Show #68: Noteworthy New Releases

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Great new releases have been piling up on my desk, so now it’s time to share them.

We begin with Jimmy Cobb, the drummer on Miles Davis’ famous 1959 album, Kind of Blue, playing a cool version of the classic song “Old Devil Moon.” We follow with two fine guitarists: Brazilian Chico Pinheiro and LA-based Anthony Wilson, who usually tours with Diana Krall. Next, Mia Doi Todd does a lovely version of Antonio Carlos Jobim’s gorgeous “Double Rainbow,” which she translates to Portuguese as “Chovendo Na Roseira.”

Changing things up a bit, we have an edgy track by electronic artist, SBTRKT, called “New Dorp. New York.” At first I thought this was a misspelling of the word “drop,” but upon looking it up, I found that “Nieuw Dorp”—Dutch for “New Village”—is actually the name of one of the neighborhoods on Staten Island, dating back to the early days when New York was still called “Nieuw Amsterdam.” From there, we switch over to Algeria for some post-Independence (pre-Khaled) 1970s proto-raï music, a vibrant fusion of Middle Eastern and European folk, from Cheb Zergui.

We also have a new release from Afro-punk pioneer Orlando Julius, who introduced jùjú music, the Nigerian percussion-driven style later made famous by King Sunny Adé. He’s accompanied on this new Strut album by The Heliocentrics.

Next, the exciting, international trifecta of Lila Downs from Oaxaca/U.S., top Spanish flamenco artist Niña Pastori, and Argentine pop star, Soledad, give us a fantastic version of Césaria Evora’s ever-famous “Sodade.”

Finally, we top this week’s show off with American guitarist Nate Najar‘s album of Brazilian classics, followed by an intriguing cut by French chromatic harmonica player, Olivier Ker Ourio.

Hope you enjoy these 10 new releases!

Rhythm Planet Playlist: 08/15/14

1. Jimmy Cobb / “Old Devil Moon” / The Original Mob / Smoke Session

2. Chico Pinheiro & Anthony Wilson / “Requebre Que Eu Dou Um” / Nova / Goat Hill

3. Mia Doi Todd / “Chovendo Na Roseira” / Floresta / City Zen

4. SBTRKT / “New Dorp. New York” / Wonder Where We Land / XL Recordings

5. Cheb Zergui / “Ana Dellali (I Cuddle Myself)” / 1970s Algerian Proto-Raï Underground / Sublime Frequencies

6. Orlando Julius & The Heliocentrics / “Omo Oba Blues” /Jaiyede Afro / Strut

7. Alejandro Morales Repilado / “La Cafetera de Lola” / Best of Buena Vista / Arc Music

8. Lila Downs, Niña Pastori, Soledad / “Sodade” / Raiz / RCA

9. Nate Najar Trio / “Amparo (Olha Maria)” / Aquarela do Brasil / Candid

10. Olivier Ker Ourio / “Mange Poulecoeur” / Oversea / Dreyfus Jazz