10 New and Noteworthy Releases

This week we sample some tracks from ten tasty new releases.

We begin with a fabulous 2-cd set of music by Gershwin and Mancini. The Steve Richman Harmonie Ensemble dishes up some witty and beautifully produced music of these two great composers. The Gershwin/Grofe is totally fun to hear, and the Mancini disc is absolutely wonderful.

Lou Tavano is a stylish, Paris-based singer I first heard on the superlative French FIP radio. Her version of “Afro-Blue” caught my attention immediately, so I had to get a copy and feature it.

Mayte Martin is a flamenco singer, born in Barcelona in 1965. She has a fiery, expressive voice and we feature a song about the famous peace dove of Picasso.

Buyepongo is a band I first heard at a cumbia festival last year. They combine cumbia, salsa, and funk into the mix, and have a big following in LA.

We follow with a track by the singer Aziza Brahim, who was born in Algeria, moved to Cuba, and now resides in Barcelona. Her label is Glitterbeat, a German label that consistently puts out good world and dub music.

Ibrahim Maalouf is no stranger to Rhythm Planet; last year he performed his tribute to the legendary Egyptian singer Oum Kalthoum, and this is the album that resulted. He plays the four-valve quarter-tone trumpet, the Arabic trumpet he learned from his father, Nassim Maalouf. He was born in Lebanon, and now makes Paris his home.

Cuban saxman Paquito d’Rivera is next, with a swinging song called “Somos Novos” (We are New).

We wrap it up with Bahian singer Daniela Mercury, followed by P.O.E.M. (Pasqua, Oles, Erskine, Mintzer), the super jazz quartet that will play at the Blue Whale this Saturday, February 6th.

Hope you enjoy this set.  More new releases coming next week!

Rhythm Planet Playlist for 2/5/16:

  1. Harmonie Ensemble conducted by Steve Richman / “The Certain Feeling” / Gershwin By Grofe / Harmonia Mundi
  2. Harmonie Ensemble conducted by Steve Richman / “Dreamsville” / Henry Mancini: Music for Peter Gunn / Harmonia Mundi
  3. Lou Tavano / “Afro-Blue (Bali Hues)” / For You / Act
  4. Mayte Martin / “La Paloma de Picasso” / Alcantaramanuel / World Village
  5. Buyepongo / “Vamos A Gozar” / Todo Mundo / Buyepongo
  6. Aziza Brahim / “Buscando La Paz” / Abbar El Hamada / Glitterbeat
  7. Ibrahim Maalouf / “Overture I – Alf Leila Wa Leila” / Kalthoum / Impulse!
  8. Paquito D’Rivera / “Somos Novios” / Paquito D’Rivera Plays the Music Of Armando Manzanero / Sunnyside
  9. Daniela Mercury / “A Rainha Do Axe?” (The Queen Of Axe?) / Virtual Vinyl / DRG Brazil
  10. Poem (Pasqua, Oles, Erskine, Mintzer) / “Tara’s Theme (from Gone With The Wind)” /Standards 2, Movie Music / Fuzzy Music

Playlist

[PLAYLIST GOES HERE]

Credits

Host:

Tom Schnabel