The Whole Music Experience

Antonio Zambujo Quinto World Village The waves of the Atlantic ocean, lost loves, and family nostalgia color the poetry of Portuguese fadisto Antonio Zambujo’s second World Village release, Quinto .   Certainly, you can hear the trembling, aching fado voice here, but you can also hear strains of Brazilian bossa nova.   I watched a few of Zambujo’s live performances on YouTube where the artist collaborated with a Bulgarian women’s choir, a duet with Raquel Tavares and a performance with a Portuguese traditional men’s choir, Rancho de cantadores da Aldeia de S. Bento (who also appear on What has become of her? on Quinto) . Clarinet, Portuguese guitar, ukulele (which finds its origins in Portugal), classical guitar and double bass accompany Zambujo’s sexy vocals.   Flagrante sounds like it came out of Brazil’s Bahia region with its lilting rhythms and spritely melody.   José Miguel Conde’s clarinet takes a Brazilian flavor too and only the shimme...

Le Vent du Nord Tromper Le Temps Borealis Records Hailing from Quebec, Le Vent du Nord also performed at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival in 2003, as part of a celebration of traditional Quebecois music.   I interviewed the quartet, who at the time had a different line-up than the band has today.   Six albums and ten years later, Le Vent du Nord (the north wind) still rallies on, fired by founding members Nicolas Boulerice (hurdy-gurdy, piano, voice), Olivier Demers (violin/fiddle, feet, mandolin, electric guitar, voice), and Simon Beaudry (guitar, voice, bouzouki) and Réjean Brunet (accordion, bass, piano, jaw harp and voice).   Even when these musicians sing sober lyrics, you still feel like you have been invited to a soirée. Take a listen to the rousing opener Lettre À Durham , in which the singers address the 19th century English diplomat who inspired the Union Act bringing Lower and Upper Canada together, despite the Quebecois wishes.  ...

Harry Manx Isle of Manx The Desert Island Collection Dog My Cat Records/World Village I had the pleasure of meeting Harry Manx at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival in 2003.   And Manx introduced me to the music of Pandit Mohan Vishwa Bhatt (inventor of Indian slide-guitar), while also reacquainting me with American blues.   Manx created his own sound that combines the spiritual sounds of India with earthy blues.   But more than that, Manx is a born-storyteller, traveler, and a Canadian bluesman.   I allowed too many years to pass by, before revisiting Manx’s songs and then Isle of Manx (a best of album) arrived in my post office box. My favorites, Coat of Mail , Don’t Forget to Miss Me , Bring that Thing , and Lay Down My Worries appear here, along side songs I’m hearing for the first time.   Indian slide guitar, warm acoustic guitar, and American slide guitar frame Manx’s folk-blues vocals.   Sadly, musician credits don’t app...