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Wazimbo: music from Mozambique – tonight at the Lula
A rare chance to hear some music from Mozambique tonight at the Lula Lounge. Wazimbo (Humberto Carlos Benfica)’s musical career in Mozambique goes back almost 50 years, and he’s now one of the most famous singers of the marrabenta style. This is his first trip to Canada. Tonight, he’ll be backed by some top local […]
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Random recent musical notes
A few odds and ends from the musical world recently… A new double CD out on Stern’s of the late Guinean great Sory Kandia Kouyaté. Info, and some music here. Feel free to crank up the volume. Baaba Maal on the food crisis in Mauritania Reports from Senegal recently are that Youssou n’Dour was injured […]
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Some event notes
See the newly updated event listings (www.events.to-music.ca), for details of these and many other shows. A few items of note: The Lula Lounge has a number of interesting shows coming up: “world jazz” on Friday nights (early show before the salsa takes over) including& Haitian roots (Feb. 24) & Mexican jazz (Mar 2) in the […]
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Musical losses in Sudan & North Carolina
RIP: Sudanese singer and musician Mohammed Osman Wardi died Feb 18 at the age of 80. More here Live in Addis Ababa, 1993: And halfway across the world, North Carolina fiddler Joe Thompson died Feb. 21 at 93. More here Thompson was the prime inspiration for the Carolina Chocolate Drops who will be releasing […]
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Youssou n’Dour’s run for the Presidency in trouble
(Photo from his 2008 concert as part of the Toronto International Film Festival) The Senegalese star’s plan to run for the presidency of that country hit a major roadblock recently. The Constitutional Council of Senegal on Friday rejected his bid, claiming he had many invalid signatures on his application. However, it did approve 85 year […]
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Sonny Boy Williamson, Robert Jr Lockwood: on film, 1942
Amazing colour film footage from 1942 of Sonny Boy Williamson II (Rice Miller) and Robert Jr Lockwood playing on the front porch of an Arkansas grocery store in 1942. It also features some shots of Williamson playing with his band in 1952. No sound, but as one YouTube commenter wrote, “The music is there! You […]
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Etta James & Johnny Otis
It’s been more than a week since the deaths of those two giant figures of American R&B: Johnny Otis, and his greatest discovery, Etta James. My initial comments on Otis’ death are in a post below, and they’ve both received significant media coverage, especially James, although Lynn Crosbie in the Globe & Mail this week […]
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Howlin’ Wolf: “What is the Soul of Man?”
In early December, I made my yearly note that the Oxford American‘s annual Music Issue was about to hit the streets. Usually full of interesting takes on musicians, unknown, little known, or well known, it includes a CD of music by all artists profiled. (NOTE: The issue has been out for some time, but Soundscapes […]
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RIP, Johnny Otis
A giant of American popular music died on January 17 at the age of 90. Johnny Otis discovered, produced, recorded Big Mama Thornton, Etta James, Esther Phillips and so many others; He helped create the R&B sound in the 1950’s and kept many of its early stars touring and performing through the 60’s and 70’s. […]
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Jan. 26: Fundraiser for Andy Frank
Andy Frank has been a tireless contributor to Toronto’s broadcast & music scene. Several years ago he hosted various CIUT radio shows, and created and hosted its morning show, Take 5. More recently he created Frankcasting, an independent company producing webTV and videography, much dedicated to promoting Toronto-area roots music. He also co-created and […]