music of the world g h i j

the days and weeks continue to rip by in a blink
it's a mad life we all lead - how many of us actually feel entirely comfortable
living the lives we dreamed of and enjoying each day anew
at one with our fellow earth citizens and walking very gently on mother earth
me - i hope i do my best with hopefully my best yet to come
my inspiration is the musicians of the world
who use their craft to extend a hand of friendship and understanding
me - all i can do is lend them my ear and accept the offer - very gratefully
and so tonight we continue the reading of the good book songlines july/august edition 2006
please turn to page 37 for the chapter entitled 50 rhythms of the world
picking up where we left off in last weeks lesson

highlife (ghana)

the exuberant rhythms of highlife began among the ashanti people in ghana
but swiftly spread throughout sierra leone and nigeria
by ghana's independence in 1957 the original traditional-based style
had diversified into sophisticated dance bands led by the likes of e t mensah and king bruce
and vibrant electric guitar combos such as a b crentsil's sweet talks

songlines recommends hollywood highlife party by a b crentsil
esne notes this one definitely needs more investigation - 3 words - african, dance, guitar

jaipongan (indonesia)

strictly speaking jaipongan is not the name of a particular rhythm
rather it denotes a style of music and dance
purportedly developed by the bandung musician and producer gugum gumbira in the 70's
from various traditional sources it was perceived as rather wild and suggestive at the time
but is now established as a classic west javanese form

songlines recommends banondari by uun budiman and the jugala gamelan orchestra
esne notes witnessing this style at womadelaide this year courtesy of sambasunda

juju (nigeria)

although it's origins are disputed, the term juju music was first used in the 20's
to describe the dreamy, hypnotic rhythms emerging from the yoruba neighbourhoods of lagos
with the arrival of amplification after world war 2 it took off as the capital's premier urban dance style
the music then undertook another dramatic development in the 60's with the dense, tight grooves
and multiple guitars of bands led by ebenezer obey and king sunny ade

songlines recommends juju music by king sunny ade
esne notes king sunny ade is a well known name but not well known music...yet

feel like i'm losing touch with all these newly discovered styles of music
i must make an effort to get better acquainted with the music of the world...
i must make an effort to get better acquainted with the music of the world...
i must make an effort to get better acquainted with the music of the world...
...