Memphis Slim & Willie Dixon - In Paris - Baby Please Come Home!

Piano pumper Mephis Slim (1915 - 1988) and bass thumper Willie Dixon (1915 - 1992) were kindred spirits. Both men were commanding vocalists and brilliant songwriters who played key roles in shaping the Chicago blues sound of the 50s, though their roots were in an earlier era.

The tow blues men usually worked separately, but duting the late 50s and early 60s they frequently teamed up for recordings, club dates, and concerts, often in Europe.

This recording of a 1962 show in Paris is a vital document of that accosication. It's not a landmark event in either of the blues legends' distinguished recording careers, but it's a nice enough outing with a friendly, low-key tone. Slim recorded a lot of LPs in the early '60s, often as a solo pianist/vocalist, and this is frankly more lively than his norm for the era, if for nothing else than the fact that he's playing in a band. The Dixon-sung tracks are interesting inasmuch as he didn't record much during this period, though he's really adequate at best as a singer. When Slim sings, he sticks mostly to self-penned material; the Dixon-fronted cuts may stir some curiosity among blues fans due to the inclusion of some of Willie's more obscure compositions, like the novelty-tinged "African Hunch with a Boogie Beat."

Tracklist:

1	Rock And Rolling The House	4:28
2	Baby Please Come Home	2:16
3	How Make You Do Me Like You Do	4:59
4	The Way She Loves A Man	3:08
5	New Way To Love	5:30
6	Afican Hunch With A Boogie Beat	3:35
7	Shame Pretty Girls	3:24
8	Baby-Baby-Baby	3:04
9	Do De Do	2:41
10	Cold Blooded	5:37
11	Just You And I	2:55
12	Pigalle Love	3:59
13	All By Myself	1:44

Memphis Slim & Willie Dixon -  In Paris - Baby Please Come Home!
(192 kbps, cover art included)

Dakar Sound Volume 2 - Sorano Singers

It was in the 70s that Dakar-businessman Mass Diokhane, dealer in cars and radio-cassete players, got the idea to produce young talents of his nieghbourhood on a label called "Touba Auto K7". So he hired a technician and they started to record the new sound of booming Dakar.

After the huge success of Etoile 2000 Diokhane´s next idea was to record the Sorano Singers, who are the vocalists of the national ensemble. They practice and perform at the Sorano theatre in Dakar, which is still the breeding-place for new traditional talent. Diokhane taped the music almost without rehearsing, using just two microphones, as the various singers improvise their text on a well known tradtional melody.

The Sorano singers are presented here with a selection of songs from their individual cassettes, all released in the beginning of the eighties. Madiodio makes her entranceon this CD with a song called Xouda Doki. She is accompagnied by a mysterious group called SK7. The orther artists are backed up by non other than Super Etoile.

Dakar Sound Volume 2 - Sorano Singers
(192 kbps, ca. 64 MB)

VA - Dakar Sound Sampler Vol. 2

In Senegal, international capitalism meets traditional African commerce head on. The skyscrapers and colonial buildings of Dakar may be crumbling, but down by the Medina, the city´s original `native quarter´, they´re building vast ultra-modern banks, while, outside, stalls errupt from pavements heaving with hawkers and touts. And evreyone it seems, from the ragged beggars to the sleek-suited executives or the turbanned women in billowing robes and stiletto hells, is radiating pise and self possession - the same nonchalant swagger that underpins mbalax, the rhythm that has come to define Senegalese music.

A collection of classic West African pop music, "Dakar Sound Sampler Vol. 2" showcases some of the "Dakar Sound" label’s finest releases.

Tracklist:

 1. Bolero - Dexter Johnson

2. Mamu Wa Mpoy - African Fiesta

3. Seul - Superstar

4. Am Am - Royal Band

5. Kontar

6. Xouda Doki

7. Kolankoma - Sékou Bembya Diabaté

8. Darou Muxti

9. Tounka - Djanka Diabate,

10. Tama - Sekou Kouyate

11. Mkuki Myoni - Tondo

12. Kyere Wo Do

13. Dowaka

14. Liverpool

VA - Dakar Sound Sampler Vol. 2
(192 kbps, cover art included)

Art Bears - Winter Songs

Finding distribution on the Residents' Ralph Records label, the Art Bears' second album consists of 12 songs of various tensions: rest vs. speed, improv vs. pulse, space vs. density, Dagmar Kraus's vocals vs. everyone else.

As usual, Chris Cutler's lyrics tell political allegories through medieval-tinged stories: slaves, castles, and wheels of fortune (and industry) dominate. Fred Frith explores discordance through his guitar, and European folk figures through his always enjoyable violin.

Though not as confrontational as their other work, the centerpiece has to be the frantic "Rats and Monkeys" with three minutes of teeth-gritting, out-of-control insanity as all three players are plugged into a wall outlet and let rip. A guaranteed lease breaker if played often enough.


Tracklist:

A1	The Bath Of Stars
A2	First Things First
A3	Gold
A4	The Summer Wheel
A5	The Slave
A6	The Hermit
A7	Rats And Monkeys
B1	The Skeleton
B2	The Winter Wheel
B3	Man And Boy
B4	Winter / War
B5	Force
B6	3 Figures
B7	3 Wheels

Art Bears - Winter Songs
(320 kbps, cover art included)

VA - Cajun Vol. 1 - Abbeville Breakdown 1929-1939

A collection of ancient recordings of Cajun music by musicians from the Abbeville area of Louisiana. These songs were all recorded between 1929 and 1939, and are split essentially into two groups. The Breaux Fréres (and brother-in-law Joseph Falcon) provide the earlier half of the works, with an early mastery of the basic Cajun lineup that would become standard -- accordion, fiddle, and guitar. Falcon proves himself a worthy accordionist, paving the way for much of the later music to come from the genre (and simultaneously standing as the first recorded Cajun accordion player). Cleoma Breaux Falcon (his wife) is an able guitarist, and the Breaux Fréres do well on fiddle and accordion, as needed.

The second half of the album is dominated by the Alley Boys of Abbeville, an accordion-less group of youngsters who recorded once for Vocalion and were recorded again on various compilations. The recording quality on the album is admittedly sub-par, and seemingly not remastered completely. Nonetheless, it's an enjoyable album for those looking for the roots of Cajun music, though the rare recordings of Amédé Ardoin would be recommended beforehand, as the branching point for both Cajun and Zydeco forms.    

Tracklist:

 1. Vas Y Carrément  - Amedee Breaux/Cleoma Breaux & Ophy Breaux

2. Poche-Town - Joe Falcon/Cleoma Breaux & Ophy Breaux

3. Prenez Courage (Take Courage) - Cleoma Breaux/Joe Falcon & Ophy Breaux

4. Quand Je Suit Partis Pour Le Texas - Cleoma Breaux/Joe Falcon & Ophy Breaux

5. Aimer Et Perdre (To Love And Lose) - Joe Falcon

6. Egan One Step - Breaux Feres

7. T' As Volé Mon Chapeau (You Have Stolen My Hat) - Breaux Feres

8. Home Sweet Home - Breaux Feres

9. Le One Step A Martin - Breaux Feres

10. La Valse Du Bayou Plaquemine - Breaux Feres

11. Abbeville Breakdown

12. Te A Pas Raison (You Have No Reason)

13. Se Toute Sain Comme Moi Ma Saine (I Wonder If You Feel The Way I Do)

14. Jolie Petite Fille (Pretty Little Girl)

15. Quel Espoire (What's The Use)

16. Moi Et Ma Belle (Me And My Pretty One)

17. Je Vous T' Aime Lessair Pleurer (I'll Never Let You Cry)

18. Es Ce Que Tu Pense Jamais A Moi (Do You Ever Think Of Me)

19. Tu Ma Quite Seul (Prisoner's Song)

20. Jolie Petite Blonde (Small Pretty Blonde)

21. Apres Jengles A Toi (Thinking Of You)

22. Te Bonne Pour Moi Estere (I Don't Care What You Used To Be)

VA - Cajun Vol. 1 - Abbeville Breakdown 1929-1939    
(192 kbps, cover art included)    

Lecuona Cuban Boys - Lecuona Cuban Boys (1965)

The Lecuona Cuban Boys was a popular Cuban orchestra which toured the world for over forty years.

The band was founded by Ernesto Lecuona, whose role was that of a patron-entrepreneur. He did not actually play with the band, but sometimes gave a piano recital before the band played. The core of the band was put together in 1931 as Orquesta Encanto; the band changed name early in 1934. On tour in Europe, in 1934, Lecuona returned to Cuba, and Armando Oréfiche took charge of the band in Europe. Ernesto gave them the gift of his name, which, at the time, was a property well worth having, and the right to use a number of his compositions.

The LCB was exceptionally strong in arrangements, compositions and instrumental quality (most of them could play two or three instruments). Their only weak spot was the lack of a really first-rate Cuban singer, but that was not so important as might seem because they played so often to non-Latin audiences. Some of their pick-up singers could sing in English, and many of their numbers were instrumentals. The band played the full range of Cuban popular music, but their speciality was the conga. Though it was perhaps Eliseo Grenet who first composed a conga in its ballroom dance style, it was certainly the LCB who took it round the world and made it famous. The LCB was therefore the first conjunto to use the conga drum regularly in its performances, and not Arsenio Rodríguez, as is often supposed.

The band initially organized itself as a collective, but in practice Armando Oréfiche (composer, arranger, pianist) was the leader. Other band members were Ernesto 'Jaruco' Vázquez (trumpeter, guitarist, composer, arranger); Adalberto 'Chiquito' Oréfiche (tenor sax and bongo); Agustin Bruguera (timbales, conga, voice); Gerardo Bruguera (tenor sax and clarinet); Jesús Bertomeu (trombone); Jorge Domínguez (alto sax, clarinet, violin); Daniel González (alto sax, clarinet, violin); Guillermo Hernández (guitar, tumba, guiro, maracas); Enrique López Rivero (trumpet) 1932 34; Alberto Rabagliati (voice) engaged 1934; later Fernando Díaz and Luis Escalante were engaged as replacement trumpeters. In 1947 Bob (Irv) Mesher joined the group after a brief stint with Tito Puente, Tito Rodriguez and Pupi Campo. Irv took over the lead chair when Jaruco Vazquez left the band...

The band toured throughout the world: the USA, Latin America and Europe were the main tours. When World War II broke out, the band went to Latin America and continued their touring there. After WWII there was a dispute within the band, which ended in a split. Armando Oréfiche left with a few members, and started the Havana Cuban Boys; the rest stayed under the old name, based in New York until 1960. The Lecuona Cuban Boys continued to tour, and finally retired in 1975.

Tracklist:

Mama Inéz (Rumba)
La Cumbia Del Amor (Cumbia)
Solamente Una Vez (Bolero)
El Bodeguero (Merengue)
My Shawl (Bolero-Cha-Cha)
Rumba Mirinda
Organito De La Tarde (Mambo)
Caribia (Afro)
Anita (Cha-Cha)
Choce (Cumbia)
Lamento Borincano (Bolero)
Campanitas De Cristal (Porqué) (Cumbia)
Chivirico (Merengue)
La Comparsa (Cumbia)

Lecuona Cuban Boys - Lecuona Cuban Boys (1965)
(192 kbps, cover art included)

Mary Hopkins - Earth Song / Ocean Song (1971)

It was the British supermodel Twiggy who alerted Paul McCartney to the Welsh singer Mary Hopkin when Apple Records was looking for talent in 1968. The waifish soprano scored a huge worldwide smash with her first Apple single, the melancholy but rabble-rousing ballad "Those Were the Days," in late 1968; it actually knocked the Beatles' own "Hey Jude" out of the number one position in the U.K. Paul McCartney lent Hopkin a further hand by producing her first album and writing her second single, "Goodbye," which was also a hit. More comfortable with refined, precious ballads and folky pop than rock, Hopkin scored several more hit singles in the U.K., although she never entered the American Top 40 again. Her commercial success diminished as Apple's fortunes dwindled in the early '70s.    

More folk-oriented than her first effort, Mary Hopkin's lilting voice soothes the listener like hot tea with honey. Included in this set, which was produced by Tony Visconti, are her interpretations of Ralph McTell's "Streets of London," Cat Stevens' "The Wind," and Gallagher & Lyle's "International."    

Tracklist:
01 - International
02 - There's Got To Be More
03 - Silver Birch And Weeping Willow
04 - How Come The Sun
05 - Earth Song
06 - Martha
07 - Streets Of London
08 - The Wind
09 - Water, Paper And Clay
10 - Ocean Song

Mary Hopkins - Earth Song / Ocean Song (1971)         
(320 kbps, cover art included)

Alice Coltrane - Journey In Satchidananda (1970)

Alice Coltrane's landmark "Journey to Satchidananda" reveals just how far the pianist and widow of John Coltrane had come in the three years after his death. The compositions here are wildly open and droning figures built on whole tones and minor modes. And while it's true that one can definitely hear her late husband's influence on this music, she wouldn't have had it any other way.

Pharoah Sanders' playing on the title cut, "Shiva-Loka," and "Isis and Osiris" (which also features the Vishnu Wood on oud and Charlie Haden on bass) is gloriously restrained and melodic. Coltrane's harp playing, too, is an element of tonal expansion as much as it is a modal and melodic device. With a tamboura player, Cecil McBee on bass, Rashied Ali on drums, and Majid Shabazz on bells and tambourine, tracks such as "Stopover Bombay" and the D-minor, modally drenched "Something About John Coltrane" become an exercise in truly Eastern blues improvisation. Sanders plays soprano exclusively, and the interplay between it and Coltrane's piano and harp is mesmerizing.

With the drone factor supplied either by the tamboura or the oud, the elongation of line and extended duration of intervallic exploration is wondrous. The depths to which these blues are played reveal their roots in African antiquity more fully than any jazz or blues music on record, a tenet that exists today, decades after the fact. One last note, the "Isis and Osiris" track, which was recorded live at the Village Gate, features some of the most intense bass and drum interplay - as it exists between Haden and Ali - in the history of vanguard jazz. Truly, this is a remarkable album, and necessary for anyone interested in the development of modal and experimental jazz. It's also remarkably accessible.

Alice Coltrane - Journey In Satchidananda (1970)
(320 kbps, cover art included)


Tracklist:

A1  Journey In Satchidananda	6:33
A2  Shiva-Loka	6:33
A3  Stopover Bombay	2:50
B1  Something About John Coltrane	10:40
B2  Isis And Osiris	11:32