music of the world b

songlines magazine july/august 2006
a very insightful article covering the music of the world
a serious attempt to provide clarity and understanding
on the wonderful diversity of what is 'world' music
i have tried on several occassions to read and remember
but there is too much to take in and too much to get excited about
so following a very simple formula - a bit at a time
the second letter is now under the spotlight
with thanks to songlines...

bhangra (india/uk)

in the last 30 years, bhangra has come a long way
it started out in india's punjab
as a traditional music for bringing in the harvest
but has become one of the world' great urban styles
it's basis is the single-stringed tumbi played over infectious dhol drums
all supporting extrovert and melodramatic vocals
british punjabis revolutionised bhangra
crossbreeding it with the disco, pop and dance music they came into contact with in the west
this fed back to the subcontinent where bhangra rules
dominating indo-pop and bollywood film scores

songlines recommends nach nach by malkit singh
esne notes the dhol foundation - british based outfit led by 4 dhol drummers seen at womadelaide - very infectious rhythms

benga (kenya)

benga emerged as a pop style in the 50's
when kenyan musicians began adapting for acoustic guitar
the traditional dance rhythms of the luo people
originally played on instruments such as the nyatiti (eight stringed lyre)
by the 60's the likes of shirati jazz had electrified the sound
into a fast but fluid hypnotic push-and-pull rhythm
characterised by soft vocal harmonies and intersecting lead guitars
which has dominated kenyan music ever since

songlines recommends pinay ose mer by shirati jazz
esne notes nothing at all though a serious interest in hearing more

bossa nova (brazil)

bossa nova has been synonymous with brazil - and rio
since its inception in 50's copacabana
by singer-guitarist joao gilberto
pianist-composer antonio 'tom' jobin
and poet-lyricist vinicius de moares
bossa drew on samba's 2/4 notation but without the frienzedly syncopated percussion
a deliciously awkward dialogue exists between voice and guitar
and finger-picked chords relish the desafinado (out of tune) commemorated in jobim's classic
discreet cymbal beats imitate a woman's sashaying hips
bossa's debut was jobim's existentially melancholy 'chega de saudade'
immortalised in gilberto's 1958 version
while 'garota de ipanema' (girl from) by his wife astrud
launched an international frenzy and jazz collaborations led by stan getz
it captivated the world and even tropicalistas like caetano veloso
and today's electronica set explore it

songlines recommends elis and tom by elis regina and tom jobin
esne notes recent releases by bebel gilberto - daughter of joao and astrud - very accessible

bulerias (spain)

bulerias get their name from burlar (to make fun of)
and were created by gypsies of jerez de la frontera
playing around with alegria (and solea) rhythms
making the accentuation of their rhythmic count far more complex
upbeat favourites for fiestas, they were integral to the renovation of flamenco
by the groundbreaking 80's generation

songlines recommends aire by jose merce
esne notes the recommended album is the biggest selling flamenco album ever

phew - this is getting to be hard work - had the a's memorised
but the b's add more complexity to an overloaded mind
best get some recommended listening together i think
to add the missing and essential dimension to this exercise
more soon.....i hope