Thursday, January 6, 2011

Rima Khcheich - Yalalalli (2006) & Falak (2008)

Rima Khcheich is a singer from Lebanon, born in Khiam (South Lebanon) in 1974, and represents my latest rewarding discovery in terms of female voices of the world. In 2006, Khcheich released her debut album Yalalalli, which features a number of old songs and Muwashahat, that she performs in a personalized, contemporary manner, alongside new compositions, all enlightened with a freely jazz spirit and inspirational arrangements. Khcheich's next album Falak (2008) contributed in the same perception of putting together the Arabic singing tradition with innovative minimal instrumentations that refer mostly to modern west music. For more information about her work and concerts, visit her website www.rimakhcheich.com.

As it is hard for someone to find her 2 albums, I have uploaded both. Please try to find the original copies, as it may be the most generous movement to support present active artists that are not on the main stream, but follow a lone path, while offering us great moments to share.

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Friday, January 22, 2010

Anouar Brahem - Le Voyage De Sahar (2006)

Anouar Brahem is a remarkable Tunisian composer & improviserknown primarily as an innovator in oud contemporary playing. From the very first records of his art, back in 1991, until last year's The Astounding Eyes Of Rita, Brahem has been offering us unique gems, all of them under the eclectic european label ECM; sometimes as a solo performer, where the oud represents either the voice or the orchestra, and sometimes with his elegant trio. It is worth exploring the art of this great musician, along with his entire discography, so here they are some links referring to his official website (www.anouarbrahem.com), his Wikipedia page and AllMusicGuide's entry.

Alongside with Francois Couturier on piano and Jean Louis Matinier on accordion, Brahem recorded Le Voyage De Sahar, back in 2006; released from ECM label and produced by Manfred Eicher, the stable producer of almost all ECM releases. You can find more about this release in the label's on-line back catalogue by clicking here.

ANOUAR BRAHEM TRIO - LE VOYAGE DE SAHAR (ECM Records, 2006)


tracklist

01 Sur Le Fleuve
02 Le Voyage De Sahar
03 L'Aube
04 Vague / E La Nave Va
05 Les Jardins De Ziryab
06 Nuba
07 La Chambre
08 Cordoba
09 Halfaouine
10 La Chambre Var.
11 Zarabanda
12 Eté Andalous
13 Vague Var.

musicians
Anouar Brahem oud
Francois Couturier piano
Jean Louis Matinier accordion

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Monday, December 28, 2009

Vic Chesnutt 1964-2009 R.I.P.

Έπεσα πάνω σ'αυτό το συγκλονιστικό βίντεο, μια ακουστική αφτιασίδωτη εκτέλεση του Everything I Say του Vic Chesnutt, κομμάτι από το North Star Deserter του 2007, κομμάτι από την ψυχή του Chesnutt, κομμάτι με ψυχή, από αυτά τα κομμάτια που σε κάνουν κομμάτια. Αναρτώ εδώ τη στουντιακή εκτέλεση, απλά για να παρακινήσω τους επισκέπτες να ανακαλύψουν τη μοναδική μουσική ποίηση αυτού του τόσο ιδιαίτερου τραγουδοποιού, που άφησε τούτο το μάταιο -και δύσκολο για εκείνον- κόσμο, πριν λίγες μέρες. Αντί επικηδείου το συγκινητικό επίγραμμα της στενής του φίλης Kristin Hersh. Για περισσότερες πληροφορίες και υλικό, επισκεφθείτε το επίσημο website www.vicchesnutt.com.

This is just to motivate listeners to discover the very gentle, the sore and the tender, music poetry of Vic Chesnutt, who passed away a few days ago. The link above gives the studio version of Everything I Say from North Star Deserter (2007). It hit me when I came across this acoustic raw version of the song.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Joel Harrison - Free Country (2003)

This is the very first post of this blog that is dedicated in spreading and sharing the beauty of hard-to-find music or not-too-hard-to-find-but-nice-to-share music...

I begin with
Joel Harrison's 'Free Country' that was released back in 2003, but it was just some weeks ago that a friend discovered this experimental gem and shared it. It stands as a brilliant idea how such distinctive styles and solid forms of music such as country music, could be interpreted within a completely different perspective and musical approach. Note the involvement of Norah Jones and avant-garde pianist Uri Caine in the same project!

I copy paste from Harrison's official website:

'Free Country is a collection of old Country and Appalachian tunes arranged in unusual, even radical, ways. Simply put, this body of work is my sonic view of the experiment known as America — not the billboard, but the underbelly. I love these songs, their pathos, economy, magisterial beauty, sly wisdom, and deep soul. I have tried to be true to their timeless, primal spirit, while illuminating their essence with my own imprint, using every musical device at my disposal. The stylistically unbound sounds goes from meditative and gorgeous, to humorous and haunting, to reckless and intense.

Free Country is a band that was born 5 years ago in the Stork Club in downtown Oakland amidst perennial Christmas lights, a decrepit posse of toothless regulars, a jukebox full of Patsy Cline, and a handful of brave new music acolytes. There were 2 drummers, two guitarists, a saxophonist, and a fiddle player (I think!), and the band included Adam Levy who now plays with Norah Jones, who is one of the singers on our recording…small world.

The concept has blossomed into a steady group with a large repertoire unlike anything else in the "Jazz" World. The band takes Old country and Appalachian tunes and has its way with them in unusual, sometimes startling, but always interesting ways. George Jones, or, say, Gid Tanner and The Skillet Lickers never sounded like this. Styles crisscross and become a blur, each piece is its own new world and yet still tied into the primal origins of the traditional music'.

JOEL HARRISON - FREE COUNTRY (Act Company, 2003)

tracklist

01 I Walk The Line

02 Lonesome Road Blues
03 Wayfaring Stranger
04 This Land Is Your Land
05 Twelve Gates To The City
06 Tennessee Waltz
07 Hell Broke Koose In Georgia
08 Folsom Prison Blues
09 Tender Years
10 Will The Circle Be Unbroken
11 Sing Me Back Home
12 Lone Pilgrim

musicians

Joel Harrison electric, fretless, steel guitar & cassette machine
Dave Binney sax, sampler
Rob Thomas violin
Sean Conly bass
Alison Miller drums

guests
Norah Jones voice
Raz Kennedy voice
Uri Caine piano
Tony Cedra accordion

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