El Chicano - In the Eye of the Storm (in-akustik, 2009)

Azteca - La Piedra del Sol (in-akustik, 2008)

The success of Santana in the late 1960s and early 1970s was only the tip of the iceberg of a new wave of U.S.-based rock bands that combined Latin American melodies, Afro-Cuban beats and the vitality of rock, electric blues and jazz. While the salsa revolution was being led by Puerto Ricans and Cubans, the Latin rock revolution was carried out by Mexican American musicians (sometimes called Chicanos in California). Two new videos provide the opportunity to experience two of the leading bands of the era, El Chicano and Azteca. 

After conquering Europe, Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba are now moving on to the United States of America. Their debut album Segu Blue had already laid a solid foundation for Bassekou’s reputation with African music fans in the U.S. (where it was released via Out Here Records/ Forced Exposure). This has lead to a sensational U.S. tour with more than 60  dates starting out in February 2010 opening for nine-time Grammy winner Bela Fleck and goes on for three months taking them from New York’s Central Park down to the New Orleans Jazz festival.
 
 Just in time for the tour Out Here Records announced a new label partner in the U.S.: Seattle-based indie rock label Sub Pop has now licensed Bassekou Kouyate’s second album I Speak Fula. The album will be the first release on their newly founded sub label Next Ambiance, a collaboration between Sub Pop Records and Jon Kertzer, presenter of the ‘Best Ambiance’ show on Seattle-based public radio station KEXP.

The Havana Cultura live band will celebrate the album release of Havana cultura on November 20th of 2009 at New Inn Yard in London. BBC Radio 1’s Gilles Peterson teamed up with the award-winning Cuban jazz pianist Roberto Fonseca to find the very best up and coming musical talent in Havana. Twelve months in the making, it represents the biggest collection of contemporary Cuban musicians in a single musical initiative since the highly acclaimed Buena Vista Social Club project in 1997.
 
 The result is a double CD album which celebrates Cuba's freshest musical talent from Latin, Afro jazz and fusion to hip hop, funk, reggaeton and R&B, featuring contributions from Gilles’ favorite new discoveries. New talent such as vocalist Danay (described by Gilles as “Cuba’s Jill Scott”) and Doble Filo, in addition to international award-winning artists such as rapper Kumar and pianist Roberto Fonseca.

Chuck & Albert

Energie (2009)

Canadian duo Chuck & Albert have a new album titled Energie that gives new life to ancient French-Acadian songs. This material comes from Prince Edward Island, the smallest of the Canadian provinces. Even though most Acadians were expelled by the British, some French settlers stayed in the area. Their songs were passed from generation to generation.

On Energie, Chuck Arsenault & Albert Arsenault have assembled a set of songs and fiddle tunes using guitar, fiddle, harmonica, vocals and the traditional percussion used by the Acadians, such as spoons and foot tapping. “For an Acadian, the sound of foot accompaniment is something so tribal and basic that it really can’t be separated from the melody,” Albert laughs. “When you tap your feet to accompany a song, the melody really fuses with the rhythm and encourages the interpretation of the song. It lifts the song to a place that’s hard to describe. It’s almost like going into a time machine.”

Gabriela Torres
 
 No Tan Distinta (World Village, 20090
 
 Many years have passed since I heard The Gotan Project that blended electronica with nuevo tango. I had forgotten about the Argentine-European ensemble until I slipped Argentine guitarist-vocalist-composer Gabriela Torres’ “no tan distinta” into my player. In fact, the opener, also the titular track, would easily squeeze onto a Gotan Project recording. The following track, "Sali" though possesses a traditional tango feel and reminds me more of tango vocalist Sandra Luna’s repertoire.

The Tuvan throat singers Alash will perform “Jingle Bells” and other holiday favorites with Béla Fleck & the Flecktones, to promote the Flecktones' Grammy-winning CD Jingle All the Way. The buzzy sounds of throat singing provide a surprise element in several songs, including the traditional Tuvan song “Dyngyldai” ingeniously interwoven with the English Christmas carol “What Child Is This?”
 
 Alash recorded with the Flecktones while touring the United States in 2007, and last December they joined the Flecktones in several American cities to publicize the album's release. The Flecktones are long-time fans of Tuvan throat singing. Two of their earlier albums, Outbound and Live at the Quick, feature the celebrated xöömeizhi (throat singer) Kongar-ool Ondar, the original mentor and artistic director of Alash.

Renowned Irish artists Karan Casey and Buille will perform Saturday, November 21 of 2009 at 8:00 pm at Highline Ballroom in New York City. Karan Casey has established herself as one of Ireland's most distinctive and influential vocalists. Known for her early work with Solas and her successful tours and recordings as a soloist, she has redefined the boundaries of Celtic music. She is accompanied by Ireland's Buille (concertina virtuoso Niall Vallely, pianist Caoimhín Vallely and guitarist Paul Meehan), the powerful and innovative ensemble which will also open the show. The program includes selections from Casey's new Ships in the Forest CD (Compass Records).
 
 Karan Casey's career has spanned 20 years, from her early days as a jazz performer in Georges bistro in Dublin to her time in New York with Solas (which became the most celebrated Irish band in the US) to her now blossoming solo career. Following groundbreaking early releases with Solas, she released five acclaimed solo albums and performed on the Grammy-winning Celtic Solstice with Paul Winter & Friends and Tim O'Brien's Two Journeys.