Monday, May 28
The final Monday of every month, we present our special concert series, Global Village at the Savannah Music Festival, featuring world music artists and groups who have appeared at the prestigious annual festival that takes place every spring in Savannah, Georgia. This time, in conjunction with our May Asian American/Pacific Islander Heritage Month feature, it’s the Indian tabla player Zakir Hussain with banjoist Bela Fleck and bassist Edgar Meyer. The three critically acclaimed, award-winning musicians are known both for the virtuosity and their versatility, moving effortlessly between jazz, classical and a variety of world styles. They bring all of those influences to bear in this performance on Global Village at the Savannah Music Festival.
Tuesday, May 29
Global Village showcases classical guitar releases that draw on music not only of Spain, but also of the Americas and Turkey. Plus folkloric guitarists Beppe Gambetta and Tony McManus teamed up on a world music-inspired project, and new tango music from Pablo Ziegler featuring guitarist Quique Sinesi.
Wednesday, May 30
Global Village marks the birthday of Cuban-born percussionist Armando Peraza with music he did with Carlos Santana & John McLaughlin, John Lee Hooker, Cal Tjader and as a solo artist. Plus more music for the May Asian American/Pacific Islander Heritage Month – this time from L.A. based Japanese artist Osamu Kitajima, the Pacific Islands band Te Vaka, music from one of the Japanese concept albums of Jade Warrior, and some fascinating music from the Korean neofolk group, E-do, who revived an invented instrument from the ‘40s, an ‘iron string zither,’ that combines elements of guitar and traditional Korean zither.
Thursday, May 31
Global Village wraps up the May Asian American/Pacific Islander Heritage Month feature with a visit to Japan. Among the highlights: a composition from Japan’s “Beethoven of the Koto” that is considered akin to the national melody of the country, traditional music from the internationally acclaimed composer and multi-instrumentalist Joji Hirota, ‘70s fusions from Stomu Yamashata’s Red Buddha Theater and Osamu Kitajima, traditional and contemporary Okinawan music from the Rinken Band, Shoukichi Kina, and the Surf Champlers (with a wild version of the James Bond Theme), and a project from Kengo Saito that brings together music of Japan and Afghanistan.
Friday, June 1
It’s New Month/New Music time in the Global Village. Each month, Global Village devotes an entire show to the best of recently released and forthcoming world music albums. Among the highlights this time:
African Scream Contest 2, bringing together more classic sounds from Benin
Nordic Notes’ new compilation of folk music from Estonia
A Rough Guide compilation marking the 25th anniversary of the world music label
Another impressive set from Tuareg guitarist Bombino
And Italian group Brigan’s exploration of music from Galician Spain
