Showing 1 - 10 of 20
World's in a spin
Life, John Clewley, Published on 23/04/2024
» Record Store Day has been part of the music scene for 20 years now, held twice a year in April and "Black Friday" in November. The day-long event is held to celebrate independent record stores around the globe, bringing together musicians, producers, media, DJs and retailers to enjoy new and reissued vinyl gems.
Root of the matter
Life, John Clewley, Published on 20/07/2023
» Earlier this year, Craft Recordings released the 2CD compilation Birth Right: A Black Roots Music Compendium with the aim of introducing the astonishing variety and depth of black roots music in the US in just 40 songs. Historian Dr Ted Olson and producer Scott Billington have done a great job of presenting a wide range of styles and genres -- from trad jazz to gospel to Louisiana la-la to Gullah music to country blues to brass bands. It's a fascinating musical ride for the listener.
The ballad of Junior Parker
Life, John Clewley, Published on 06/07/2021
» Train I ride sixteen coaches long, Train I ride sixteen coaches long, Well, that long black train carries my baby home …
Riding the clog dancing wave
Life, John Clewley, Published on 11/05/2021
» People have been wearing wooden footwear for centuries.
Motown memories
Life, John Clewley, Published on 22/10/2019
» Songwriters pen the hits but the singers or bands are the big stars, and sometimes the producers are the ones who get the credit. I grew up with the Great American Songbook or "American Standards" at home, played on the piano by my father while we sang the lyrics. These were the songs that featured in Broadway theatre and in Hollywood musicals. What are now known as standards were crafted by George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, Johnny Mercer and Richard Rogers.
Put some schoolin' on ya
Life, John Clewley, Published on 15/05/2018
» This year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of a New Orleans musical legend: Henry Roeland "Roy" Byrd, better known as Professor Longhair or just plain "Fess". He was born on Dec 18, 1918, in Bogalusa, Louisiana, and later moved to New Orleans with his mother.
In tribute to the mighty Charles 'Horn Man' Neville
Life, John Clewley, Published on 01/05/2018
» World Beat is in mourning this week, following the sad news that saxophonist and founder member of one of New Orleans finest bands, The Neville Brothers, Charles Neville, passed away last Thursday. He was 79 years old.
Pulsating percussion
Life, John Clewley, Published on 20/03/2018
» Musicians from Indonesia's premier gamelan fusion group SambaSunda recently celebrated their 25th anniversary with the release of a new album, Taramurag: The Story Of Rangkay (GNP, Indonesia).
Renewing Mali's musical traditions
Life, John Clewley, Published on 17/10/2017
» The landlocked West African country of Mali has produced some outstanding singers and musicians in the past 40 or 50 years. Think of Mali's most famous musician, Salif Keita, and great dance bands like the Super Rail Band, Zani Diabate and his Super Djata Band, the late Ali Farka Toure… and the list goes on.
African soul
Life, John Clewley, Published on 19/04/2016
» A fascinating two CD compilation of Angola popular music, The Soul Of Angola: Anthologie De La Musique Angolaise 1965-1975 (Lusafrica, 2001), landed on the WorldBeat desk this week, sparking a celebration of Angola's rich musical culture.