one of the biggest songwriters in
the world. ("Save the Last Dance For Me", "Suspicion", "Teenager
in Love", and more). What happened after the "era of the
songwriter" ended is at least as fascinating. A well-written,
highly entertaining and absorbing book.
My review, including photos, audio clips and
other links is posted here.
BOOK:
The Producer: John Hammond and the Soul of American Music by
Dunstan Prial
A fascinationg biography of the
legendary music producer, best known for discovering and/or
first recording artists including Billie Holliday, Charlie
Christian, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Hammond was also passionately committed to issues of social
justice, especially racial equality, and was a major force in
integrating jazz bands.
MAGAZINE:
Oxford American's Annual Music Issue
"The Southern magazine of good
writing" puts out a superbly written music issue every fall,
with an excellent cover-mount CD. "Eclectic" is understating the
variety. The issue always sells out in a few day of hitting the
stands, but several back issues are available.
Not to early to start on next
year.
European critics and magazines have been praising the new
Orchestra Baobab recording, Made in Dakar, still not
released in North America. There is no doubt it will be on my
2008 list... and, I hope, will a 2009 concert by this superb
Senegalese group. NOW's Tim Perlich already has it as
his
#1 2007 CD.
The Album of the Year nominees (and winner) are
picked by the editors of fRoots magazine. This year's
winner is:
Bassekou Kouyaté & Ngoni Ba: Segu Blue
Other nominees:
Andy Palacio & The Garifuna Collective: Watina
Tinariwen: Aman Iman (photo)
Orchestra Baobab: Made In Dakar
Click the BBC link above for nominees in all 10 categories. The page includes links to bios, and songs
from each nominee, as well as links to past years' awards and
other related websites. Online voting for the audience award
will be open in early 2008.
fROOTS MAGAZINE ALBUMS OF THE
YEAR POLL fRoots (the long-running UK folk and world music magazine) editors'
top 4 album picks each year become the BBC World Music Album of the
Year nominees above. Their remaining Top 10 selections
were:
Martin Simpson: Prodigal Son
Justin Adams & Juldeh Camara: Soul Science
Manu Chao: La Radiolina
The Imagined Village: The Imagined Village
Rachel Unthank & The Winterset: The Bairns
Fanfare Ciocarlia: Queens & Kings
Re-issue/Compilation of the Year:
Various: The Very Best of Ethiopiques
... A wonderful double-CD compilation of tracks from the (so far
23 volume)
Ethiopiques series, compiled by Francis Falceto.
The Very Best release has its own
blog already. See also
this site.
Other picks, runners-up, etc. are listed at the fRoots link above.
Andy Palacio
and the Garifuna Collective:Wátina (Cumbancha)
(Belize) Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni ba:Segu Blue (Out There Records) (Mali) Caetano Veloso:Cê
(Nonesuch) (Brazil) Dee Dee Bridgewater:Red Earth (Emarcy) (USA) Erol Josué:Régléman
(High Times Records/Mi5 Productions) (Haiti) Puerto Plata:Mujer
de Cabaret (iASO Records) (Dominican Republic) Ricardo Lemvo: Isabela (Mobiato Music) (Congo) Sergio and Odair: Assad Jardim abandonado (Nonesuch) (Brazil) Vusi Mahlasela:Guiding Star (ATO Records) (South Africa) Youssou N’Dour:Rokku
Mi Rokka (Give and Take) (Nonesuch) (Senegal)
The link above contains links to bios, artist
websites and videos, of the above albums, along with numerous other picks for the year.
Mario Pacheco: Clube de Fado
Andy Palacio & The Garifuna Collective: Watina Fanfare Ciocarlia: Queens & Kings Trilok Gurtu and Arkè String Quartet: Arkeology
Justin Adams & Juldeh Camara: Soul Science Selim Sesler: Anatolian Wedding
Bassekou Kouyaté & Ngoni Ba: Segu Blue
Tinariwen: Aman Iman
Orchestra Baobab: Made In Dakar Various Artists: Sevdalinka: Sarajevo Long Songs
Note: The link above takes you to their interactive page for
the Jan/Feb issue (not yet out here). Click the contents tab,
and then the right arrow to go to pages 8/9. You can zoom in
(otherwise the font is pretty small), and drag the page around.
Takes a bit of getting used to. Their are 30 second clips of
each album.
EUROPEAN WORLD MUSIC DJ POLL
A poll of 55 European DJ's who play world music, compiled by the
Worldmusic Workshop of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
Copyright www.worldmusicnight.com
Andy Palacio & The Garifuna Collective: Watina
Tinariwen: Aman Iman Bassekou Kouyaté & Ngoni Ba: Segu Blue
Angelique Kidjo: Djin Djin
Habib Koité: Afriki
Fanfare Ciocarlia: Queens & Kings
Heaven & Earth Kristi Stassinopolou: Heaven & Earth Orchestra Baobab: Made In Dakar Shantel: Disko Partizani Ibrahim Ferrer: Mi Sueno
The link above is to a posting by Charlie Gillett on his forum,
listingthe top 60 vote-getters for the year.
Album of the Year-Patty
Griffin/Children Running Through
Artist of the Year-Patty Griffin
Duo Group of the Year-Avett Brother
Instrumentalist of the Year-Buddy Miller
New/Emerging Artist of the Year-Avett Brothers
Song of the Year-"Hank Williams' Ghost"-by Darrell Scott
Additional Awards went to:
Lyle Lovett - Trailblazer Award
Joe Ely-Lifetime Achievement for Performance
Mavis Staples - "Spirit of Americana" Free Speech Award
Ry Cooder-Lifetime Achievement for Instrumentalist
Willie Nelson-Lifetime Achievement for Songwriter
Mary Martin-Lifetime Achievement for an Executive
Jim Dickinson-Lifetime Achievement for a Producer Engineer
Townes Van Zandt-The Presidents Award
The company that has released
two great "Jamaica to Toronto" CD's and home to artists such as
Betty Davis and Os Mutantes has collected the "best of" picks
from a wide range of people in the music business.
The biggest -- but certainly
not the best -- of the music awards. There are 109 categories in
31 fields, so there are some of relevance to those reading this
website, and some nominees of interest including:
Billy Joe Shaver (photo
from Harbourfront, 2005) for his
excellent Everybody's Brother "gospel" album. (That's
in quotes, because it's not all gospel, and when it is, it's
Billy Joe's style. (e.g., "If You Don't Love Jesus, Go to
Hell"). See
the video for "Get Thee Behind Me Satan" here.
This is the sixth nomination for one of my favourite
artists.
Bettye LaVette for The
Scene of the Crime. I believe this is her first Grammy
nomination in a very long career.
See my review of her
2005 Toronto show.
Levon Helm for Dirt
Farmer. Nice to see that, as he has made a great
recovery from throat cancer.
A couple of old guys:
Pinetop Perkins (age 94!) received two Grammy nominations,
one for an album, Last of the Great Mississippi Delta
Bluesmen, featuring four bluesmen, aged 89 to 94 at the
time of recording. One, Honeyboy Edwards played Hugh's Room
on Dec. 16.
Mavis's July 1 concert and her new CD,
We'll Never Turn
Back were both among my top two of the year. And of course, she
has had a great
and long career, both solo and with the Staples Singers.
Mavis may be my artist of the
year, but it could also have been Andy Palacio. His album
Wátina, might just be my favourite of the year. It's also on
almost all "world music" Top 10 lists that I've seen. I can't
imagine anyone not falling in love with the music halfway
through the first song (the title track).
I'd been waiting years to see Toumani, generally acknowledged as
the greatest kora player in the world (He should be... he's a
71st generation kora player!) His great 2006
CD, Boulevard de
l'Indepdance further whetted my appetite. Unlike any of his previous releases, this
was recorded with his big dance band, known as the Symmetric
Orchestra. Those of us used to the beautiful, intricate sounds
of the kora in a solo or small group setting could be taken
aback by the sound and energy of that release, including some
"Malian salsa" that will get everyone up on their feet.
I
couldn't have asked for a better Christmas present than getting
to see once again Mahmoud Ahmed, the greatest star in Ethiopian
music.
Another highly anticipated,
and completely sold-out show. Most of the
world first heard of him following the 2006 WOMEX conference. (See John
Goddard's
I admit, I didn't have high expectations for this show. I'd
heard little of his music, and knew him only as the youngest son of
the late Fela Kuti, who virtually grew up on stage with his father
and was
touring with Fela's old band. And while reports talked of the
great energy of his performances, I had the sense (reinforced by a couple of
YouTube videos), that the show was essentially a reproduction of Fela's stage show. I thought it was
getting a bit old for that (Fela had
been gone for 10 years). Older brother Femi's music was rooted
in their father's but he was doing his own thing as well.
Toronto was lucky this year to get two great, and
very
different kora shows. The acknowledged master of the kora,
Toumani Diabaté, a 53rd generation kora player put on one of the
best concerts of the year in July, but in May, Ba Cissoko
brought his charged and amplified twin-kora group
to a sold-out Lula Lounge. The group's music is rooted in the
ancient West African traditions, but their interpretation is from
another time and place, signified by the Hendrix reference in
the title of their 2006 CD,
Electric Griot Land. (Sadly, not released here
yet).
The phrase "Queen
of Zimbabwean mbira" does not do her justice. When Stella
first began performing, the mbira ("thumb
piano" in the west), now recognized as the core of Zimbabwean
music was banned during the time Zimbabwe was still a British colony. Even after independence, it was not easy for a woman to play and perform mbira. 
This group has been a favourite of mine since I first saw
them several years ago at Harbourfront Centre. A Cuban acapella group,
whose members all trace their ancestry back to Haiti, their
vocals are jaw-dropping beautiful. The only thing disappointing
about this concert was the much-too-small audience. 
Senegalese
griot and kora player Boubacar Diabaté, who lived in Montreal,
passed away in October, 2006.
In
the 1970's and 80's, Handsome Ned got the Queen Street scene --
artists, punks, and whoever else hung out there -- to appreciate
rockabilly and country music. His Saturday shows at the Cameron
House were filled, and he broadcast a weekly show on CKLN.
This deservedly won the BBC
Radio 3
This series (now up to 24 volumes)
is an astounding work, collecting the treasures of the great
Ethiopian music of the 1970's and 80's. Besides Mahmoud Ahmed
(above), it also features a huge range of lesser-known (to the West)
Ethiopian singers and musicians including Alemayehu Eshele and
Tlahoun Gessesse.
Adam Solomon
One
of my favourite singers and songwriters, I particularly enjoyed
the night because of the opportunity to watch Billy interact with his fans
after the show. (I was helping out on the merchandise table).
The forthrightness and spare honesty of his music, which is
almost all based on his life, have built a passionate and devoted
base of fans, and it was enlightening to watch the interaction.
As
it is every year, just about the best two days a lover of
African music could ask for. Two complete days of non-stop
African music, now on three stages, with thousands of African
music fans (or fans of great Toronto vibes), musicians from
across Canada and around the world, hot weather, cold beer...
and all FREE, put on by Music Africa.
Because he's Tuku, and seeing
him live in a room filled with his Zimbabwean fans is one of the
treats of living in Toronto. But boy, it was hot that night in
front of the stage!
Last year, one of my CD picks was Jamaica to Toronto: Soul,
Funk & Reggae 1967-1974, classic Toronto R&B, funk, and
reggae produced by some of the great artists who had come here
from Jamaica. The CD Release Concert at Harbourfront (
It's
become a real treat to watch Daniel perform live. He's an
Eritrean krar player (a 4 or 5 stringed instrument). He has
begun taking his music out of the Eritrean and Ethiopian clubs,
and has begun attracting attention, even outside the "world
music" circles. One night in February he impressed a large
Gladstone Hotel crowd waiting for the Friday night Karaoke.
Jun 29: Seun Kuti
Jul. 2: Andy Palacio & Los Munequitos de
Matanzas
I
was very happy to be asked to do the wedding photographs of
Toronto drummer and kalimba player Njacko Backo and Valerie
Woloshyn. They were married on stage at the Muhtadi
International Drumming Festival in Queen's Park... the same
place they first met. It was a great day, sunny and warm.
Friends joined for an informal lunch after the ceremony, and
they wrapped up with a reception the next day at the Gladstone
Hotel.
One of the best music books
I've ever read. The book tells a fascinating tale of Jerome
Felder, a short, crippled Jewish kid in Brooklyn who became, as
Doc Pomus, a blues shouter in the black clubs of New York in the
late 40's and 50's and then one of the biggest songwriters in
the world. ("Save the Last Dance For Me", "Suspicion", "Teenager
in Love", and more). What happened after the "era of the
songwriter" ended is at least as fascinating. A well-written,
highly entertaining and absorbing book.
Other nominees: