Sunday February 12, 2012
The 2012 world, roots, and reggae music Grammy Awards were, as always, announced in an afternoon ceremony before the major pre-televised portion this year, along with dozens of other awards. The ceremony was actually quite a lot shorter this year than it has been in years past, due to a massive restructuring of the Grammy categories that slashed and distilled the categories from 109 to 78, a move that many (including rock legend Carlos Santana) accuse of being overtly racist and unfairly targeting musicians of color. I'm not sure I necessarily agree or disagree -- I think the number of categories was too large, but I'm not sure the restructuring was anywhere near as fair or as graceful as it could've or should've been.
Of the categories under my purview that still exist, though, we have a couple of deeply deserving winners to announce! Desert blues stars Tinariwen took home the Best World Music Album Grammy for their outstanding Tassili. Stephen Marley was the big winner in the Best Reggae Album category, with his wonderful Revelation Part I: The Root of Life. In the Best Regional Roots Music category, where Cajun, Zydeco, Polka, Hawaiian music, Native American Music, and others have all been grouped together, the Rebirth Brass Band won with their Rebirth of New Orleans. As the great world and roots music writer Steve Hochman pointed out, New Orleans brass band music was a genre that, until the creation of Best Regional Roots, did not really have a comfortable home among the categories, so it's nice to see the deeply deserving Rebirth Brass Band (who also performed at the pre-televised awards ceremony) take home the award. Bravo, everyone!
Read the full list of 2012 nominees in the World, Reggae, and Regional Roots Grammy categories.
Friday February 10, 2012
I'm so pleased and proud to welcome Dorothy Johnson-Laird to the World Music at About.com team. Dorothy is a wonderful writer whose reviews, interviews, and long-form pieces have appeared on Afropop Worldwide and World Music Central, among others, and who is a font of knowledge about African music, as well as music of the African diaspora.
Dorothy's first contribution to the site is an interview with Gambia-born kora player Surahata "Sura" Susso. Susso is based in England at this point, but his music, which is fairly traditional but with his own modern touches, is turning heads on both sides of the Atlantic, as well as in Africa. Have a look, and if you get a chance, a listen! Read more: Interview with Sura Susso
Image (c) Francois Kong, Provided by Artist
Tuesday January 31, 2012
It's Carnival season throughout the world, including here in Louisiana, where I live (though we call it Mardi Gras, of course), and parties and parades and all sorts of revelry are gearing up in Brazil, Italy, throughout the Caribbean, and elsewhere. One of the most vibrant Carnival celebrations in the world, and the one that's perhaps the most intrinsically musical, is the celebration in Trinidad, home of calypso. If you're trying to get into the Carnival spirit (or simply looking for great Mardi Gras music from around the world to soundtrack your party), you really can't go wrong with some hip-shakin' Vintage Calypso.
Read more:
Image (c) Arc Music, 2003
Monday January 30, 2012
One of Brooklyn's worst-kept secrets happens every Tuesday night at a tiny little Park Slope club called Barbes. Approximately 60 people, a large number of whom seem to be holding horns or drums, cram into a space that barely fits 30 comfortably, and Brass Band Bacchanalia breaks out. Slavic Soul Party! is the band, though they're barely distinguishable from the fans, and the volume is legendary. It's an amazing, visceral musical experience, and one that I recommend everyone take in at least once (cheating and bringing earplugs won't ruin it for you, I promise). Should you not be in the New York area regularly, though, chances are good that Slavic Soul Party! will be coming your way sooner than later, and they're just as fabulous on a big stage as they are crammed into a tiny room. Keep your eyes peeled!
Image Courtesy Slavic Soul Party!
