Category Archives: CD’s

News, reviews, comment on CD’s, albums: new, old & in between

Sherry Ryan at The Dakota: Oct. 6 / Ticket, CD giveaway

  October 4, 2012 - 10:50 pm | , ,
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NOTE:  I have a pair of tickets to her Saturday show & a CD to give away to the first to contact me. Email info@to-music.ca This site tends to focus mostly on “world”, and especially African music, but I do periodically report on other music, notably some country/American artists. This Saturday, Newfoundland singer Sherry Ryan performs at the Dakota Tavern as part of her CD Release of Sister of Mine. I wasn’t familiar with her music until now, but having listened to the CD, and some of her earlier music, I’ve been really impressed with her sound, her singing and … Continue reading →

Graceland/Under African Skies: released & reviewed

  June 12, 2012 - 8:17 am | , ,
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I’ve posted a couple of items recently about Under African Skies, the excellent documentary about Paul Simon’s groundbreaking Graceland album, released 25 years go. The documentary includes footage of original recording sessions, Simon’s first return to South Africa last year, and the international political controversy it caused from his breaking of the UN’s cultural boycott of the apartheid regime. For that 25th anniversary, a raft of packaging has now been released: CD’s, DVD’s, BluRay, deluxe box sets and more. Don’t let the marketing hype mislead you however; the music is still brilliant, and the documentary, by Joe Berlinger, is great. … Continue reading →

“Under African Skies”: Documentary on “Graceland”, 25 years on (updated)

  May 9, 2012 - 10:56 pm | , , , ,
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Update, May 24: See this page for details on the various CD/DVD/Blu-ray packages being released June 5. Update (May 18): The film will be shown on A&E (TV), May 25 at 10pm. Update (May 13): A couple of film reviews: LA Times (May 11) The Age (Australia) (May 14) And, to capture a bit of the flavour of the original album release, you can find many videos on YouTube of Simon’s original “Graceland” tour which followed the original album release. Many are from the final concert in Harare, Zimbabwe, including: “You Can Call Me Al“ “Diamonds on the Soles of … Continue reading →

Gospel (and other) music for Easter

  April 8, 2012 - 11:44 pm | , ,
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An appropriate time for a bit of gospel… Mahalia Jackson From the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival, the intro says it all: “The World’s Greatest Gospel Singer… Miss Mahalia Jackson”   Sister Rosetta Tharpe Gospel and rock & roll: The connection is well known. Numerous soul singers had roots in that tradition, starting with Ray Charles,  and Sam Cooke who was once one of the great stars of gospel. But one performer who is less known now,  was perhaps a much more important link between the two musics: Sister Rosetta Tharpe,  a highly under-rated performer. Below, part 1 of a BBC … Continue reading →

Etta James & Johnny Otis

  January 26, 2012 - 4:14 am | , , , ,
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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 wondered why it took her death for James to receive such wide recognition. “But if she is such a legend, why was she not pushed forward more in her life?” There was nothing simple, or easily mainstreamed, about the way James sang. Pure soul is … Continue reading →

Best CDs of 2011: a collection of lists

  December 29, 2011 - 9:03 pm | ,
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Some year-end selections from various sources: Best of the Year lists Afropop Worldwide: Top Ten Releases of 2011 The Best World Music CDs of 2011 – Megan Romer, About.com Top World Music Albums of 2011: picks by 3 critics on World Music Central Pop Matters: picks in world,  Americana,. Includes notes & videos National Geographic “Best World Music Albums of 2011” (with video) World’s Top Music PIcks 2011 by broadcaster/writer Marco Werman fRoots Crtics Poll: The 26 poll selected its winners by surveying over 300 world & folk music critics. As noted in the introduction by the magazine’s editor, Ian … Continue reading →

“Oxford American” magazine: Music issue now on the stands

  December 10, 2011 - 2:01 am | ,
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The annual Oxford American (“The Southern Magazine of Good Writing”) has just published its annual Music Issue, this year focusing on music from Mississippi. Always a great read — and listen. Its accompanying CD is usually a gem of diversity (and excellent music, of course). This year’s issue features the above-mentioned Howlin’ Wolf on the cover (with article on him by Peter Guralnick), plus articles by Elijah Wald (on X-rated blues lyrics), William Gay on Mississippi John Hurt, Roy Blount Jr, Nick Hornby and many more.   It’s not always easy to find… those stores that carry are often sold … Continue reading →

Twitter odds & ends

  September 8, 2011 - 2:08 am | , , , , ,
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Some odds & ends,I’ve tweeted or re-tweeted recently….  I’m at @TOMusicPix nprmusicnprmusic    Happy 75th Birthday, Buddy Holly. Hear the story of one of his biggest hits, “Peggy Sue.” http://n.pr/n6OX2D   myworldmusicMyWorldMusicFriends CD Review: Rwanda’s Mighty Popo: Mighty Popo  Gakondo Borealis Records read more http://bit.ly/qsDJHG   » FelaMusicalFELA! on Broadway    An early feature of Fela! on NPR — includes a dance number from the show! http://fb.me/103gqEhkg » SmallWorldNotesSmall World Music    Announcing The 10th Annual Small World Music Festival! http://conta.cc/oMXpTY » ARCMusicProdARC Music    The Queen of Fado – Amália Rodrigues – NEW ALBUM BY ARC MUSIC http://arcmusic.co.uk/shop/thequeenoffadoamaacuteliarodrigues-p-992.html   » … Continue reading →

Aug. 11 notes

  August 12, 2011 - 1:01 am | , , , ,
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T.O. Music Pix on CKLN: A reminder that I’ll be doing a guest spot on Paul Corby’s “Corby’s Orbit” show on CKLN Friday, Aug. 12 around 1pm, featuring some music and talk. Tune in online to www.ckln.fm   Also on the Internet this week While on the topic of Internet radio shows, I’m currently listening to DJ Ritu’s latest “A World In London” show. (Listen here) She began that show several years ago on BBC Radio London, taking over the timeslot of the late Charlie Gillett when he became ill. It featured a range of “world” and other music, reflecting … Continue reading →