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The newsletter and website are starting to catch up to the backlog of the last couple of months. For now, some event updates:

1. November Events
2. Toronto music organizations: CIUT FM & Music Africa
3. Music on BBC
4. Earthsong events: belly dancing, Tikisa and Stella Chiweshe!

1. NOVEMBER EVENTS
Some significant events in November, including appearances in town by some pretty big names:

a) Cuban stars

Two big-name Cuban timba bands make rare appearances in town this month:

• LA CHARANGA HABANERA: Nov. 9 at the Docks. See http://www.cubaintoronto.com/
• KLIMAX, with bandleader Giraldo Piloto (one of the original members of NG Banda): Nov. 16-17 at the Lula Lounge. See www.lula.ca

Cuban music fans won't want to miss either.  Note that Giraldo Piloto will also be conducting a workshop Saturday afternoon (Nov. 17) on the Cuban Drumset, the clave and Cuban rhythms. 2pm, $20.
 

b) Big Names in town

It's been a big month for big names in Toronto. Already, Willie Colon (a great month for Cuban music!), Billy Boy Arnold, Ian Tyson and Josh White Jr. have played town. Coming up soon:

MURRAY McLAUCHLAN: Nov. 10 at Hugh's Room. His induction into the Mariposa Hall of Fame with various guest performers

CAETANO VELOSO: Nov. 11 at Massey Hall

JACKIE WASHINGTON: Nov. 12 at Hugh's Room. Numerous guests help celebrate Jackie's 88th birthday. A pretty amazing career, considering he started performing at the age of 5!
 

c) Concert of the Month:

TINARIWEN: Nov. 20 at the Mod Club. Presented by Small World Music, this should be the hot African show this month. The Tuareg musicians in the last few years have started to hit the "big time", even opening for the Rolling Stones in Ireland.

They've come a long way from their past lives as armed rebels fighting the Malian government. They received training in one of Moammar Ghadaffi's training camps in Libya. I ran across their Libyan connection last year traveling through Libya. One of the odder moments I experienced was sitting in an outdoor restaurant, deep in the Sahara watching a video of Tinariwen. The DVD was given to me by our Tuareg whose brother performed with them in one performance. Here we are: http://jookjoint.ca/libya/images/IMG_0508.1.jpg

My photos of their 2005 Harbourfront concert are here: http://www.to-music.ca/gallery/050715_tinariwen

You can hear their full 2007 WOMAD concert in the U.K. here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/worldmusic/womad2007/listenagain.shtml

d) Other shows of note

TRI-CONTINENTAL: Nov. 14 at Hugh's Room. Madagascar Slim, Bill Bourne and Lester Qutzau have 4 Juno Awards and 10 nominations among them.

CELEBRATION OF DOUG RILEY'S LIFE: Nov. 18 at Convocation Hall, University of Toronto. A full house of performers pay tribute to "Dr. Music", a huge figure in Toronto's music scene who passed away in August. You can watch a YouTube tribute to him here; See also the numerous written tributes on the page.

DONNÉ ROBERTS: Nov. 21 at the Trane Studio.

ODESSA/HAVANA CD Release: Nov. 21 at the Lula Lounge. David Buchbinder and Hilario Duran link Cuba and Ukraine.

YAWO AND AFRO FUNK BAND: Nov. 22 at the Lula Lounge. Yawo, originally from Togo mixes afrobeat, afrofunk and reggae

ADAM SOLOMON &TIKISA at the Trane Studio

LUCKY PETERSON: Dec. 1 at the Silver Dollar

Lots more shows coming up. See www.to-music.ca/events.htm

2. SUPPORTING TORONTO MUSIC INSTITUTIONS

Two invaluable institutions in the Toronto music scene are looking for support this week:

a)  CIUT Fundraising: Nov. 5-11

If you listen to the kind of music covered in this newsletter and website, you certainly know how invaluable CIUT and the other community stations are. I wouldn't want to imagine radio without them.

In my opinion, CIUT is the best source for world and African music in Toronto. It also broadcasts a huge variety of music that gets little attention on most radio outlets, as well as providing unique news and event coverage (check the Monday to Friday "Take 5" show), and producing numerous live event broadcasts (they've broadcast live every Afrofest), and much more.

But of course, they couldn't exist without public support. This week marks one of CIUT's semi-annual fundraising drives. Help keep this unique voice on the air. How much is good music worth to you? Consider giving them a few bucks, maybe the price of one concert ticket.

Fundraising ends Sunday Nov. 11. On Saturday, Donna G, host of ba.ba.eh mama will host a "Radio Cabaret" featuring guests Anne-Marie Woods (aka Amani) with spoken word and music, Onoscatopoeia (Hart House Jazz Choir) and Juno winner Adam Solomon.

Or, if you call in a pledge on Sunday during Global Rhythms (3-6pm) or Karibuni (6-8pm), I may take your call.

See: www.ciut.fm or tune in 89.5 FM
 

b) Music Africa

The organization that puts on Afrofest -- the biggest (and free!) African music festival in North America -- along with ongoing shows and support of African music is holding its Annual General Meeting, Sat. Nov. 10, from 3-5pm, at Metro Hall (3rd floor), 55 John St., at the corner of King St. W.

The agenda includes discussion of future plans and goals, along with elections for vacant Board positions. The meeting is open to the public; only members can vote. (But why not join...  $20 supports a lot of African music, and gets you discounts on MA shows).

See www.musicafrica.org

 

3. ALSO ON RADIO - on BBC

a) "Top" world music picks

BBC (especially Radio 3) is a great source of excellent world music. Recently to mark BBC Radio 3's 40th anniversary, Joe Boyd, music producer and author (the recent and excellent White Bicycles) broadcast two shows featuring his picks for the "Top 40" world music songs. An arbitrary and personal list of course, but . (Boyd was one of the group that originally coined the term "world music". It's been debated and debunked since then, but in their eyes, it was a "marketing term" rather than trying to describe a genre.

"It was to help these artists get a bin at the record store" is his way of describing the purpose.

His shows are no longer available online, but his playlists are:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/andykershaw/pip/0lrro/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/andykershaw/pip/y8oft/

He invited listeners to submit their own additions, and he and producer Lucy Duran played a selection of those
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/lucyduran/pip/z0k5q/

And Charlie Gillett added his own additions on his World Service show:
http://www.charliegillett.com/playlistnewformat.php?date=3November07

 

b) Charlie Gillett

Recently, Gillett has filled in on a few of Andy Kershaw's show. It's great to hear a him on radio again. I love his eclectic tastes, and miss his old weekly show which I listened to (online) every week. He's doing two shows this month. Both are available online for a week.

Playlists are here
Nov. 5: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/charliegillet/pip/wqq2p/
Nov. 12: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/charliegillet/pip/bsmrx/

Click the "Radio Player" link on the right, and scroll down to "Charlie Gillett"

c) Other BBC links:

BBC Radio 3 World Music Awards
Nominations have just been announced http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/worldmusic/a4wm2008/nominees.shtml

Lucy Duran broadcasts the announcements from the recent WOMEX conference, and features music by, and interviews with some of the nominees. The show is available for a week from Nov. 3.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/worldroutes/pip/6h18a/

The BBC site has numerous audio and video resources. Check http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/worldmusic/archive_index.shtml. The page features performances by Koffi Olomide, Tinariwen, a profile of Fela Kuti, tribute to Ali Farka Toure and much more.

4. EARTHSONG

Ilse Lichtenberg recently moved her store (just a few doors away). Earthsong World Gifts Music Art Crafts is a great store, filled with amazing treasures from around the world.

Ilse also hosts numerous performers, artists and workshops. Among the events she's hosting soon:

• Bellydancing classes every Saturday morning with Saba of Nouvel Exposé.
• Dec. 1: "African Holiday Festival" with Adam Solomon & Tikisa, Kenyan snacks from Safari Village, and a fundraiser for the Lumu Kabasinde Children's Foundation, featuring lithographs and prints by the Ugandan artist David Kibuuka. Free
• Dec. 8: Stella Chiweshe: the great Zimbabwean mbira player is staying in Toronto for a few months. This day she will be performing two spiritual circles. One in English, the other in Shona. $75, while space is available.

See http://earthsongvillage.com for details on these and other events. 2436 Kingston Rd, in Cliffside Village (Scarborough)

John Leeson
www.to-music.ca

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