NEW RELEASES FEATURED THIS WEEK: Desert rock band Terakaft, world instrumental ensemble Bolo, AfriScandinavian group Monoswezi, and Finnish folk jazz from the Juli Wood Quartet.
Monday, October 12
Global Village explores some global harp– including music from Veracruz from Sones de Mexico; acclaimed Venezuelan harpist Hugo Blanco; Alan Stivell – the artist who almost single-handedly revived interest in the Celtic harp in the ‘70s; Rodrigo Romani – who pioneered the use of the Celtic harp in the contemporary Galician folk music; pioneering jazz harpist Dorothy Ashby; and the musical meeting of classical harpist Catrin Finch and kora player Seckou Keita.
Tuesday, October 13
Global Village marks the birthday of guitarist Simon Nicol –a founding member of Fairport Convention and a key figure on the UK folk rock scene (the Global Village feature for October) and also of singer-songwriter Paul Simon (with selections from his world music releases, Graceland and The Rhythm of the Saints). Plus music from two albums featured in the recent Songlines list of “50 Greatest World Music Albums of the Past Five Years” - from Aurelio and Robert Plant – and new music from desert rock band Terakaft and world instrumental trio Bolo.
Wednesday, October 14
Instrumental world sounds are in the spotlight in this visit to the Global Village, including Middle Eastern inspired jazz from Nashaz, Michael Wolff’s world-jazz ensemble, Impure Thoughts, Jamaican jazz from the Jazz Jamaica All Stars, Afrobeat inspired music from the Outer Bridge Ensemble, Don Cherry’s pioneering Brown Rice album, and acclaimed Nordic ensemble Vasen.
Thursday, October 15
Global Village marks the birthday of Fela, one of the true giants of African music and the creator of Afrobeat, a style that wedded strong social commentary to equally powerful African funk. The program features classic sounds from Fela, and music from his sons Femi and Seun, long-time collaborator and musical director for Fela’s band - Tony Allen, the Red Hot + Fela compilation, and American and European bands inspired by the Afrobeat sound.
Friday, October 16
Global Village heads to Scandinavia for music from artists ranging from the traditional to the contemporary – incorporating not only folk music of the region, but world, jazz, rock and other influences in fresh and intriguing new ways. Among the groups and artists featured – internationally acclaimed folk-rock ensemble Varttina, long-running eclectic band Piirpauke, neo-folk rocker Pekko Kappi, folk jazz artist Sinikka Langeland, the all harmonica and mouth organ band Svang, the English-Scandinavian folk-jazz ensemble Fatdog, and a new release from American jazz saxophonist Juli Wood inspired by folk songs of Finland.
