Monday, May 22
In conjunction with the May ‘Golden Age of African Music’ feature, Global Village highlights music this time from the legendary Orchestra Baobab. The group formed in 1970 and its inspired combination of Cuban and Senegalese music made it one of the top bands of the era. New styles and sounds led to Baobab disbanding in the ‘80s, but they reformed in 2001 and past and later releases attracted a new world music audience. The show highlights music from across the band’s career, from early work to their new album, Tribute to Ndiouga Dieng. Plus new music from Colombian band Systema Solar, the Gypsy Cuban Project, and the Cape Verdean Synthesize the Soul compilation.
Tuesday, May 23
Global Village highlights some impressive neo-folk groups from Europe including the critically acclaimed Hungarian band Sondorgo, Italy’s Unavantaluna, Finnish accordionist Maria Kalaniemi, and from Spain, the Basque group Korrontzi and Basque accordionist Keja Junkera with over 200 Galician musicians on the massive Galiza project.
Wednesday, May 24
Global Village celebrates the birthday of Bob Dylan in a show devoted to world music artists doing Dylan songs and world music-influenced versions of his work. There’s Dylan tunes off new albums by Cuba’s Vocal Sampling, the art-folk Quercus trio (June Tabor, Huw Warren & Iain Bellamy), and the Hudson album from Jack DeJohnette, Larry Grenadier, John Medeski and John Scofield. Plus Dylan covers from Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Robert Plant, Toots Hibbert and more.
Thursday, May 25
On this date in 1963, independent nations of Africa formed the Organization of African Unity. This has since been celebrated across Africa and around the world as Africa Day. It is a public holiday in several African countries and Global Village highlights music from them in this special edition of the show. Among the artists featured: Zimbabwe’s Thomas Mapfumo, Zambia’s Brian Chilala, Guinea’s Balla et ses Balladins, Ghana’s Ebo Taylor and C.K. Mann, and from Mali, Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba.
Friday, May 26
Global Village continues the May ‘Golden Age of African Music’ feature with a preview of a compilation out next month of pop makossa from ‘70s Cameroon. Plus birthday salutes to Brazilian guitarist and accordionist Sivuca, Buena Vista Social Club pianist Ruben Gonzalez, and some world-influenced pieces from Sketches of Spain and Miles from India for Miles Davis’s birthday.
