jprpodcasts

Out Of This World 75 28/09/10

From Caravan Palace to Pierre Bensusan in 54 minutes, various stops with Tifah again, Emily Loizeau, Creole choir of Cuba, Balkan Beat Box, Asmara All stars and many others... Look at the playlists in my pages on the right hand side of the main page!!!

Out Of Africa 75 28/09/10

This week from Victor Deme to Muntu Valdo in 54 minutes, stops with AfroCubism, Tiken Jah Fakoly & Asa, Kaïssa and loads more look at the playlists in my pages on the right hand side of the main page!!!

GIG Review: Syriana at The Assembly Hall, Islington October 2nd, 2010

SYRIANA

Album Launch concert

Islington Assembly Hall 02/10/10

 

 

There was a time back in the 70s when it was essential and “hip” to be able to reproduce on stage the self-same music the listener had enjoyed at home on “vinyl”. Nothing else would do.   

Syriana, who have just released their 1^st album, after the success of their WOMAD performance this summer, celebrated its launch with an exclusive concert; another chance for us to find out how they would fare without the help of the album’s Qanun virtuoso, Abdullah Chhadeh.  However, change is central to guitarist Nick “Dubullah” Page‘s musical career.  He leads the Syriana project with the powerfully rhythmic double bass of Bernard O’Neill.  And Syriana did not disappoint. With the help of backing tracks featuring the Pan Arab strings of Damascus, the album’s highly evocative and atmospheric pieces were transcribed very effectively to the stage with the addition of three talented musicians of various ethnic origins, all hailing from Arab countries.  The fast driving beat of the darbouka was played very skilfully by Iba Abu Khalaf from Palestine, especially on the gutsy “Black Zil”.  The melancholic strains produced by Algerian –born Mounir “Moon” Baziz‘s electric violin intensified the dramatic excellence of many of the pieces.

Shades of Film Noir and spy stories, fighter planes, black and white photos of the Middle East in the 50s, desert landscapes and Cold War memories were all used to great effect in the thought-provoking and striking visual backdrop of the specially commissioned film and animation by Italian-born film maker Nico Piazza. The two songs “Gharibb” and “Al Araby” were revisited by oud player Nizar Al–Issa with his velvety yet intoxicating tenor voice. The melodic lines of the oud complemented perfectly the Ennio Morriconesque touches of Nick Page’s surf guitar most notably in “Galatian Bridge”. 

Three new numbers were played which clearly demonstrated that Syriana are here to stay and deliver their special brew of East meets West music. Let’s hope so and wish them well!

Joel Roszykiewicz

Published in SONGLINES Issue 72 Nov/Dec 2010

Out Of This World 74 21/09/10

The usual suspects too this week: AfroCubism, Calexico, The Rootsman, Syriana, Eliza Carthy & Norma Waterson, Kaïssa, Asmara All Stars, Natacha Atlas, Muntu Valdo and a  bonus track  by Haile Selassie I Feat. Bob Marley & The Wailers!! Enjoy it!! ;-)

Out Of Africa 74 21/09/10

All the usual suspects this week:  Afrocubism, Jali Bakary Konteh, Idrissa Soumaoro, Kandia Kouyaté, Kaïssa, Etran Finatawa, Asmara All Stars, Cheikh N'digel Lô, a classic track from1994 with Baaba Maal, Lobi Traoré and Roland Tchakounte!!! Quite a show!  All the best from rainy England! ;-)

Out Of This World 73 14/09/10

Another show!  This time filled with a reggae vibe to start with!, Asmara All Stars( see Out Of Africa #73)Bruno Blum, Tifah, a new French reggae band, spotted at the phenomenal Ard'Afrique Festival in Les Vans, Ardeche, France.... Another track by the exceptional Syriana, playing live in London on the 2nd of October! we finish off with a Latin Mix... Enjoy it!  Check the playlist in my pages!

Out Of Africa 73 14/09/10

Hi, Special start to this week's show!  The Asmara All stars from Eritrea.  The album will be out on the 11th October... It is the best African album of the year so far, produced by Bruno Blum, famous for his Gainsbourg reggae remixes and his "War" remix featuring Emperor Haile Selassie' speech on Africa. Another track is featured in "Out Of This World"  Some great female vocalists too, fom Cameroon, Kaissa, from the Ivory Coast, Dobet Gnahore, and from Burkina Faso... Kady Diarra  and one track from the excellent Idrissa Soumaoro album, Djitoumou: Yere Djate.  Plus a few suprises... if you can't wait look at the playlist on my pages!!  Have fun!

Out Of This World 72 07/09/10

World music at your fingertips!!!  Kaissa, Syriana, Los Lobos, Grupo Fantasma, Novalima, Dr John and..... Alan Stivell... Eclectic! Check the playlist on my website!!!!

Out Of Africa 72 07/09/10

Great playlist this week!!! Fela, Idrissa Soumaoro, Kaissa, Nuru Kane, Cheikh Lo, and many others... Check the playlists on my website!!!

JPR's TOP Ten Best World Music Albums of 2009