Xango Music local music from all over the world

Office: Singelstraat 1, 3513 BL Utrecht, NL www.xmd.nl - [email protected] - +31 6 50 999 123

Warehouse: Berenkoog 53 C, 1822 BN, Alkmaar (NL) e: [email protected] t: +31 (0)72 - 567 3030

NEW RELEASES NR. 1 – 2016

Ayub Ogada: Kodhi LTR 1501 / 0859714187473 / label: Long Tale Rec. / format: CD / Kenya - Popular Ayub Ogada is a descendant of the Luo people of western Kenya and was influenced by their musical heritage by his parents who were musicians. After leaving school he formed the African Heritage Band and started to perform in the UK. Ayub was invited to take part in one of the ‘recording weeks’ at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios, where he recorded his first album En Mana Kuoyo (Just Sand) in 1993 and he toured extensively with Peter Gabriel and WOMAD. Ayub’s music is on the soundtracks of films such as ‘I Dreamed of Africa’ (2000), ‘The Constant Gardener’ (2005) and ‘Samsara’ (2011). Trevor Warren visited Ayub Ogada in Kenya in the Spring of 2012 with the ambitious goal to record an album together in just two weeks. Trevor touched down in Nairobi and met up with his old friend Ayub and the Kenyan musician, Isaac Gem. The three set to work on songs for Kodhi, meaning ‘seed’ in Luo, and this grew rapidly into a fully fledged album. Listen to the title song.

Amadou Diagne: Ligéey LTR 1502 / 0643157435925 / label : Long Tale Recordings / format: CD / Senegal – Popular Amadou sings from the heart in this beautiful, soulful record. Stories inspired by his early life in Senegal and his last decade in the UK wind their way through the songs, and Wolof proverbs sit comfortably in a modern context. Ligéey is the Wolof word for ‘work’ and Amadou uses it in his musical world to mean ‘practice’ and ‘working together’. In Ligéey, Amadou chose to work with artists from a wide range of cultural and musical backgrounds, led by the Israeli/British platinum and gold winning producer, Mark Smulian. The result of these collaborations is a powerful album that moves the soul and works beautifully. Listen here !

Alma Ensemble: It’s Time SLW 105 / 8433391029176 / label: Slow Walk Music / format: CD / Spain – Afrobeat ‘It’s Time’ is Barcelona based Alma Afrobeat Ensemble’s third album, the second on Slow Walk Music records, and first with the Nigerian singer Joe “Olawale” Psalmist (Lagos, Nigeria) singing in English, Yoruba, and Broken English. ‘It’s Time’ features songs that hearken back to the origins of afrobeat; extended, elegant arrangements, socially and politically charged lyrics, and irresistibly danceable grooves. Add in a dose of trance, some unique improvisational solos, plus a modern feeling, and you have ‘It’s Time’. Listen to their live presentation of this album.

The Cape Band: Musical Democracy – Cape Jazz Series Vol. 4 MOU 4747 / 4026702474723 / label: Mountain Records / format: CD / South-Africa - Jazz This release is the 4th in a series of Mountain Records albums under the Cape Jazz banner. This time, unlike the previous records which featured numerous groups, this album is basically the work of one band, called The Cape (CJB). The CJB is a loose collection of top based musicians under the leadership of veteran drummer Jack Momple, who come together to perform some of the better known works in the genre. The compositions of , (Dollar Brand), Robbie Jansen, Tony Schilder, Jonathan Butler and others, are in their program. This album is a collection of works written by the band members and now gives them some “original” works to add to the set. Listen to CJB live.

Marina Rosell: Cancons de la Resistencia SATKCD 169 / 8429085441393 / label: Satelite K / format: CD / Catalonia – Popular In this album, Marina Rosell brings together and adapts songs of resistance from the Second World War and the struggle against nazism. These are songs that form part of a landscape at a key moment, a historic time. Included are “Bella Ciao’ (a song of the Italian partisans, performed in collaboration with Grup Manel), ‘Lili Marlen’e, ‘Grândola Sun-kissed Town’ (with Enric Montefusco), The Hymn of the Deportees, ‘If you want to write me’, ‘Song of the French Partisans’ (with Paco Ibáñez) and ‘So Much War’, written by the singer herself. These are songs to build resilience and never forget the calamity and misfortune of war. Listen to Lili Marlene.

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Dani Lanca: Cidade Loca SATKCD 158 / 8429085441300 / label: Satelite K / format: CD / Portugal - Popular Daniel Lanca, musician, self-taught researcher, composer and singer (Lisbon/1976). From a very young age on, he started showing a great interest in music and free expression deepening his singing studies with African and Hindu, and lyric and voice craft masters. Using different rhythms in his compositions, he is totally engaged with African cadences, to which he gives a modern and personal touch. His lyrics speak about the invisible world, about the will of life, magic and of a new world. Lyrics about humanity, about the ability to travel with your conscience, of love and hope. Check it here!

Murat Usanmaz: Yol AHENK 4940854 / 8680114940854 / label: Ahenk / CD / Turkey – Flamenco Turkish guitarist-composer Murat Usanmaz reflects the melodic and rhythmic wealth of flamenco and Latin jazz, as well as the Mediterranean music in the songs he writes. Accompanied by talented Spanish and Turkish artists, and guest performances of kemence-player Derya Türkan and singer Sevval Sam. Listen to the title song Yol.

Laura Vital: Tejiendo Lunas LV 2015 / 8429085263957 / label: Music Pendulo / format: CD / Spain – Flamenco Laura Vital is an excellent singer who belongs to a family with a particularly rich flamenco tradition. She comes from Sanlúcar de Barrameda in Cadiz. Her characteristic style of singing is the "melismas" in the voice (singing more notes on one syllable), and her great love for singer "La Niña de los Peines" (1890- 1969), one of her most important examples. ‘Tejíendo Lunas’ is a flamenco album inspired also by other. She is accompanied on by Eduardo Rebollar and Sócrates Mastrodimos, on violin by Jamal Ouassini, and David "Chupete" on percussion. Listen to her music here.

Michele Marini Organic Trio: Changemood VM 3005 / 8012957991166 / label: Visage Music / format: CD / Italy – Jazz Changemood is the debut album of Michele Marini Organic Trio, cranked out straight from the artistic workshops of Pistoia. A record full of new colors and flavors. Thanks to the mixture of distinctive and multi- color sounds you have the chance to listen to some unusual execution of jazz standards, and innovative interpretations of wider phrasing, coming from the international musical scenario, ending with allusions to and waltz musette. Listen to a piece here.

Oboman Fillon: Echoes of Freedom BUDA 860283 / 3341348602837 / label: Buda Musique / format: CD / France - Jazz At the crossroads of jazz and improvised music, “Echoes of Freedom” is a project for which the different musical aesthetics brought by each member of the group is the determining factor: classical and contemporary music for some, Indian music, flamenco or Arabic-Andalucían music for others. The group’s identity is built on a gathering of strong musical personalities, talented improvisers and remarkable leaders. Listen to the title song.

Fawn Wood: Kikawiynaw CR 6520 / 0729337652026 / label: Canyon / format: CD / USA – Native American Award-winning Cree/Salish singer Fawn Wood sings with a voice that is deep and true. Infused with a feminine perspective, her Round Dance, Hand Game and traditional songs convey the strength of indigenous women. ‘Kikawiynaw’ (Plains Cree meaning ‘our mother’) is a collection of Fawn’s soul-tingling songs honoring the female spirit. Listen to one of the songs.

Recent Etnisk Musikklubb releases:

Various: Spelemannsmote EM 115 7041885311525 CD Leif Aasana: Djervt EM 114 7041885311426 CD Lendmenn: Den Fyrste EM 111 7041885311129 CD Sigurd Brokke: Munnharpe II EM 109 7041885310924 CD Ulf-Arne Johannessen: Einpikkar’n EM 104 7041885310429 CD Poemus: Progenitor vol. 1 EM 82 7041885308228 CD Gard Nergaard: Seint var det om kvelden EM 77 7041885307726 2-CD

EXPECTED IN 2016

Expected 5 February: Chimurenga Renaissance: Girlz with Gunz GBEP 30 / 4030433603079 / label: Glitterbeat / format: 12” EP / USA/Zimbabwe – Hiphop/world Otherworldly hip-hop meets Shona rhythms, Congolese guitar ambiance and political resistance. Chimurenga Renaissance is a Seattle-based duo made up of Tendai Maraire and Hussein Kalonji (in Shona “Chimurenga” means revolutionary struggle). Tendai is one-half of the visionary hip-hop group Shabazz Palaces and has family roots in Zimbabwe while guitarist Hussein’s family hails from the Congo. The 11- track EP “Girlz With Gunz” will be their debut release with Glitterbeat Records and will be followed by a full- length album in autumn of 2016. Listen to the teaser

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Expected 4 March: Aziza Brahim: Abbar el Hamada GBCD 31 / 4030433603123 / label: Glitterbeat Records / format: CD / Western Sahara – Popular

Aziza Brahim: Abbar el Hamada GBLP 31 / 4030433603116 /label: Glitterbeat Records / format: LP / Western Sahara - Popular Western Saharan musician/activist Aziza Brahim’s new album Abbar el Hamada (Across the Hamada), is a commanding and compassionate musical statement about, and for, the tumultuous age in which we live. Raised in a Saharawi refugee camp in the Algerian desert, and living in exile for more than two decades (first in Cuba and currently in Barcelona), Brahim’s life and music embodies both the tragedies and hopes of the present-day migrant and refugee experience. Recorded with Soutak producer Chris Eckman (Bassekou Kouyate, Tamikrest), Abbar el Hamada, is a wholly persuasive example of Brahim’s pan-musical vision and is her most compelling and varied album to date. Listen to a track.

REVIEWS

Songlines #114 Jan 2016 Volkskrant 39 December 2015 Te Vaka: Amataga WMCD 1010 Sekou Kouyate: Sabaru SKCV 123 Laraaji: Ambient 3 – Day of Radiance GBCD 27 / GBLP 27 Dizu Plaatjies & Friends: Ubuntu MOU 4554 Transglobal World Music Charts Best of 2015! Ale Möller: Bouzoukispelman CAP 61000 Dizu Plaatjies & Friends: Ubuntu MOU 4554 Per Gudmundson: Sackpipa CAP 61001 Bixga 70: III GBCD 26/GBLP 26 Oratnitza: Folktron fRoots #391 Jan 2016 Sahra Halgan Trio: Faransiskiyo Somaliland BUDA 4758652 Sahra Halgan Trio: Faransiskiyo Somaliland BUDA 4758652 Tesi e.a.: Bella Ciao BUDA 4759288 World Music Charts Europe January 2016 Bixga 70 : III GBCD 26/GBLP 26 Sekou Kouyate: Sabaru SKCV 123

LIVE

Vardan Hovanissian & Emre Gültekin Oratnitza 15 January Cultuurcentrum Ter Vesten – Beveren 4 February RASA – Utrecht 22 January CC La Vénerie - Watermael-Bosvoorde 6 February Mezrab - Amsterdam 23 April Chapelle de Verre - Ronquières 21 May Handelsbeurs – Gent Bixiga 70 12 June Eupen 3 February De Roma - Antwerp 4 February Vera - Groningen BKO Quintet 5 February Paradiso Tolhuistuin – Amsterdam 15 January Korzo – Den Haag 6 February RASA – Utrecht 16 January RASA – Utrecht 17 January Bitterzoet – Amsterdam Orchestre International du Vetex 23 January De Centrale - Gent 6 February CC Berchem – Antwerp 26 February De Kreun – Kortrijk Zakouska 16 January Ferme de la Dime – Wasseiges Duo Bottasso 18 January Art Base – Brussels 20 February De Doelen – Rotterdam 21 May Kokopelli Festival – Gullegem Canteca de Macao Melissa Fortes – Radio performances 25 February Korzo – Den Haag 22 January 22.30 Opium radio 4 27 February Melkweg – Amsterdam 2 February 22.00 LloydRTV Rijnmond 28 February Tivoli de Helling – Utrecht 15 February 20.00 Latin Life RTV West

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