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GIG Review: Buffy Sainte-Marie at the Anvil, Basingstoke 24/01/10

As the lights went down, the powerful Powwow singers and drums on tape echoed in the hall. 

The musicians rushed on stage, swiftly followed by Buffy Sainte Marie who received a warm welcome from a fairly large audience who seem to be made up of long time fans. As petite and elegant as ever, dressed in black, high heels, jeans, turquoise rings on her fingers, longish hair complemented by feather earrings and bone breast plate, she cut a fine figure for her 68 years of age. She looks 20 years younger!  She quickly picked up her Godin guitar and the magic began with “Piney Wood Hills”:  A touch of country and an evocative voice full of passion, which was always more emotive than technical. Next she introduced her band made up of three young Native American men.  They launched into  “Cho Cho Fire” from her new album, “Running For The Drum” an excellent blend of heavy metal guitars, Native American Powwow drums, clearly showing Buffy’s Cree roots, urgently calling us to build up a new world. 

As ever, with energy, colour and verve, Buffy demonstrated what a great singer she is but also introduced us through her talking in between songs to her many varied roles at times pacifist, or teacher, social activist, and philanthropist. She also reminded us of how her album “Coincidence (and Likely Stories)” recorded in 1990 at home in Hawaii on her computer was transmitted via modem through the early Internet to producer Chris Birkett in London. She played her most virulent anti-establishment songs from that album: “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee” and “Priests of the Golden Bull”.   The best moments were when the Native American elements of her song writing were at the forefront like in “Relocation Blues”, “Cripple Creek” on which she used a homemade mouth bow and “Starwalker”. I enjoyed the concert overall but there was too much of an inconsistency between the acoustic songs and the raunchier numbers. The backing band was quite mundane, lacking imagination and their sound didn’t gel as well as on the recorded material I had previously heard. A couple of backing singers as she featured on her last tour would have been most welcome as well as a more balanced sound between instruments. The audience clearly enjoyed it and at the end of the evening patiently waited in a queue to get Buffy to sign CDs and even worn out vinyl versions of her 60’s albums.

I expect the next performances of this UK tour will be tighter but, all in all Buffy Sainte Marie showed herself to be the legend she really is, magnificent as ever.  A lesson in how to stay young and fit! Keep singing!

 Joel Roszykiewicz

Album Review: Carlou D. - Muzikr. / Motherland music - World Village ****

Carlou D. was a member of the 90’s Senegalese band, Positive Black Soul who can claim to have been one of the first African hip-hop bands, but this new album, coming nearly twenty years later is quite different: a real break with the past in some way.  From the very first notes, an overwhelming spiritual feeling arises, a call and response chant ending with a high pitched wail reaching for the heavens: African Sufism at its best. Gradually the rhythm picks up and you cannot help riding this wave of well being, unsure what to sing but wanting to sing along.  This is followed by soft guitar based bluesy Mbalax punctuated by vocal harmonies very reminiscent of Cheikh Lo’s work, but at the same time quite unique. Indeed, both of them are devotees of the same spiritual guide, Cheikh Ibra Fall. Very delicate arrangements of kora, percussion and guitar follow but above all, voices softly coming in and out of a swinging beat lift the rest of the album, complemented by Carlou D.’s high voice recalling the timeless lyrical Milton Nascimento.  By the time the Goree track comes along with the added bonus of Youssou N’Dour’s support, you simply feel on different plane, touched deeply by Carlou D ‘s imaginative and uplifting vision of the world. This is all delivered with bouncy rhythms and socially aware lyrics which mention the all important struggles of his people towards a better life and the greed, as well as the hypocrisy and jealousy hindering their progress at times. Perfect album for the summer!

 

Joel Roszykiewicz

GIG Review: Christy Moore with Declan Sinnott Friday 25th June 2010 at the Anvil, Basingstoke

You should have been there. Christy Moore is one of the most compelling storytellers.

Right from the start, and with just his voice and guitar, Christy drew us into his musical world, a world where injustice and corruption are denounced, where bravery and self-defence are commended and encouraged.  At first, the soft tones of Declan Sinnott’s acoustic guitar gently accompanied Christy’s velvety voice but when the message got angrier, more social or political, the rough and almost grungy reverberation of Declan’s electric guitar provided the perfect complement.  The sound engineer must be congratulated for an absolutely faultless, crystal clear sound. Pretty soon the audience was singing along, giving the songs an eerie feel, reinforcing their emotional content. We were treated to many favourites, interspersed with Christy’s wry sense of humour, further engaging the audience. Each of his songs is a finely chiselled box out of which poetry, the mundane, and a love for humankind pour out with constant benevolence.  Next came requests from the audience, when Christy embarked on a series of songs from the depths of his rich catalogue, helped by the great harmonies of Declan’s soaring voice.

The packed auditorium gave both musicians standing ovations followed by two encores.  Thank you for the music, Mr. Christy Moore.

 

Joel Roszykiewicz

GIG Review: Dirtmusic +Tamikrest at The Borderline May 19th, 2010

These two bands from very different parts of the world first met at the Festival of The Desert 2008, in Essakane, Mali and spent 3 days jamming together non-stop.  Both are, of course, predominantly guitar-driven: Dirtmusic, with 3 veterans from an American/indie background and Tamikrest, a new Malian Touareg band.  This meant that the concert at the Borderline would be an opportunity to sample how they had grown together in the past two years. Dirtmusic opened with Aghaly Ag Mohamedine, on djembe. The guitars, words, harmonies, a touch of banjo and that lilting rhythm immediately appealed.  Very shortly after, Tamikrest, draped in colourful robes took to the stage and demonstrated what desert blues really means: very solid, melodic bass and drum punctuated by light arpeggios and intricate lead guitar lines. Ousmane Ag Mossa’s soothing voice rode over it all in a very humble and unassuming way. Then Dirtmusic came back on stage and, until the end of the concert, we were treated to a real fusion experience, where the best of two cultures come together and complement each other so well that the result is greater than the sum of both.  It didn’t quite all happen in the way I expected; not two bands but one. This evening confirmed that the future of World Music is assured. Whether covering a Dirtmusic or Tamikrest song, the mix of influences from their individual members certainly enhanced the performance, be it a slide guitar solo from Hugo Race, a wailing backing vocal from Fatma Wallet Cheikh or a rockier drum sound from Chris Brockaw.  Clear feelings of enjoyment could be read in the eyes and smiles of all the musicians and no doubt this image will remain imprinted deep in the audience’s hearts. 

Joel Roszykiewicz

Published in SONGLINES Issue 69 July 2010

Out Of This World 71 31/08/10

Special interview with Graham Steel, free lance events coordinator http://www.myspace.com/windsorartscentremusic  and events manager at Jagz, Ascot UK http://www.jagz.co.uk/...    Look at the websites for updates on this interview which took place around Xmas last year. Music by Mor Kabarsi, Yat-Kha, John Mayer's Indo Jazz Fusions, Paddyrasta, Tommy Emmanuel, Nigel Kennedy & The Kroke Band and Hazmat Modine.... Enjoy!

Out Of Africa 71 31/08/10

Special program on Mali and the diversity of its music, featuring Salif Keita, Ali Farka Touré & Toumani Diabaté, Amadou & Mariam, Bako Dagnon, Bassekou Kouyate + Ngoni ba, Dejelimady Tounkara, Idrissa Soumaoro, Issa Bagayogo, Habib Koité & Bamada and Oumou Sangaré.  For those interested in learning a bit more about Malian Music, check out this website http://www.mali-music.com/index_En.html  available in French as well http://www.mali-music.com/index.html Have fun!

Out Of This World 70 24/08/10

On the World front: Bethany and Rufus, Pacifika, Haidouti Orkestar, Novalima, La caravane Passe and Toubab All Stars.. Enjoy

Out Of Africa 70 24/08/10

Hi .....Back to tracks from a number of new releases:  Munto Valdo, Diabel Cissokho, Roland Tchakounte and Tiken Jah Fakoly......and a new Cameroon discovery,  Kaissa....

Out Of This World 69 17/08/10

Hi, lots of new stuff this week in this order: Toubab All Stars from France, Haidouti Orkestar from Turkey, A track from Egypt Noir from Nubia, Roland Tchakounte from Cameroon, Novalima from Peru, Grupo Fantasma from Mexico, The Creole Choir Of Cuba, and A Brazilian mix to finish off including a classic track by Milton Nascimento!Enjoy!!!

Out Of Africa 69 17/08/10

Special interview with the lark of Wasulu music from Mali: Oumou Sangare.  This show includes exclusive live tracks recorded in Bracknell last year( with kind permission from World Circuit Records and South Hill Park Arts Centre) Oumou is an artist who is proud of her country and its diverse cultures, now recognised and appreciated throughout the world. "Mali is a country of oral tradition, which explains why music and society here are part of each other.  The 32 different ethnic groups here each have their own well-developed culture. They don't need each other to make good music, even though cross-fertilisation is always good. There should still be a lot more recognition for Malian music.  I deeply respect each individual artist in Mali. Our potential is incredible. Mali and its music embody the symbol of a free and victorious Africa." ( taken from Oumou's biography  http://www.worldcircuit.co.uk/#Oumou_Sangare::Biography )