“Passport” broadcast from 12.04.06 every monday, 8-9PM on 89.1 FM WNYU

In the future I’m going to try to be posting these sooner after the fact. I been busy.

Playlist
Artist (location) — track title — album — (label):

1. Zuhura Swaleh (Zanzibar) — “Ya Zamani” — Zanzibara 2 — (Buda Musique)
2. Khun Kan Chwain (Burma) — “Naung Ywe” — Guitars Of The Golden Triangle: Folk And Pop Music Of Myanmar Vol. 2 — (Sublime Frequencies)
3. Hovanes Grigorian (Armenia) — “Por Eir Astvatz” — Erevan — (Parseghian)
4. Tim Maia (Brazil) — “Voce” — S/T — (Polydor)
5. Hugh Masekela (South Africa) — “Been Such A Long Time Gone” — I Am Not Afraid — (Blue Thumb)
6. Fairuz (Lebanon) — “Al Bosta” — Wahdon — (Zida)
7. Lord Shorty (Trinidad) — “Drum Spirits” — Endless Vibrations — (Shorty)
8. Sapo (USA) — “Ritmo Del Corazon” — S/T — (Bell)
9. Ricardo Eddy Martinez (Cuba) — “Tambo Iya” — Expreso Ritmico — (Egrem)
10. Selda (Turkey) — “Ince Ince” — Love , peace & poetry: Turkish psychedelic music — (Normal)
11. T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo (Benin) — “Kokoriko” — The Kings Of Benin Urban Groove 72 – 80 — (Soundway)

Shleu-Shleu : 3 Forces
taken from the album “Les Shleu-Shleu A New York” on Mini (197?)

Djet-X : Oh Mayeye
taken from the album The Rising Stars on Marc’s (197?)

Alix Jacques Cole Cole Band : Tessa’s Theme
taken from their self-titled album on Macaya (197?)

Continuing my Caribbean exploration, I pulled out these Hatian oldies this week. The music is very hard to describe, in part because it keeps changing throughout the track. Like Bollywood in some ways, the songs on these records tend to last way past the six-minute mark, often changing tempo and style altogether (occaisionally multiple times in one song!). The most straight-forward of these tracks is definitely 3 Forces, which sounds to my ear the most directly tied to West African music. There’s also touches of montuno and a smooth rolling calypso feel that comes from the sax. Once the groove gets going, it’s a steady swinging ride ’til the end of the tune. Don’t know what you call this style of music, but I’m loving it.

Oh Mayeye and Tessa’s Theme are more typical of other Haitian records I have from the same time period. Nasty opening funk or soul grooves which then break into this “booom – ka-boom-ka” Haitian bounce at around one minute into the track. Is this “Cadence Rampa”? Someone who knows more about Haitian funkiness, please school me. More style switches ensue, keeping my interest for the eight-minute-plus length of the jam. I’ve heard that there are some record stores out in Queens that still have a bunch of this stuff. One of these days…

“Passport” broadcast from 11.27.06, hosted by yours truly…

After producing my Monday night radio show for close to 4 years, a major technological advance has been made at the Station!. My weekly, hour-long program is now automatically recorded and archived online, so if you miss it live (cause you’re lazy or live in Australia) then you can still tune in. I’m not sure if I’ll post every week’s show right here in the crate (is that easiest?), but for now at least, listen to last week’s broadcast right here. And check the playlist- which includes Turkish Psych, Afro Funk, and Bollywood Disco among other things- RIGHT HERE.

Oh yeah, and if you’re not lazy, or don’t live too far away, you can always tune in live at 89.1 FM in NYC or online at www.wnyu.org

Ronnie & The Ramblers : Echoes Of My Mind
taken from the album “An Evening With Ronnie At Ronie’s Rebel Room” on R&RR (196?)

Andre Tanker : Swahili and Lena
taken from the album “Afro Blossom West” on Atman (196?)

Trying to bring myself back to life today with a little imaginary sun soaked escape. My nose is dripping incessantly and I swear there’s a golf ball sized mucus lump lodged in my temple. Sounds pleasant, don’t it? In the effort to provide us all with a much needed vacation, I’ve pulled out these near-lost Caribbean gems. Sadly, I know very little about either of the artists except that they are both close to un-googleable. What little info exists on the interweb is less than satisfying. I’ve been searching (to no avail) for more music and information about these guys, so if any reader out there has something to contribute, please share. I should say first that I’m not all that interested in the more traditional Carnival/Soca music that Tanker produced in his later years- that stuff just doesn’t really do it for me.

Apparently “the Grandfather of Bahamian Music”, Ronnie Butler formed his Ramblers band in ’62 and played regularly in Nassau hotels. The only other record I’ve seen from him was recorded at a different hotel a year earlier. I guess the tourist-based economy meant that hotel sponsorship provided one of the few recording opportunities. His cover version of Nilsson’s “Everybody’s Talking” (from the Midnight Cowboy soundtrack) absolutely slays me- just listen to that guitar solo! Nice chorus vocals too. Kinda ironic that this Bahamian superstar is singing about finding escape in a sunny place, the escape that Jon Voight finally found in Florida just as his beloved cohort Dustin Hoffman tragically died on his shoulder!

I was first introduced to the Trinidaian Vibist/Drummer Andre Tanker via Brooklyn’s greatest pirate radio station. It was a fierce afrobeat sounding track with an open drum break in the intro. Been searching for more Tanker ever since. I got my hands on a couple of beautiful fusion tracks that he recorded in the 70’s from this excellent Crippled Dick compilation. And then, just recently I picked up this pearl of a record. Afro Blossom West also features a fiery cover of “Wachi Wara” and a nice boogaloo called “Party In The City”. But for me, it was the powerful building progression of “Lena” and the dancefloor friendly “Swahili” that stuck out most prominently. Both are Tanker originals. If you’re not convinced by “Swahili’s” rumbling beginning, then hold out for the backbeat to come clamouring in at 2:20! Clearly, the man was doing his own thing and experimenting liberally. If and when something turns up, rest assured you’ll hear about it.

Building Bloc : Playback
taken from the album “Sound Foundation” on VIA Media (2006)
and yes, you can download the whole thing for free HERE

As some of you may know, I’ve been writing rhymes and making music for a while now. Well, these doods have been my partners in crime since we were all 18 and lived in the same college dorm together. Kinda crazy that it took us this long to put all the pieces together, but finally (most of these songs were recorded more than a year ago) the album has taken shape, been mastered, and is DONE. Also, it’s FREE and available for you to download. All we ask is that you let us know if you like it. We get by on just a little bit of love…

Send feedback to: bloc.building@gmail.com
check the website (which isn’t much) at: www.buildingbloc.com
and be our buddy at myspace/buildingbloc

And in case you couldn’t figure it out or were perhaps a bit confused, I also go by Chewbaka sometimes.

Freddie McKay : Love Is A Treasure and
Linval Thompson & The Revolutionaries : Rock Me Dub
taken from the compilation “Creation Rockers 4” on Trojan (1979)

Nicky Thomas : Have A Little Faith and
Sang Hugh : No Portion A Gal
taken from the compilation “Feelin’ High” on Columbia House (1975)

Phyllis Dillon & Hopeton : Right Track
taken from the compilation “Hottest Hits Vol.1” on Treasure Isle (197?)

Being that the temperature outside is steadily dropping each day and there’s no sign that global warming is going to obliterate this winter (soon, just not quite yet)– I figured it would be appropriate to post some warm, sunny, roots music. Plus, I realize it’s been way too long since any reggae has appeared on this page. Expect more from the Caribbean in the coming (cold) months… not just Jamaica, I’m thinking Trinidad, Haiti, and The Antilles too.

All of these songs come off random compilations that I’ve picked up over the years. I’m thinking these are mostly one hit wonders, because aside from Linval Thompson & The Revolutionaries, I haven’t heard of any of these cats. The “Feelin’ High” collection (what a great cover!) is kind of a mystery to me. First of all, I didn’t even realize that Columbia House (still owe those doods some dollars) was around back then. But secondly, although the record inside the sleeve corroborates the album title and record lable, the tracklisting is completely different from the one printed on the cover. Maybe it was a multi-record series and some previous owner got ’em mixed up? Not really sure, but very happy to have the tunes regardless– and props to the uncredited compiler who pulled a great selection!

Anyone recognize the “Rock Me Dub” track? A few years back, Nick Holder’s “Moments In Dub” was a crate staple… dub-house, check it out.

Also, finally updated my BLOGROLL! Check the newbies: Loronix (BRAZIL!), Loaded, Darcy, Naps… keep you procrastinating for daaaaaays.