Womad, Charlton Park - 29-31 July 2011 and Bristol Zoo - 11 June 2011

[johncorrigan]

on the other hand, that's what I like about people singing in foreign languages - the voice becomes an instrument.

....and certainly true of the wonderful Faiz Ali Faiz Global - I look forward to having a listen to JoeG's links.

[zola]

Iarla Ó Lionáird is on my digital turntable quite a lot - probably even better if I understood Gaelic...on the other hand, that's what I like about people singing in foreign languages - the voice becomes an instrument.

Have you heard his performance of Gra agus Bas by Donnacha Dennehy ? Contemporary classical meets sean nos. The disc also has fine Yeats settings sung by Dawn Upshaw.

[Globaltruth]

Have you heard his performance of Gra agus Bas by Donnacha Dennehy ? Contemporary classical meets sean nos. The disc also has fine Yeats settings sung by Dawn Upshaw.

No, I haven't but will make a point of searching it out, thanks Z.

[Globaltruth]

Ah yes, it is on Spotify, all 24 mins of it...

http://open.spotify.com/track/7cb72c78e2C1XZacy9ihIr

and a 14 minute clip on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZjvvtCQUoo

[Paul Sherratt]

You helpful Global-person, thanks !

[johncorrigan]

Any photos on the go yet, Paul? Any highlights you'd like to report?

[Paul Sherratt]

John,

Just starting to sort the pics out on Photobucket - a slow processs for me ! The first ones up are of that
very friendly Gasandji. Still too rushed off me feet to go in to even my shallow reviewing depth but THE highlight for me was
Axel Krygier who tore the place apart - everyone ( MAK excepted ) loved him and the perfomance ... and of course the Siberian ladies
were just astonishing


This should be the pic-link http://s1081.photobucket.com/albums/...att/?start=all

[johncorrigan]

Haven't got to Axel yet - I think I'm pretty close - I'm working my way through Saturday evening just now - thought Baaba Maal sounded great - especially Dakar Moon - I'm with Dub Colossus just now so I imagine Axel is fairly soon.

[johncorrigan]

Have you heard his performance of Gra agus Bas by Donnacha Dennehy ? Contemporary classical meets sean nos. The disc also has fine Yeats settings sung by Dawn Upshaw.

Thanks zola - I had a listen on spotty and really enjoyed it.

[Lateralthinking1]

I think I have listened to all of the Womad programmes. Got muddled along the way so I may have missed one. Have also listened to all but the last half hour of the World on 3 highlights. I am a bit disappointed by what they may have missed out completely because there are some significant acts there - Rodrigo y Gabriela, Gogol Bordello, Penguin Cafe, Vieux Farka Toure, Jazz Jamaica, I Am Kloot, CW Stoneking, Dub Pistols, Kitty Daisy and Lewis, Taraf De Haidouks, Alabama 3, Savoy Family Cajun Band, the Creole Choir of Cuba, Oi Va Voi and, most sadly, Booker T Jones. Hopefully this will be rectified in future programmes.

Let's get the few negatives done first. Of those I didn't take to were Khaira Arby and Hassan Erraji's MoRoccan Rollers - neither really my kind of thing, Susheela Rahman, ditto and, sorry, Dissidenten - their concept more appealing to me than their music.

Now then, Baaba Maal sounded quite good. I like "Dakar Moon" too - in fact, all of the "Television" cd. Good for an artist to keep trying new things. Others who did not disappoint, without being any greater than anticipated, included Abigail Washburn - nice, intimate, and uncompromising style; Dub Colossus - although the first cd was better; and Mahala Rai Banda - fun but doing all the same stuff again. Among those I enjoyed who came across well in interview. Gasandji - a pure voice from the Congo, nice personality and not without tragedy in her background; the Norwegian fiddle band Majorstuen - including the solo in the truck studio featuring a very unusual instrument; possibly the Argentinian Axel Krygier although he mostly bemuses me. And then Bombino from Niger - enjoyable; and Feufollet, with their modern take on Cajun, both pretty good.

In my first eleven, Alpha Blondy - sounded fairly storming with hints of Bob Marley; even better, Ebo Taylor - first time back in Britain since 1965, a really interesting interview, a good set, particularly for someone in his mid-seventies, surely it is time for a hi life renaissance : a London version of it in 2012 would have huge commercial potential; and, of course, the sublime "Chamber Music" of Ballake Sissoko and Vincent Segal. Iarla O'Lionaird - a voice and a half; Jamie Smith's Mabon - new to me and an appealing celtic sound, interestingly prinicipally hailing from Wales; and Aurelio Martinez from Honduras - charming.

Loved Faiz Ali Faiz - not quite the new Nusrat but getting there; Ana Moura's sensitive fado; and the incredible Ayerkhaan - there are two further tracks from them very early in programme 5 of Womad for those who are interested. Afrocubism which was the biggest highlight predictably and then, finally, a mention for the less than predictable. Hari Sivanesan and Omar Puente. I just thought their humour and spirit were so uplifting - great guys - and that very ambitious collaboration on the Radio 3 stage where several instruments interacted with the "ribena" was a thrilling success. It was certainly the stand out radio moment.

[johncorrigan]

Lat - I find myself largely in agreement with you. I really enjoyed a lot of the coverage especially the Saturday and Sunday evening slots. I personally would have feufollet in the disappointing bracket swapping places with Dissidenten who I thought were quite good - if Susheela Rahman was in the World Routes slot then I'm completely with you (and I think Global and Paul also echoed this) - what was that about? Was that the supposed Hindi music?

For me also Hari Sivansen was a real star of the last couple of weeks - the World routes academy prom was really excellent I thought, and he was in top form every time I heard him from Womad and I loved the sound on Omar Puente. Top notch! Yep I don't really have anything much to add to your rather excellent summary.

While I'm here, I'd like to go over a bit of old ground - how excellent to hear Lopa at Womad being natural and not speaking via an autocue as it feels she's been doing on Wo3 lately - she should get that enthusiam back into her show and not try to go on like she's trying to educate us.

[Lateralthinking1]

Yes, Lopa became increasingly relaxed, and enthusiastic, throughout the weekend. Mary Ann did very well - you are right, not to be pigeon holed as "celtic". I thought Lucy really enjoyed that "ribena" interview and the fact that she has attended all but one Womad here in the UK was staggering. Wonder if she sleeps in a Milletts tent similar to mine. I'd like to mention Andrew again. An underrated broadcaster who for me has almost become the voice of Radio 3's Womad coverage.

[Globaltruth]

Spotify WOMDA Playlist

Been meaning to post this for a bit, here is a Spotify playlist of WOMAD performers put together by Barnaby Griffin. You may remember McG used to do this for us in the past....

http://open.spotify.com/user/barnabygriffin/playlist/0B9H1JcllMtikosWNkxcNu

Thanks Barnaby

[Lateralthinking1]

That is very good. I have signed up to it.

[Lateralthinking1]

Number 52 - Good photos. Are there any more on the way Paul?