Boubacar Traoré took his guitar and strode out into the fields outside of Bamako, Mali. There, in the country quiet, he wrote a dozen new songs in a month.

"Town is too noisy. And I didn't go to the bush, but I left my guitar here, on my farm. Because I know here, I'm on a leash," says Traoré.

That leash, that connection to land and family, resulted in Mali Denhou (Lusafrica; June 14, 2011; distributed by Harmonia Mundi). On Traoré's first studio album in six years, the kindly, gritty voice of the veteran Malian bluesman intertwines with wonderfully idiosyncratic, cascading guitar. Wistful and pensive, Traoré exhorts, gives thanks, and reflects on love, history, and duty, with a deceptive simplicity and a deep, subtle knowledge of Mandingo tradition and West African vintage pop.

A legend in Mali since his groundbreaking hits of the 1960s, Traoré, possibly the eldest internationally-touring guitarist from Mali, has been around. He knows exactly what he wants. He insisted that if he was going to do a studio album, he had to have his longtime friend, the nimble French harmonica player Vincent Bucher, play with him. Bucher's rich, pure tone moves in and out of Traoré's succinct phrases and unexpected rhythms effortlessly on tracks like "Mondeou."
[Africa Review]

Continue reading "Boubacar Traoré releasing a new album, touring (dates)"

"SummerStage, a program of City Parks Foundation, presents performances of outstanding artistic quality, free of charge, to serve the diverse communities of New York City. The artists represent a breadth of genres and cultures and perform in an outdoor setting accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds. SummerStage strives to develop audiences' deepening appreciation for contemporary, traditional, and emerging artists as well as the communities in which these artists originate."

The ENTIRE 2011 SUMMERSTAGE SCHEDULE is now posted at Summerstage's site.

Above picture, taken at the St. Vincent show in 2010, by Chris La Putt.

Few Grammy winners have never performed in the United States. Fewer still sell more than 10 million albums worldwide without doing so. But a decade-and-a-half after grabbing a Grammy for Best World Music Album, ethnic-electronica outfit Deep Forest is headed our way.

Musical history [was] made in Boston Wednesday night when Deep Forest [made] its American debut as part of a Bastille Day celebration at the Beehive.

"Yes, it's true," Deep Forest co-founder Eric Mouquet said by phone from Paris. "I have played everywhere in the world except for the U.S.A." [Boston Herald]

Continue reading "Deep Forest play first-EVER NYC show tonight?!"

African guitar god Diblo Dibala makes a rare appearance at SOB's in NYC tonight (12/23). Tickets are still available. Get ready to dance. Learn some moves in the videos below...

Continue reading "Diblo Dibala is here! (SOB's tonight) (check out these videos) "

Tinariwen @ Le Poisson Rouge (more by Tim Griffin)

Tinariwen are touring North America in the first quarter of 2010. Tickets recently went on sale for 2 NYC shows. It's a long journey for the band from Northern Mali (assuming they still live there), and it's a chance for us to again see the artists who made the "best world music album" of the decade (according to the Times Online)...

"The Tuaregs' debut, recorded in a Saharan radio station, is the sound of the sands, stones and emptiness, filtered through a woozy wall of guitars. Today they are genuine rock stars, but this, in all its ragged glory, is the one."

Continue reading "Times Online picks the decade's 'best world music albums'"

by Andrew Frisicano

Tinariwen @ (Le) Poisson Rouge in April (more by Tim Griffin)

Malian band Tinariwen recently won the 2009 Uncut Music Award for best album (given by Uncut Mag) for their record Imidiwan:Companions. The 11 member jury, which included Billy Bragg and Fleet Foxes' Robin Pecknold, voted the album the "most inspiring and rewarding" of the past 12 months over the seven other entries including Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear and Dirty Projectors. For a better idea of the sizable competition, the shortlist of nominees is below.

Tinariwen, who made a good impression at Coachella and played NYC's LPR both in April, will be coming to North American this February. The trip includes a pair of NYC shows: they return to Highline Ballroom on February 18th and then play a rare Brooklyn show (their first?) at The Bell House on February 19th. Ticket info TBA.

Also coming to the Highline in 2010 will be Malian singer-songwriter Rokia Traore for a show on Saturday, April 17th, as part of the World Music Institute Presents: Songs of Mali series. Tickets are on sale. World Music Institute will also bring Nigarian juju legend King Sunny Ade to the Highline Ballroom on April 9th. Tickets are on sale.

For Rokia, the Highline show is somewhat of a makeup show after her Summer 2009 tour was cancelled.

On Friday, March 26th another Music of Mali show will happen with Bassekou Kouyate (who play the ngoni, a West African lute) at Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall. That'll be the New York debut of his band and Mali's "first ngoni quartet," Ngoni ba. Tickets are on sale now.

Videos of all four with the Uncut shortlist and all tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Tinariwen win an award, announce tour dates ++ upcoming King Sunny Ade, Rokia Traore & Bassekou Kouyate shows too"

Orchestra Baobab is a Senegalese Afro-Cuban, Son, and Pachanga band. Organized in 1970, as a multi-ethnic, multi-national club band, Orchestre Baobab adapted the then current craze for Cuban Music (growing out of the Congolese Soukous style) in West Africa to Wolof Griot culture and the Mandinga musical traditions of the Casamance. One of the dominant African bands of the 1970s, they were overshadowed in the 1980s and broke up, only to reform in 2001 after interest in their recordings grew in Europe. [Wikipedia]

Continue reading "Orchestra Baobab - 2008 Tour Dates (2 free NYC shows)"

this is what it looks like upstairs @ Santos' Party House....

If anyone has something nice to say about a Black Kids live performance, speak up now. They could use some opinions like that to counteract the multitudes of "they suck"s I'm used to hearing. Actually, this one is not so bad:

The Black Kids' music isn't necessarily going to blow your mind, but what they lack in depth they make up for in hooks and fun. This is music to dance to, to forget about your age to, to throw cynicism out the window to. Sure, i could poke a million holes in their show/music if i wanted to, but what's the fun in that? I couldn't help but just give in and get sweaty. [Quarterlifeparty]

A little bit throwback pop, a little bit rock and a little bit soul, the Kids' dancey, sassy set served as a perfect warm-up for headliners Cut Copy. Despite the band's relative newness, the front rows at the Black Cat responded in kind: dancing, shouting and singing along for the duration of the Black Kids' set. It was a little surprising for a band that doesn't even have an album out, though definitely warranted. [DCist]

Continue reading "Black Kids - 2008 Tour Dates (Santos' Party House)"

photos by Leia Jospe

The Mae Shi played more SXSW shows than anyone. That includes one I put together. It's only right then that I catch up and post these pics from Emo's Lounge (March 13).

Their next NYC shows are with TheDeathSet @ Cake Shop, and with Japanther @ Market Hotel. All dates (+ more pics) below...

Continue reading "The Mae Shi - 2008 Tour Dates (and 1 of 18 SXSW-show pics)"

DOWNLOAD: Hugh Masekela- Afro Beat Blues (MP3)

Legendary trumpeter and composer Hugh Masekela comes from an extensive jazz background. Masekela, from South Africa, has enjoyed major success over the years, and is recognized as one of the greatest innovators in world fusion. [NPR]

Tour dates in January/Feb 2008 are with "Hugh Masekela's Chissa All-Stars", which also features guest appearances of many other exciting South African performers. Along with Hugh and his band, the tour also features Afropop diva Sibongile Khumalo, young kwaito singer Nathi as well as a few additional performers that Hugh is producing for his record label back home in Africa.

Continue reading "Hugh Masekela's - 2008 Tour Dates (SOB's, Brooklyn)"

Thu, Dec. 27th - 9:30 pm - New York Gypsy All Stars
Fri, Dec. 28th - 10:00 pm - DJ PEPE
Sat, Dec. 29th - 10:00 pm - DJ PEPE
Mon, Dec. 31st - 8:00 pm - New York Gypsy All Stars
Thu, Jan. 3rd - 9:30 pm - New York Gypsy All Stars
Sun, Jan. 6th - 8:00 pm - GENERATIONS
Tue, Jan. 8th - 8:00 pm - Soul Searching
Wed, Jan. 9th - 8:00 pm - MARC RIBOT
Thu, Jan. 10th - 10:00 pm - Globesonic Entertainment presents Vishal Vaid, Wah! & Eljuri

Fifth Annual Festival of Global Music Brings Twelve Artists to NYC Showcase....

Continue reading "globalFEST 2008 (@ Webster Hall)"

Tinariwen's new album Aman Iman is out now. Clips from it are playing in a player at their site. Listen to a feature at NPR. Catch the band of Tuareg rebels at Highline Ballroom in NYC tonight (Nov 27, 2007). I caught them when they were here in 2005, and though I didn't end up watching their performance at the Oya Festival in Norway this summer, you couldn't miss them walking around the crowd in their blue robes. All tour dates, and some videos, below....

Continue reading "Tinariwen - 2007 Tour Dates (tonight), new album"

Cafe Tacuba @ Central Park Summerstage, NYC - July 14, 2007 (CRED)

"Café Tacuba (often spelled Café Tacvba) is a Grammy Award and Latin Grammy Award-winning musical group from Naucalpan, Mexico. They were founded in 1989, and since then have had the same musical lineup. [Wikipedia]

They played a show at Central Park Summerstage over the summer - and Lollapalooza. Their new album Sino is out today (Oct 9, 2007). Tickets are on sale for their next NYC show - November 20th @ Hammerstein Ballroom. It's a show that is part of "world music" venue S.O.B.'s 25th Anniversary celebration, that unfortunately (for some?) is the same day as one of Caetano Veloso's NYC shows, and that is part of a much larger Cafe Tacuba tour. All dates, and videos, below....

Continue reading "Cafe Tacuba - 2007 Tour Dates ++ S.O.B's is 25"

Devendra Banhart's idol - Caetano Veloso ("the 65-year-old Brazillian music dynamo famous for fusing together more traditional South American sounds with a newer Bossa Nova spin") is going on a tour of North America. Paste says, "Don't miss your chance to see this living legend."

A true heavyweight, Caetano Veloso is a pop musician/poet/filmmaker/political activist whose stature in the pantheon of international pop musicians is on a par with that of Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, and Lennon/McCartney. And even the most cursory listen to his recorded output over the last few decades proves that this is no exaggeration. [All Music]

Continue reading "Caetano Veloso - 2007 North American Tour Dates"

DOWNLOAD: Bebel Gilberto - Um Segundo (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Forro in the Dark - I Wish (bundle Of Contradictions) w/ David Byrne (MP3)

Tickets are still on sale for the Bebel Gilberto show at Webster Hall in NYC on September 18th. Forro in the Dark is opening, and on tour with her. The LA Times has a review of the show she played on Saturday. All tour dates below....

Continue reading "Bebel Gilberto & Forro in the Dark - 2007 Tour Dates"

DOWNLOAD: Extra Golden - Obama (MP3)

Warning: "World Music" contained in the MP3 above

Obama" is Extra Golden's song of praise for the Senator from Illinois and everyone else who helped them unite in the US last fall for a debut tour and the recording of this album, the follow up to their debut, Ok-Oyot System. Such songs of praise are benga tradition.

"Ok-Oyot System" loosely translated as "It's Not Easy", and that was definitely the case when Extra Golden's Kenyan members sought visas to enter the US last fall. It was largely thanks to help from Obama and his office that Opiyo Bilongo and Onyango Wuod Omari were able at the very last minute to get their visas and make their first trip outside of east Africa.

Continue reading "A song about Obama by Extra Golden"

DOWNLOAD: David Garland - In My Room (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Fionn Regan - Getting Better (Beatles cover) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Devotchka - How it Ends (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Pelican - Far From Fields (MP3)

Did you check out today's free Vieux show that already happened....

Vieux Farka Toure in NYC, July 24, 2007 (by Jefferson)

* The White Stripes play MSG
* Grinderman play MSG
* Porter Wagoner plays MSG
* Devotchka play their first of two shows @ Spiegeltent
* Pelican reaches Bowery Ballroom
* Mercury Prize nominee Fionn Regan is at Joe's Pub
* A member of the Dresden Dolls is @ Joe's Pub too
* Smif N Wessun & Dead Prez are in Red Hook park
* Bon Iver & The Comas @ Mercury Lounge
* David Garland is at Union Hall
* The Swell Season (Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova) are @ Gramercy Theatre
* a cult classic starring some Sex Pistols @ McCarren tonight
* Jill Cunniff & The Epochs play an ASCAP/Delo party @ the Annex tonight

What else?

As previously reported, Vieux Farka Toure performs today (7/24/2007) @ 12:30 pm @ Grace Building Plaza (1114 Avenue of the Americas at 43rd Street) in NYC. The show is free. His NYC show after that at Highline Ballroom on August 1st isn't. All tour dates below...

Continue reading "Vieux Farka Toure is here + more 2007 Tour Dates"

Bjork collaborator, kora master, and all around good guy, Toumani Diabate is here from Mali to grace NYC with two free shows today and tomorrow. Please note:

Due to threat of inclement weather Toumani Diabates Symmetric Orchestra at Rockefeller Park will be moved indoors to the Stuyvesant High School auditorium. Located at 345 Chambers Street. Just east of Rockefeller Park.

The event will start at its regularly scheduled time of 7PM, but due to indoor capacity restrictions, tickets are limited and will be distributed two per person on a first come-first served basis starting at 5PM. Doors open at 6PM.

Continue reading "Toumani Diabate is here! (in a new location) + Tour Dates"

Tonight's free "Living Room" concert at the World Financial Center in NYC is full of familiar names...

Martha Wainwright, Chris Thile (from Nickel Creek), Jim Campilongo, Ari Hest and The Bees come together for this unique concert of alums from The Living Room’s venerable stage. As one of NYC’s musical landmarks, the club has become a venue for the best and brightest singer/songwriters.

Don't confuse them with the UK band with the same name who played Glastonbury this weekend, or with the actual insects, or with one of the many other bands with "bee" in their name. Their latest album "High Society" is like a soft rock (in a good way) record out of the 70's that is so pleasant, it's kind of impossible not to like. They've been compared to James Taylor, Jackson Browne, The Eagles, The Beach Boys, and Van Morrison. One of the highlights on "the album is the song "Imaginary Girl" - Music For Robots agrees. Listen at MySpace.

Vieux Farka Toure, son of Ali Farka Toure, is leaving Mali again to tour North America this summer. He hits Grace Plaza in NYC on July 24 (Grace Plaza??), and he's at Newport Towers in Jersey City the day before (Newport Towers???). All tour dates below.....

Continue reading "Vieux Farka Toure - 2007 Tour Dates"

you'd never know this MP3 was the Thermals...

DOWNLOAD: The Thermals cover Elliott Smith (MP3) (info)

This picture is not of The Thermals, Ted Leo, or a vegetarian, bit it is a sexy picture of Les Savy Fav's Tim Harrington dressed as something a vegetarian wouldn't eat at the ATP festival in the UK last weekend that The Thermals (and Grizzly Bear and Daniel Johnston) also played....

The Thermals have a few more shows popping up. Tickets are on sale for a July 27th show in Chicago, and one on August 10th at Maxwell's in NJ. That last one is two days before they play a much larger free show at McCarren Pool in Brooklyn with Ted Leo who may or may not be this year's sexiest vegetarian. Ted Leo was also recently seen looking sexy on MTV (and getting sexed up by the crowd at Webster Hall).

The Thermals recently played NYU with the Hold Steady who are also playing a big free show this summer in Brooklyn.

DOWNLOAD: Balkan Beat Box - Digital Monkey (MP3)

Balkan Beat Box @ Summerstage, NYC 2006 (CRED)

Brooklyn's own Balkan Beat Box are kicking off a tour April 19th at Bowery Ballroom in NYC. They'll be supporting their new record:

The latest in Balkan-Gypsy-funky-electronica from Balkan Beat Box is Nu Med and it’s available as an iTunes download starting Tuesday, April 17th. iTunes is the only place to get the bonus track "Ramallah Tel Aviv" featuring Saz, Palestinian MC from Ramallah joining the BBB gang whose Tel Aviv roots are flourishing in New York City.

Continue reading "Balkan Beat Box - 2007 Tour Dates, MP3, new album"

Last summer the Refugee All Stars had their own show at Central Park Summerstage. This summer they're part of the African festival at Prospect Park ("Celebrate Brooklyn") on August 11th (a 7 hour long free day show). They're also playing a big show at Hollywood Bowl in LA with DJ Shadow, Cut Chemist, and Carlinhos Brown. Listen to a session they recorded for MPR. Check out who else is playing Prospect Park this summer. All SLRAS tour dates below....

Continue reading "Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars - 2007 Tour Dates (Prospect Park, Hollywood Bowl)"