The Whole Music Experience

The Mountain Music Project A Musical Odyssey from Appalachia to Himalaya The Mountain Music Project When you start actually listening to music from around the globe, you come across surprising similarities.   This isn’t news to seasoned ethnomusicologists and it’s not news to fans of traditional music who keep their ears plugged into specialty music radio shows.   However, who thought there was a connection between bluegrass music of the Blue Mountains and Nepalese folk tunes? Got me and got me again. The musician caste of Nepal referred to as Gandharba who passed down oral tradition songs sound well, a bit twang.   And if twang is your thing, you’ll love this double dose of American bluegrass and traditional Nepalese songs.   These musicians not only give some outstanding performances on exotic and familiar instruments, they also engage in the art of storytelling on The Mountain Music Project’s A Musical Odyssey from Appalachia to Himalaya . ...

Duke Ellington Legacy With Houston Person Single Petal of a Rose Renma Recordings Virginia Mayhew Quartet With Wycliffe Gordon Mary Lou Williams--The Next 100 Years Renma Recordings I didn’t grow up listening to Duke Ellington, but I heard it playing in the background of my childhood.   In 2008, I had the honor and privilege of interviewing Edward Ellington, Jr. for a regional arts publication.   And I also witnessed the legacy band in concert--an enjoyable evening.   While Billy Strayhorn’s A-Train doesn’t appear on Duke Ellington Legacy’s Single Petal of a Rose , Lush Life (Strayhorn), Squeeze Me (Ellington), and In My Solitude (Ellington) float off this recording, bringing both nostalgic sheen and revitalized interpretations. While no musician, not even family, could ever recreate Duke Ellington, the composer-bandleader’s elegance shines in these modern interpretations.   The ballads Lush Life and In My Solit...

Since 2012 marks a special year, in celebration of global music, I'm hosting a top 5 CDs thus far.  I am posting YouTube videos for 4 of the top albums. Support these artist. 1. The Toure-Raichel Collective, The Tel Aviv Session, Cumbancha http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A0VXjKwYHs&feature=related 2. Mahsa & Marjan Vahdat, Twinklings of hope, Kirkelig Kulturverksted http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-TlFCIoRUI 3. Ahmad Jamal, Blue Moon, Jazz Village (Harmonia Mundi) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcUvkO4A5Vo 4. Gregory Porter, Be Good, Motema http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HvpIgHBSdo 5. Alexander Melnikov, Shostakovich Piano Concertos & Sonata for Violin and Piano, Harmonia Mundi