Show #8: A Potpourri of New Releases
This week’s Rhythm Planet focuses on a dozen new albums that caught my ear. We begin with Booker T, sans the MG’s but with the blue-eyed soul of singer Mayer Hawthorne.…
By Tom Schnabel • • 1 min readThis week’s RhythmPlanet focuses on a dozen new albums that caught my ear. We begin with Booker T, sans the MG’s but with the blue-eyed soul of singer Mayer Hawthorne. House music maestro Louie Vega continues the flow with a tasty version of the classic Baden Powell song, “Berimbau”. We’ll check out the bubbly French pop of Banda Magda, the Balkan band Magnifico with a fun song called “Giv Mi Mani” (and sex, drugs and rock and roll). Spanish singer Buika has a new album called La Noche Mas Larga (the longest night), and here she sings a beautiful song penned by Francis Cabrel and Mercedes Sosa.
We’ll also hear from a new album of spirituals by Bobby McFerrin, Cuban pianist Chucho Valdes and drummer Pedrito Martinez‘ new album of songs made famous by flamenco singer Camarón de la Isla. Jazz vibist Joe Locke continues the groove, moving into Malian Vieux Farka Toure‘s new album Mon Pays (my country). We wrap it up with a quartet of talented women, Rose and the Nightengale, with a lovely song of affirmation, “It’s So Beautiful”, and finally we revisit Polish pianist Marcin Wasilewski‘s elegant version of Prince’s “Diamonds and Pearls”.
Music from New York, Mali, Poland, Cuba, Germany, and Spain. An eclectic batch of new releases. Enjoy!
Rhythm Planet Playlist: 6/13/13
Booker T |Sound The Alarm | Sound The Alarm | Stax
Louie Vega | Berimbau | Elements Of Life Eclipse | Fania / Codigo
Banda Magda | Amour, T’es La (My Love, Are You There?) | Amour T’es La? | Magda Gianniko.com
Magnifico | Giv Mi Mani | Magnification | Piranha
Buika | Vengo A Ofrecer Mi Corazon | La Noche Mas Larga (The Longest Night) | Warner Music Latina
Bobby McFerrin| Joshua | Spirit You All | Sony Masterworks
Chucho Valdes & The Afro Cuban | Tabu | Border Free | Jazz Village
Pedrito Martinez | Dos Estrellas Relucientes | Rumba De La Isla | Calle 54
Joe Locke | Bittersweet | Lay Down My Heart | Motema Music
Vieux Farka Toure| Alla Wawi | Mon Pays | Six Degrees Records
Rose and the Nightengale| It’s So Beautiful | Spirit Of The Garden | Sunnyside
Marcin Wasilewski| Diamonds and Pearls | January | ECM
