The Whole Music Experience

World Hijos De Agüeybaná Agua del Sol Tumi Music So often we turn to Cuban music when exploring music of the Caribbean and don’t get me wrong, Cuban music possesses splendid qualities, combining the best of Afro-Latin and Spanish music traditions.   Even the Puerto Ricans in New York City turned towards Cuban music when they launched salsa music.   However, now that I’m listening to a traditional recording of Puerto Rican music called bomba by the group Hijos de Agüeybaná ( Agua del Sol ), I can’t understand why these delicious Afro-Latin dance rhythms haven’t enjoyed the same popularity as Cuban son, even if these rhythms along with Puerto Rican plena and Dominican merengue appear in salsa alongside the Afro-Cuban beats.  To think that my grandmother might have danced to bomba when she was a child growing up in Puerto Rico, warms my heart. With the call and response vocals, especially on the titular track, I bet there are listeners who would co...

Blackfoot Confederacy Elders’ Vision Canyon Records Indigenous music falls under “purposeful music” so listening to the CD out of context (in my home), doesn't work for me.   For instance, I enjoy attending pow-wows, watching the dancers in their regalia dancing to the beat of pow-wow drums and passionate vocals, but listening to the music without the dancing and visuals doesn't work for me.   In addition, I'm a high-strung person who needs to relax so I prefer the Native American flute and softer recordings that closely fit my lifestyle.  (Note, I don't listen to rock music for the same reason). Having said all of that, I do support pow-wows.   I encourage the pride that Native Americans have for their traditions, culture, languages, and communities.   I admit as a non-Native I don’t get the nuances of tribal drumming and singing.  I wish that I did.   However, I feel moved by the beautiful sentiments to Native Ame...

Lucas Van Merwijk’s Drums Unlimited Heartbeat Tam Tam Productions As with all my Whole Music projects, I sometimes break musical components apart to explore the roles rhythm, tempo, timbre, color, melody, and harmony play.   A musician once told me that I had no sense of rhythm.   At first, I felt angry about this critical observation later, I started attending drum events in Seattle, and found that I could follow along just fine.   My heartbeat taught me all I needed to know about rhythm.   Lucas van Merwijk’s Drums Unlimited know all about those poly rhythmic beats, but this recording does not represent an improvised drum circle, but tightly woven pieces, even drum vignettes with vocals in some cases, and worldview of drum cultures. While I pass on the DJ mix type tunes on this recording, the acoustic drum pieces definitely excite me.   Listen to the effervescent African Dream with Gianna Tam scatting in an African dialect over the...