festival des arts

A couple of weeks ago I received a press release about the upcoming Festival des Arts, a week-long festival taking place in Québec’s Eastern townships. The dates were straightforward enough: July 24th through August 1st. The exact location, though – now, that was a bit more difficult to nail down. I visited the website and discovered why: it’s a festival spread out over two towns, and four different venues along the shore of Lake Memphrémagog.  Alright then. Sounds like a road trip.

After a little confusion accidentally(!) crossing the Canadian border in Derby, VT (where only some of the many town streets that serve as crossing points are marked…sheesh!) and a short drive North on 247 after going through an approved border crossing, the little elephant signs began to appear on the roadside. I had been to the website. I’d seen the pictures. I realized Georgeville’s Elephant Barn venue must be the first stop. And so it was: a large red barn with typical white trim, except for the huge white elephant on the side. The inside glowed with refurbished natural wood and soft lighting strung artfully from the ceiling. Every surface was covered in art: pastels, acrylics, oils, aquarelles (watercolors) and stained glass…along with glass and driftwood tables and a whole back yard filled with tall sculptures. And what a location! Views of the hills in the background, woods and grassy fields in the foreground. A natural setting for a lot of interesting, locally created art. My favorites here were all liquid acrylics from the same artist, Christine Pelzer. I liked her loose, fluid technique and the colorful, bold, architectural compositions that resulted from it.

Next stop was also in Georgeville, at the Murray Memorial Center. It’s an open, airy, gallery-style space with light paint and hardwood floors. The first thing that caught my eye upon entering was the works of sculpteur Matthieu Binette. His small (4-8 or so inches) faceless metal human figures are whimsical and invested with personality, while remaining fairly static at the same time. They don’t bend as much as they are gently curved into the flow of the larger work, while the single figures in shadow boxes stand against backgrounds painted with the subtle shapes of shadowy wings. (You have to see it: check out some pictures at Binette’s gallery website here.) When I mentioned to the artist that his figures reminded me a little of Giacometti’s figurative sculptures, he lit up: “yes, I did not know about Giacometti until one of my art teachers saw my sculptures and told me about him! Then I read a book, and learned about Giacometti.” He didn’t deny the resemblance, but having learned about the master sculpture after arriving at his own individual style seemed a perfectly acceptable explanation. Binette’s work, however reminiscent of anyone else’s, is nonetheless personal and certainly uniquely crafted – the metal he uses to create his figures comes from welded and melted coat hangers!

Two more stops on the afternoon tour (Town Hall in Fitch Bay, and the Art Nitsche Gallery in Georgeville) revealed fine bowls made from wood burls, imaginatively formed hanging stained glass pieces, many oil and watercolor paintings, more sculpture and many other fine objects d’art.  It was hard to take it all in during a single visit.

The Eastern Townships Festival des Arts runs through this coming Sunday. Take the drive, it’s both a rewarding trip and destination!

playlist #93 (12/14/2009)-holidays & 2009 review

World of Music

Pgm #93 – Holiday sounds & 2009 year-end review (pt. II)

Listen Mondays 3-5pm EDT  – at 105.9FM in Burlington, VT or online at The Radiator

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Nas with Youssou N’Dour & Neneh Cherry: Wake Up (It’s Africa Calling) / Open Remix / http://www.intrahealth.org/open/ (download) – (USA / SENEGAL)

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Michael Doucet: It Came Upon A Midnight Clear / Christmas Bayou / Swallow 6064 – (N’AWLINS)

Catarina Cardeal & Mike Siracusa: Noite Feliz / Sounds of the Season /CBC 3018 – (PORTUGAL / CANADA)

Liuba Maria Hevia: Venid Fieles Todos (Adeste Fideles) / Christmas Around the World / Putumayo 218 – (HAITI)

Singing Francine: The Christmas Clock / Parang Parang / PCD 2408 – (TRINIDAD)

Alton Ellis: Christmas Coming / Reggae Christmas From Studio One / Heartbeat 118 – (JAMAICA)

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Novalima (EarthRise “Bedouin Breakdown” Mix): Se Me Van / Coba Coba Remixed / Cumbancha 11 – (PERU)

Sarazino: Mundo Babilón 2 / Ya Foy! / Cumbancha 13 – (ECUADOR / CANADA)

Rupa & The April Fishes: Espero La Luna (Waiting for the Moon) / Este Mundo / Cumbancha 15 – (SAN FRANCISCO)

Kailash Kher & Kailasa: Dilruba (Beloved) / Yatra (Nomadic Souls) / Cumbancha 14 – (INDIA)

Idan Raichel Project featuring Maya Avraham: Shev (Stay) / Within My Walls / Cumbancha 10 – (ISRAEL)

Kimi Djabaté: Fatu (Tribute to Fatunata) / Karam / Cumbancha 12 – (GUINEA BISSAU)

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Papi Brandao y Sus Ejecutivos: Decidede Mi Amor / Panamá! 2 / Soundway 13 – (PANAMÁ)

Akim El Sikameya: Chouia L’Mon Coeur / Introducing Akim El Sikameya / World Music Network 113 – (ALGERIA)

Claudia Acuña: El Cigarrito / En Este Momento / Marsalis Music 74946-10 – (CHILE)

Giorgio Conte: Balla Con Me (Dance With Me) / Italia / Putumayo 290 – (ITALY)

Martina Camargo: La Tambora de Cayetano / Canto, Palo y Cuero / Chico World Music 2009 – (COLOMBIA)

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The Baileys: Star of the County Down / A Song for Ireland / Toucan Cove Entertainment 1105 – (IRELAND)

Susan McKeown & Lorin Sklamberg: Buenos Aires / Saints & Tzadiks / World Village 468089 – (IRELAND / USA)

Isabelle Georges & The Sirba Octet:  Basarabye / From the Shtetl to New York / Ambroisie 173 – (FRANCE)

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Allen Toussaint: Long, Long Journey / The Bright Mississippi / Nonesuch 480380 – (N’AWLINS)

Tony Whedon & PoJazz: Things to Pray to in Vermont / PoJazz: Live at the Black Door / http://www.jsc.edu/Academics/WritingAndLiterature/Clubs/PoJazz.aspx – (MADE IN VT)

Maria Bethânia: Guriatã / Tua (You) / Biscoito Fino 914 – (BRAZIL)

Minino Garay: Poder Decib Te Amo / Que Lo Pario! / Naïve 145176 – (ARGENTINA)

Elisete: Fantasy / Minhas Cores / http://www.elisete.com 2009 – (ISRAEL)

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Rodrigo Chávez: La Vida Simple / Color de Rumba / Cassava 9 – (TORONTO)

La Severa Matacera: Horny and Free-To / V.I.S.A. / Kallpa Records 2009 – (COLOMBIA)

The Lost Fingers: Straight Up / Lost In The ’80s / Sony 88697556082 – (QUÉBEC)

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leftovers

This week’s World of Music is an international goulash/jambalaya/paella mix of recently acquired recordings I’ve been wanting to share with you. No theme in particular this week, so in the spirit of the post-Thanksgiving season let’s consider it ‘leftovers’ and dig in.

We’ll hear from New Orleans’ own Ingrid Lucia and the Flying Neutrinos, from their recording The Hotel Child – and make other stops in Jamaica, Jerusalem, Bulgaria, Lebanon and Turkey. For the last day of November, Québecois accordionist Danielle Martineau offers her reflective Novembre sur la Grave, and we’ll hear from Seya, the latest release from Mali’s superstar singer and businesswoman Oumou Sangare.

World of Music is a mixed up blend of blues, jazz, poetry, and world music every Monday on the Radiator, 3-5pm ET. Online, or at 105.9FM in Burlington, VT.

playlist #89 (11/16/2009)-songs for ‘stick’ season

Hanksville, VT

World of Music

Pgm #89 – Songs for ‘stick’ season: Autumn’s ending, winter’s not quite here yet. A few uplifting tunes will go a long way to keep the spirits up while we wait for the snow.

Listen Mondays 3-5pm EDT  – at 105.9FM in Burlington, VT or online at The Radiator

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Nas with Youssou N’Dour & Neneh Cherry: Wake Up (It’s Africa Calling) / Open Remix /www.intrahealth.org/open/ (download) – (USA / SENEGAL)

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Nation Beat: Sobe A Poeira (Let Your Hair Down, Come Fall Into My Arms) / Legends of the Preacher – Modiba 7 – (NY CITY)

Orchestra Baobab: Cabral / Made in Dakar / Nonesuch 433788 – (SENEGAL)

Hermanas Ferrin: Pensamiento (Thoughts) / Mi Linda Guajira / La Raiz Sonora 8484172 – (CUBA)

MC Yogi featuring Krishna Das: Rock On Hanuman / Elephant Power / White Swan Records 83 – (INDIA)

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Alasdair Fraser & Paul Machlis: Ruileadh Cailleach, The Bird’s Nest, Harris Dance / Scotland the Real / Smithsonian Folkways 40511 – (SCOTLAND)

John McCutcheon: Waiting For Snow / Wintersongs / Rounder 8038 – (USA)

Rolf Lislevand & friends: Piva (by Joan Ambrosio Dalza) / Diminutio / ECM 2088 – (NORWAY) *NEW*

Marta Topferova: Mar Y Cielo (Sea and Sky) / Trova / World Village 468090 – (CZECH REPUBLIC / USA) *NEW*

Cedric Watson: J’ai Été Tout Auteur du Pays / Cedric Watson / Valcour Records 4 – (TEXAS)

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The Lost Fingers: You (Shook Me All Night Long) & Pump Up The Jam / Lost In The ’80s / Sony 88697556082 – (QUÉBEC) *NEW*

Easy Star All-Stars: Money / Dub Side Of The Moon / Easy Star Records 21606 – (JAMAICA)

Los Mocosos: Spill The Wine / Shades Of Brown / Six Degrees 657036 – (SAN FRANCISCO)

The Denver Dub Collective: I Would Die 4 U / Purple Dub / http://www.DenverDubCollective.com 1 – (DENVER) *NEW*

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Gordon Sanchez: L’Aléas de L’Hiver (The Uncertainties of Winter) / Acoustic France / Putumayo 281 – (FRANCE)

Tiris: El Leil, El Leil (The Night, The Night) / Sandtracks / Sandblast 1 – (WESTERN SAHARA)

Marta Gómez: Negrito / Entre Cada Palabra /Chesky 301 – (COLOMBIA) *NEW*

Bebo y Cigala: La Bien Pagá (Good Wages) / Lágrimas Negras (Black Tears) / Calle54 653086 – (CUBA / SPAIN)

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Andy Narell & Relator: Pan on Sesame Street / University of Calypso / Heads Up 3168 – (TRINIDAD) *NEW* – 40th anniversary of PBS’ “Sesame Street” last week

Aurelio Martinez: Yau (“Uncle” – traditional Garifuna) / Garifuna Soul / Stonetree 26 – (BELIZE)

Alicia Villareal: Soy Lo Prohibido / Soy Lo Prohibido / Universal 440 414 824 – (MEXICO)

Khaled: Melha / Kenza / Ark 21 Records 186 850 012 – (ALGERIA)

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Black Sea Hotel: Dimianinka / Black Sea Hotel / http://www.BlackSeaHotelUSA.com 2008 – (BULGARIA / USA)

Abou Chihabi: Lewo! Lewo! (Today! Today!) / Folkomor Ocean / Playasound 65188 – (LA RÉUNION)

B*Side Players: Radio Afro Mexica / Radio Afro Mexica / Global Noize 127 – (SAN DIEGO) *NEW*

DJ Bitman: My Computer Is Funk / Latin Bitman / Nacional Records 20002 – (CHILE)

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playlist #88 (11/9/2009)-nyquil for the soul

World of Music

Pgm #88 – Down with the flu blues – back by popular demand, this is the second annual flu season special. Songs of commiseration, consolation, and outright INDIGNANT OUTRAGE! If this don’t make you feel better, baby – you dead!

Listen Mondays 3-5pm EDT  – at 105.9FM in Burlington, VT or online at The Radiator

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Nas with Youssou N’Dour & Neneh Cherry: Wake Up (It’s Africa Calling) / Open Remix/  http://www.intrahealth.org/open/ (download) – (USA / SENEGAL)

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Squirrel Nut Zippers: La Grippe (the Flu) / The Inevitable Squirrel Nut Zippers / Mammoth Records 105 – (USA) * At Higher Ground tomorrow night: http://www.highergroundmusic.com/calendar/show/3345/ *

Big Joe Tex: Pneumonia / Hip To The Jive 2 / Sonic Scenery 708021 – (USA)

Shasha Marley: Evil Spirits Walk Away / Lost & Found / http://www.shashamarley.com 1229 – (GHANA)

Françoise Hardy: Comment te dire adieu? (It Hurts To Say Goodbye) / Divine Divas / Rounder 5071 – (FRANCE)

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Rupa & The April Fishes: Ç’est Pas d’l’amour/ extraordinary rendition / Cumbancha 7 – (SAN FRANCISCO) * At Parima tonight, 8pm: http://www.parimathai.com *

Will Patton Ensemble: Valse 29 / 6th Street Runaround / King’s Hill Music 2008 – (MADE IN VERMONT)

Albert Collins & The Icebreakers: Dyin’ Flu / Alligator Records 30th Anniversary Collection / Alligator Records    112 – (USA)

Johnny Long: Healin’ Touch / Lost & Found / Delta Groove 106 – (ST. LOUIS, MO)

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The Lost Fingers: Billy Jean / Lost In The ’80s / Sony 88697 – (QUÉBEC) *NEW*

Maria Bethânia: Feita na Bahia / Encanteria / Quitanda 18 – (BRAZIL) *NEW*

Los Silvertones: Tamborito Swing / Panama!2 / Soundway 13 – (PANAMA)

The Very Best: Chalo (World) / Warm Heart of Africa / Green Owl Records 8.98864 – (MALAWI / FRANCE / ENGLAND) *NEW*

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Rocky Fuller: Funeral Hearse At My Door / Chess Blues / Chess Records 9340 – (USA)

Neville Brothers: Will The Circle Be Unbroken / Yellow Moon / A&M Records 5240 – (N’AWLINS)

Allen Toussaint: St. James Infirmary / The Bright Mississippi / Nonesuch 480380 – (N’AWLINS) *NEW*

Tom Waits: Cold, Cold Ground / Franks Wild Years / Island 422-842 – (USA)

Robert Cray: I Shiver / Blues Guitar Greats / Universal 314 556 719 – (USA)

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Alex Cuba: Amor Infinito (Infinite Love) / Les Nuits d’Afrique Compilation 2007 / Les Nuits d’Afrique 2099 – (CUBA)

Omara Portuondo: Gracias / Gracias / World Village 479021 – (CUBA) * NEW – Latin Grammy winner, Best Contemporary Tropical Album *

Rupa & The April Fishes: La Linea (The Border) / Este Mundo / Cumbancha 15 – (SAN FRANCISCO) *NEW – at Parima tonight, 8pm: http://www.parimathai.com *

Aswad: Don’t Turn Around / Distant Thunder / Mango 9810 – (JAMAICA)

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Mathieu Mathieu: Cette Ville / Québec / Putumayo 279 – (QUÉBEC)

Hot Club of Detroit: Belleville / Hot Club of Detroit / Mack Avenue Records 1030 – (DETROIT)

Paolo Conte: Happy Feet / The Best of Paolo Conte / Nonesuch 79512 / (ITALY)

Haugaard & Høirup: Raaby Hopsa (Traditional Danish stick dance) / Lys (Light) / GOØ 501 – (DENMARK)

Kermit Ruffins: Kermit’s Second Line / Kermit Ruffins / Putumayo 233 – (N’AWLINS)

Shemekia Copeland: Turn The Heat Up / Alligator Records 30th Anniversary Collection / Alligator Records    112 – (USA)

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band: Me Like It Like That & Kidd Jordon’s Second Line / The New Orleans Album / Columbia    45414 – (N’AWLINS)

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playlist #85 (10/19/2009)-a jolly good mix of tunes

World of Music

Pgm #85 – New releases, international adventures, and discovering the world right here at home

Listen Mondays 3-5pm EDT  – at 105.9FM in Burlington, VT or online at The Radiator

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Nas with Youssou N’Dour & Neneh Cherry: Wake Up (It’s Africa Calling) / Open Remix / http://www.intrahealth.org/open/ (download) – (USA / SENEGAL)

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Michael Rose: Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? / The Mighty Quinn (film soundtrack) / MGM Pictures 3341 – (JAMAICA)

Fatima Spar and the Freedom Fries: Andrejs Nächt / Zirzop / Geco-Tonwaren 293 – (BALKAN / AUSTRIA)

Bonerama: Cabbage Alley / Bringing It Home / MTP 1101 – (N’AWLINS)  * At FlynnSpace this Thursday, 10pm: https://www.flynntix.org/tickets/reserve.aspx?PerformanceNumber=5403& *

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Youssou N’Dour: 4-4-4-4 / Rokku Mi Rokka (Give and Take) / Nonesuch 266044 – (SENEGAL)

Les Orientales: Stenitek – Besame Mucho (Kiss Me A Lot) / Music-Hall d’Algérie / mk2 Music 8345106342 – (ALGERIA)

Kadda Cherif Hadria: Djezaïr / Djezaïr / Naïve 36911 – (ALGERIA)

Soha: C’est Bien Comme Ça / D’Ici et D’Ailleurs / Opendisc 5099950318100 – (ALGERIA)

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Le Vent du Nord: Au Bord de la Fontaine / Maudite Moisson! / Borealis 151 – (QUÉBEC)

Rupa & The April Fishes: Culpa de la Luna (It’s the Moon’s Fault) / Este Mundo / Cumbancha 15 – (SAN FRANCISCO) *NEW – Coming to Parima on 11/9/09 – http://www.parimathai.com/ *

Easy Star All-Stars: Like the Stars / Until That Day / Easy Star Records 1016 – (JAMAICA)

Dee Dee Bridgewater: Afro Blue / Red Earth / DDB Records 9091 – (USA / MALI) * Coming to the Flynn on 11/1/09 – https://www.flynntix.org/tickets/reserve.aspx?PerformanceNumber=5403

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Novalima: Libertá / Coba Coba / Cumbancha 9 – (PERU)

Mamane Barka: Wo Kuru /Introducing Mamane Barka / World Music Network 114 – (NIGER REPUBLIC) *NEW*

Mariza: Vozes do Mar (Voices of the Sea) / Terra 4Q 1814 – (PORTUGAL) *NEW*

Andy Palacio & The Garifuna Collective: Baba (Father) / Wátina / Cumbancha 3 – (BELIZE)

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Tony Whedon & friends: Things to Pray to in Vermont (to the tune of “If I Had You”) / Last Days: Live at the Black Door / PoJAZZ 1 – (MADE IN VERMONT) *NEW – CDs can be purchased online for $10 at: http://www.digstation.com/AlbumDetails.aspx?albumID=ALB000036245 *

Pitz Quattrone & The Earthman Band: Locomotor / The EP / http://www.pitzondidge.com    802-229-4952 – (MADE IN VERMONT) *NEW*

Twist of the Wrist: Donna Lombarda / Twist of the Wrist / self-produced N/A – (MADE IN VERMONT)

Guagua: Charanga / Pan Frito / http://www.guaguavt.com 1128 – (MADE IN VERMONT)

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Les Loups Noirs d’Haïti: Jet Biguine / Tumbélé! / Soundway 17 – (MARTINIQUE) *NEW*

Hal and the Big S: Zamiyego / Umoya / Halspirit Records 2 – (SOUTH AFRICA) *NEW*

Emily Loizeau: La Femme a Barbe (The Bearded Lady) / Pays Sauvage / Opendisc 531407 – (FRANCE) *NEW*

Kailash Kher & Kailasa: Guru Ghantal / Yatra (Nomadic Soul) / Cumbancha 14 – (INDIA) *NEW*

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Mexican Institute of Sound (remix): Cha Cha Cha / Lotería Beats Mixtape vol. 1 – Raul Campos / Nacional Records 68499 – (MEXICO)

Félix Baloy: Mami Te Gustó / Baila Mi Son / Tumi 100 – (CUBA)

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playlist #84 (10/12/2009) – en memoria de Mercedes Sosa

Mercedes Sosa, 1973 (photo property of public domain)

World of Music

Pgm #84 – Remembering the incredible spirit and musical power of Mercedes Sosa, 1935-2009

Listen Mondays 3-5pm EDT  – at 105.9FM in Burlington, VT or online at The Radiator

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Nas with Youssou N’Dour & Neneh Cherry: Wake Up (It’s Africa Calling) / Open Remix /http://www.intrahealth.org/open/ (download) – (USA / SENEGAL)

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Sunshiners (covering John Lennon): Woman / Welkam Bak Long Vanuatu / Ter a Terre 21 – (OCEANIA)

Bob Marley: No Woman No Cry / Legend / Island 90169 – (JAMAICA)

Jon Balke & Amina Alaoui: A La Dina Dana / Siwan / ECM 2042 – (NORWAY / MOROCCO) *NEW*

Kobotown: Abatina / Kobotown / MusicDish Network 2005 – (TRINIDAD / CANADA)

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Lisa Ono: Bésame Mucho (Kiss Me a Lot) / Romance Latino, vol. 3 / EMI 341318 – (JAPAN)

Paname Dandies: Je Sais Parler aux Femmes (I Know How to Talk to the Ladies) / Le Swing de l’Escargot / Volvox Music 703 – (FRANCE)

Hüsnü Şenlendirici: Şina Nari / The Joy of Clarinet / Doublemoon 30 – (TURKEY)

Renata Rosa: Lá em São Paulo / Zunido da Mata / Outro Brasil 741-490 – (BRAZIL)

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FUNK SET

Kerekas Band: Ördöngös/Black Magic / Pimasz (Cheeky): Magyar Funk / BGCD 170  – (HUNGARY)

Lil’ Lavair and the Fabulous Jades: Cold Heat / Cold Heat: Heavy Funk Rarities, 1968-1974, vol. 1 / Now-Again Records 5017 – (FLORIDA, USA)

Irakere: Bocalao Con Pan / Si, Para Usted: The Funky Beats of Revolutionary Cuba, vol. 1 / Wxing Deep Records 2006 – (CUBA)

S-Job Movement: Love Affair / Disco Funk Special: The Sound of the Underground Lagos Dancefloor, 1974-1979 / Soundway 10 – (NIGERIA)

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THA’ CLASSICAL BREAKDOWN

Tiempo Libre: Olsa de Yemaya-Batá (on Bach’s Cello Suite Prelude in C) / Bach in Havana /

Sony Classical 44701 – (CUBA) *NEW*

Nelly Palacios: Ay! Mujer (on Bach’s Cello Suite Prelude in C) / Nicaragua Presente! / Rounder Records 1564 – (NICARAGUA)

Omara Portuondo & Richard Bona: Drume Negrita (on Leo Brouwer’s ‘Canción de Cuna’, the Afro-Cuban Lullaby) / Gracias / World Village 479021 – (CUBA) *NEW*

Los Destellos: Para Elisa (on Beethoven’s ‘Für Elise’) / The Roots of Chicha / Barbès Records 16 – (PERU)

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Bole 2 Harlem: Bole 2 Harlem / Bole 2 Harlem vol. 1 / Sounds of the Mushroom 1 – (ETHIOPIA)

DJ Click & Hightone: Bad Weather / Labesse (You’re Alright?) / No Fridge Records 4 – (UK / NORTH AFRICA)

El Tanbura: Zayy El Nhardah (The Canal Song) / Between the Desert and the Sea / World Village 450002 – (EGYPT)

Jeszcze Raz: Les Catastrophes S’enchaînent / 2 Univers / MusicAction 10174 – (QUÉBEC)

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Badar Ali Khan: I Fall In Love With You / Lost in Qawwali II / Media Creature Music /http://www.mediacreature.com– (PAKISTAN)

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Tsuumi Sound System: Hotas / Hotas / Aito Records 10 – (FINLAND)

Rupa & The April Fishes: L’elephant / Este Mundo / Cumbancha 15 – (SAN FRANCISCO, USA) *NEW* – * Rupa & the April Fishes at Parima on Nov. 9th: http://www.parimathai.com *

Pablo Ziegler & Quique Sinese: Fuga y Misgterio / Bajo Cero / Zozo Music 200504 – (ARGENTINA)

Mercedes Sosa: Gracias a la Vida / Homenaje a Violeta Parra / Philips 818 332 – (ARGENTINA) * Remembering Mercedes Sosa, 1935-2009 *

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playlist: #68 (4/20/09)-heading north

World of Music

Pgm #68 – 4/20/09 – Sounds from Québec, Somalia, Mexico, Mozambique…

Listen online Mondays 3-5pm EDT at The Radiator]

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Nas with Youssou N’Dour & Neneh Cherry: Wake Up (It’s Africa Calling) / Open Remix / http://www.intrahealth.org/open/ (download) – (USA / SENEGAL)

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Telmary Diaz: Que equivoca’o / A Diario / Dm Ahora! Records 2007 – (CUBA)

Baetúria: Telephone / World Music: Catalan Music / MIDEM sampler 2008 – (SPAIN)

Bole 2 Harlem: Ya Selam / Bole 2 Harlem / Sounds of the Mushroom v.1 – (ETHIOPIA)

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Jake Shimabukuro: Thriller / Live / Hitchhike Records 1109 – (USA) *NEW*

The Puppini Sisters: Spooky / The Rise and Fall of Ruby Woo / Verve 10416 – (USA)

Fela Kuti: Zombie / The Best of the Black President / Universal 3145431972 – (NIGERIA)

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Willie Colón: Willie Whopper / El Malo / Fania 773130029 – (PUERTO RICO)

Lila Downs: El Corrido de Tacha “La Teibolera” / Entre Copa y Copa… / EMI 34248 – (MEXICO)

Mariachi Cobre: El Súchil / Este EsMi Mariachi / Kuckuck 11105 – (MEXICO)

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El Tanbura: Zayy El Nhardah (The Canal Song) / Between the Desert and the Sea / World Village 450002 – (EGYPT) *NEW*

Dobet Gnahoré: Inyembezi zam / Na Afriki / Cumbancha 4 – (IVORY COAST)

Le Vent du Nord: Vive l’amour / Québec / Putumayo 279 – (QUÉBEC)

Chango Spasiuk: La Ponzoña / Pynandí: Los Descalzos / World Village 713 – (ARGENTINA) *NEW*

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The Klezmatics: Moroccan Game / Oasis World No. 4 / Oasis – (USA)

Kadda Cherif: Hadria / Echdek / Djezaïr / Naïve 36911 – (ALGERIA)

Mariza: Toado do desengano (Song of Disillusion) / Transparente / EMI 77646 – (PORTUGAL)

Eco Del Sur: Vasija de Barro / Latin American Roots / http://www.ecodelsur.com 2006 – (CHILE/COLOMBIA/ECUADOR)

Los Hermanos: Paquetá (Package) / 4 / Sony 8287617292 – (BRAZIL)

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Pink Martini: Tempo Perdido / Hey Eugene! / Heinz Records 3 – (USA) * Featured at the Discover Jazz Festival, June 13th @ 8pm – http://www.discoverjazz.com

Culture Musical Club: Muziki Ni Kazi Yetu (Music Is Our Domain) / Shine! / World Village 468080 – (TANZANIA) *NEW*

Nation Beat: A Onde Tem Cerveja / Tem Mulher / Legends Of The Preacher / Modiba 7 – (USA)

Nation Beat: I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry / Legends Of The Preacher / Modiba 7 – (USA)

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K’Naan: Take a Minute / Troubadour / A&M 12478 – (SOMALIA) *NEW*

Tricot Machine: Une Histoire de Mitaines (A Story About Mittens) / Tricot Machine / Boite 2 – (CANADA)

Stewart Sukuma: Kadivaé Mõnõ / Mozambique Relief / Naxos World 76019 – (MOZAMBIQUE)

Black Uhuru: Trouble / Iron Storm / Mesa 79035 – (JAMAICA)

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la musique québecois

Returned to Burlington from Québec City this afternoon with about 10 minutes to spare before the start of the show…perfect! Today we’ll hear music from the province (including Le Vent du Nord and Tricot Machine) and from Dobet Gnahoré’s Na Afriki, following her outstanding performance on Sat. night at the Palais Montcalm. Somali hip-hopper K’Naan’s new release Troubadour offers some thoughtful insights into life in that country, and ukulele phenom Jake Shimabukuro puts his own stylish spin on Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” from the new live recording. Listen to “World of Music” online (Mondays, 3-5pm) or at 105.9FM in Burlington, VT.

bonjour from québec city

musicians atop the battlement wall

Ready for that visit to Europe? Forget about booking a flight. Your passport and a tank of gas will good as get you there.

Had a couple of days off and hit the road today for Québec City. Around four and a half hours northeast of Burlington, the history and charm of the province’s capital city have beckoned ever since I moved to Vermont. A couple of extra reasons finally drove the decision to go today. First, the historical draw: with Quadricentennial celebrations happening this year in Burlington this was the opportunity to get the rich backstory by visiting the city founded by Samuel de Champlain, in his pre-Lake year of 1608.

And, with a performer like Dobet Gnahoré in town for a show tonight – road trip!

Arrived in the city around 4 and the first stop was the Old Port neighborhood to pick up tickets for tonight’s show at the grand Palais Montcalm. I was surprised to find how contemporary the theatre looked, since the online history mentioned it had been built in the 1930s. Turns out the recent renovation did a lot more than touch up the building’s stone facade…taking a look around inside later on revealed a tastefully modernized auditorium in the glossy dark wood finish that would have been at the top of its deco style when it was built. Beautiful.

Dobet's playbill

Second stop: hotel check-in, and then a long, quiet sunset-lit dinner at the Cafe Conti just down the street – er, rue. Recommended by the hotel desk, the low-light, casually elegant stone wall interior created a nice, non-competitive backdrop for the bright colors and saturated flavors in the meal. Focus on the food, just as it should be. Without a reservation on a Saturday night, a bar seat was the only one available. I never mind sitting at the bar but it felt odd to be eating on straw placemats through the salad course when the rest of the place was draped in white linens. That was soon remedied when an attentive bar attendant swept through and replaced all of the straw mats beneath everyone’s plates with white cloth napkins, spread out and smoothed, with the glasses, utensils and plates carefully replaced. “It’s just nicer,” she said. Alors, quite true.

And then, back to the Palais for Dobet!

I’d seen her in concert once before, when she came to Higher Ground shortly after the release of her latest recording, Na Afriki. When I realized tonight’s show was a seated one, I was a little disappointed because Dobet’s enthusiasm for dancing is infectious and I couldn’t imagine not moving around when she was performing. And while the show did end up being a bit more subdued than I remembered the last time, the fact is there simply aren’t many places that can match the intimacy of the rooms at Higher Ground for really allowing a personal interaction with the artists. So that’s a tough point for criticism.

In every other way the show was great: meaningful, politically pointed, musically thrilling…and can she dance! Check her out from this club date in Amsterdam.

Time to call it a night, tomorrow holds an exploration of the Citadel and other historic places around the city. And a lot of other unexpected adventures, I hope!

À demain.

Chateau Frontenac

musicians atop the city walls