Showing 41 - 44 of 44
Filipinos and all that jazz
Life, John Clewley, Published on 26/05/2015
» There's a famous photograph of HM the King playing jazz with a band of enthusiastic musicians. It is from 1963 when His Majesty held regular jam sessions with locally-based and visiting musicians. Perhaps the most famous jazz photo is the one that features Benny Goodman, the clarinet-playing American bandleader, but in the 1963 photo, His Majesty is playing with two Filipino jazz musicians: Angel Pena on upright bass and Bert del Rosario on piano.
Titbits from the Top 20
Life, John Clewley, Published on 17/02/2015
» This month's World Music Top 20 Chart of the year from the European Broadcast Union features some very interesting music, mainly from Africa, Europe (especially Spain) and Brazil. The February chart was taken from 45 radio DJs from 25 countries across Europe and the Top 20 was selected from 155 nominated recordings; there is no equivalent chart for Asia.
Anniversary for the godfather of Afrobeat
Life, John Clewley, Published on 04/11/2014
» This year marks the 50th anniversary of Nigerian drummer Tony Allen's debut with pioneering Afrobeat master Fela Kuti. Allen played with Fela's band Africa 70 as drummer and musical director until 1979. Mention Afrobeat and Fela's name immediately pops up but without the fantastic drumming skills and funky mentality of Allen, Fela's music would not have reached the heights it did during this period; something Fela was quick to acknowledge.
Spectacular molam show socks it to the city-slickers
Life, John Clewley, Published on 07/10/2014
» A lively crowd gathered last Saturday night on a vacant plot of land near Wat Payayang, just down from the Urupong intersection in central Bangkok, to enjoy a colourful show by the Khon Kaen-based molam troupe Prathom Banthoengsin. It's not often we get this kind of show right in the centre of town — the last one I went to was the Banyen Rakkan/Nok Noi Uraiporn joint concert a couple of years ago at the National Stadium — so I couldn't pass up the opportunity.