Category: CD’s

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

    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 […]

  • Graceland/Under African Skies: released & reviewed

    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 […]

  • Another take on the “Graceland” 25th anniversary re-package…

    Paul Simon’s ‘Graceland’ boxed set revisits controversial and brilliant album | NJ.com.

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

    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 […]

  • Gospel (and other) music for Easter

    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,  […]

  • 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 […]

  • Best CDs of 2011: a collection of lists

    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 […]

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

    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 […]

  • Twitter odds & ends

    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! […]

  • Aug. 11 notes

    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 […]