I haven't had the opportunity to post any significant website or newsletter updates, and will be out of town for most of the next week (finishing in Montreal, to catch Khaira Arby's performance there at the Club Balattou on Sep. 30), but wanted to be sure people knew of a few significant shows coming up including:

 

Small World Music Festival, on now through Oct. 3
The annual event is well known now, but I thought I'd note a a few of the shows:

• Sep. 26: Small World on the Street: again Small World combines with the huge book fair, featuring numerous free performances
• Sep. 28: Patricia Cano: Sudbury / Brazil / Peru / Cuba / Korean and native Canadian influences
• Mahala Rai Banda: a Romanian Brass Band well worth checking out
• Sep. 29 Kinobe at the Lula: The Ugandan singer's spring concert tour had been cancelled
• Oct. 1: K'Naan at the Kool Haus
• Oct. 1: Elito Reve y su Charangon at The Courthouse. The first time in Toronto for a group that has been one of the giant of Cuban salsa for over 50 years, now led by the son of the founder.

But check out the full festival lineup. You can't go wrong

 

American Legends:
As well, Sep. 29 brings two American music legends to town: Van Dyke Parks at the Music Gallery and Alejandro Escovedo (No Depression magazine's "alt-country artist of the 90's") at the Opera House

 

And lastly, A celebration of Mali's 50th anniversary of independence will be held on Oct. 2 at the Lambadina Resto & Lounge. Mali of course is responsible for great contributions to African history and civilizations, going back to the founding of the Manding Empire in the 13th century. And of course, is one the world's great musical treasures today.

This night will feature Malian kora player and griot Mansa Sissoko who was the co-winner (with banjoist Jayme Stone) of the 2009 World Music Juno Award. Also performing: the Mala Bala Ensemble and balafonist Kassoum Diamoutene.  For info see http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=113853062006177&ref=mf or call 416 951-2904.

875 Bloor St. w, 2nd floor, just east of Ossington

 

Check http://to-music.ca/events.htm for details on these and many other upcoming shows

K'naan will be performing a free show this afternoon at 3pm, as part of TIFF's block party celebrating the opening of its new Lightbox building.  King Street between John & Peter will be closed, and the party runs from 11am to 4pm. Info and full schedule is here.

 

Khaira Arby on CITU FM

Also, one more follow up to last weekend's appearance by Malian Khaira Arby with the Sway Machinery. In addition to their Harbourfront concert, they also, as noted in the last newsletter, played live in studio at CIUT on "Global Rhythms". That show is archived on CIUT's website; the podcast is updated weekly, normally on Monday's, so if you'd like to catch it, you can do it until sometime tomorrow (Sep. 13). Podcast is here.

Some of my photos of that studio session are posted on the Global Rhythms Facebook page, and I have a couple of short video clips here and here.  Also, if you missed it last week, read John Goddard's account in the Toronto Star of his meeting Khaira in Mali and his dinner at her home

As for her Khaira's own music, you can hear some songs on her MySpace page; her new CD, Timbuktu Tarab (highly recommended) is at this point available only on amazon.com (CD & download), although it's supposed to be on iTunes "soon"

 

a 9/11 Remembrance