Category Archives: News

Music (and related) news and information

Youssou n’Dour’s run for the Presidency in trouble

  January 29, 2012 - 5:53 pm | ,
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(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 old President Abdoulaye Wade’s bid for a third term — something n’Dour and other opposition figures claim is illegal and unconstitutional. From the Vancouver Sun, Jan. 28: N’Dour described the outcome as a “takeover by force” by Wade, who was first elected in 2000 for … Continue reading →

RIP, Johnny Otis

  January 20, 2012 - 4:26 am | , , , ,
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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. Otis was the son of Greek immigrants, but as an obituary in the LA Times noted, ” in the 1920s, Otis decided as a youth that he’d rather be black”, and, according to one YouTube commenter he claimed “I was Greek by birth but black … Continue reading →

CKLN gone; Radio Regent now online

  January 11, 2012 - 2:57 am | ,
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A parallel story to the post below about CIUT’s 25th anniversary, and a lesson about the vulnerabilities of local, non-commercial radio… As most readers know, what was Toronto’s first and longest-running community radio station, CKLN (88.1) sadly went off the air last year and lost its broadcast license. It continued broadcasting online from a studio in Regent Park, but officially dissloved at the end of September. On January 1, many of its programs and hosts moved to Radio Regent, an online radio station. Check it out and tune in at www.radioregent.com For some background on CKLN and what happened see … 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 →

“Globalized Tuaregs, and the Plight of the Festival in the Desert”

  December 10, 2011 - 1:35 am |
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From Afropop Worldwide’s blog: These are trying times for the Tuareg communities of the Sahara. We are barely one month from the 11th annual Festival in the Desert in Timbuktu. A tantalizing preliminary roster (including Salif Keita, Baaba Maal, Habib Koite, and of course the preeminent Tuareg band Tinariwen) has been posted. Tinariwen has recently toured in the US, including an appearance on The Colbert Report, further enhancing their mantle as champions of a globalized, “desert rock” sound. And, prior to a November 25 kidnapping incident in Timbuktu, Festival in the Desert director Manny Ansar was also making the rounds, … Continue reading →

Youssou N’Dour to Put Music on Hold and Turn to Politics

  November 29, 2011 - 4:49 pm | ,
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From the New York Times“Arts Beat”: With his country gearing up for a hotly contested presidential election early next year the Senegalese singer and songwriter Youssou N’Dour, one of the biggest stars of the “world music” genre, is putting his career on hold to plunge into the political fray. It’s not clear in what capacity — as a candidate for public office himself, or just lending his prestige and support to someone already in the running — or for how long, but he made the announcement over the weekend and set a date to stop performing. Read the full article … Continue reading →

Benefit concert for John Collins with Afrafranto: Dec. 11: Updated Dec 10

  November 23, 2011 - 1:13 pm | , ,
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One of the greatest archivists and collectors of West African music, Professor John Collins of Ghana last month experienced a severe flood and mudslide, which damaaged and destroyed much of the material he has been assembling since the 1970’s. His home is in the same premises, and his family narrowly escapted drowning. The Bokoor African Popular Music Archives Foundation (BAPMAF) is a Ghanaian NGO established in 1990. BAPMAF’s function is to preserve African popular & traditional performance and provide a resource centre for arts projects in Ghana and the international community. BAPMAF archival holdings include 700 photographs, 700 publications, as … Continue reading →

Odds, ends & catchups

  November 23, 2011 - 4:29 am | , , , ,
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As noted previously, I haven’t been able to post updates or newsletters recently. The events page (www.events.to-music.ca) now has extensive updates through the new year. Below are a few scatttered items that have been accumulating recently, in no particular order: “Music for Peace” Steve Paikin, on TVO’s “The Agenda” interviews David Buchbinder (Flying Klezmer Bulgar Band, Ashkenaz and the new organization, Diasporic Genius) and Bassam Bishara (oud player and musical director of Arabesque Dance Company). The guests discuss (to a rather naive Paikin, in my view) their thoughts on Israeli/Palestinian conflict and connections, politics and music. They had collaborated on … 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 →

A musical prayer for Libya

  August 20, 2011 - 2:29 am | , ,
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For over 6 months, ordinary Libyans have sacrificed, fought and died in order to finally rid themselves of the terror & opression they’ve lived under for almost 42 years. At this point, victory & freedom for Libyans may finally be close. In the last week, towns and cities all over western Libya have been freed. Only Tripoli remains, and it seems as if tonight and tomorrow may begin the final stand against the dictator. Many of us are holding our breaths. So, in support of Libya and Libyans, a small bit of Libyan music & other notes… Last Friday, I … Continue reading →