Show #43: A Dozen Choice New Releases

This week Rhythm Planet celebrates a dozen new albums from many places: Cuba, Brazil, Tuva, Mali, Brazil, and Haiti. Plus a couple of jazz albums and a retro album of Viper rag.

We begin with the new album from the Northern Mali tuareg group Tinariwen. Years ago they were mercenary soldiers riding the Sahara who gave up their guns for guitars and formed a band. I’m told they recorded this new album in another desert, this time in Southern California. After that a hot Haitian band from the 1970s, Les Loups Noirs, and a wild cut called “Pile ou Face” (Heads or Tails). Some old-school Cuban music in a guaracha style, and the cool new album from Brazil’s inventive Bossacucanova.

We turn to some viper drag & reefer music from the great four-piece outfit called the Jitterbug Vipers, then a French-Tuvan collective called Violons Barbares, the Barbaric Violins. The singer is Tuvan, the other guys are French. A nice Malian groove follows, as provided by Sousou & Maher Cissoko.

Two new jazz sides follow, featuring drummer David M. Bromberg and pianist Helen Sung. Indian music follows, with the disciples of the late venerated maestro Ravi Shankar, then a slow, haunting violin solo from Nistha Raj. Finally, a Sephardic song from Ana Alcaide, who leavens the mix with a Swedish nickel harp.

Hope you enjoy these 12 new albums!

Rhythm Planet Playlist: 2/21/14

1. Tinariwen / Chaghaybou / Emmaar / Anti

2. Les Loups Noir (The Black Wolves) / Pile Ou Face (Heads Or Tails) / Haiti Direct / Strut

3. Ino and the Cuban Ballroom Orchestra / La Guarapachanga / One Day In Havana / Inoalmusic

4. Bossacucanova/ Adeus America / Our Kind Of Bossa / Six Degrees

5. Jitterbug Vipers / Phoebe’s Dream / Phoebe’s Dream / Flying High

6. Violons Barbares / Saulem Ai / Saulem Ai / World Village

7. Sousou & Maher Cissoko / On Verra (We’ll See About That) / Africa Moo Baalu / Arc Music

8. David M. Bromberg / Top Chop / Forth & Back / Cap

9. Helen Sung / Brother Thelonious / Anthem For A New Day / Concord

10. Various / In Brindaban Forest / Utsav! Celebrating Ravi Shankar / East Meets West

11. Nistha Raj / Gravity (Charuskeshi Alap) / Exit 1 / Nistha Raj

12. Ana Alcaide / Lu Mujer De Terah / Como La Luna Y El Sol / Arc