A to Z

[Lat-Literal]

Bloomin' 'eck, we forgot Atahualpa - sorry it's the Clarinets or Youssou'll have to make way. Thanks for the reminder Lat - that's a must, at least I think so!

It was inevitable that we would have some overlapping with Songlines given the strengths of the Ethiopiques, Qawwali and Zimbabwe. But Youssou N'Dour may be one duplication that isn't necessary so that Y could be for Yupanqui instead? Our list has elements of the obvious and the less than obvious - Baku etc - which is just as it should be as there does need to be a surprising angle. While Yupanqui isn't in exactly the same ball park as the Parras, he isn't a million miles removed from them - Nueva Cancion - and could be thought of as something of a replacement. Consequently, I wouldn't be averse to having Karine Polwart in as the surprising entry for P which would give specific representation to Scotland. YN'D would, ideally, be represented. There are no clear winners for X but there is the word "Xel" which could be an interesting consideration, if admittedly it is a bit obscure?:

Youssou N'Dour - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBh2uxwGHzc

El Hadj N'Diaye - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALET8vWLrno

Another possibility for P is "Pipes" which again links up with Scotland.

It was, in effect, put forward in the long list but as B for "Bagpipes"?

Also, Xoomii - sometimes but not always spelt with a K rather than an X - is Tuvan throat singing.

So that is an alternative X which would pick up on your throat singing suggestion?

Xoomii/Khoomei - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KY9piqPOR4Y

Actually, I think Xoomii may be the one for X as it would free up T for something else?

It sort of "deals" with the X dilemma and it is also helpful because it "leans to the east"!

[Globaltruth]

Ola Belle Reed to genuinely boost the female presence.

And how about our chum Marie Anne Kennedy aka Oilrig? For services to the cause?
In a similar vein: Cerys Mathews

Joni Mitchell even it's only for The Jungle Line...

[Lat-Literal]

We really must finish the list today as the Hooded Claw will get us!

Global "Ant Hill Mob" Truth - Hayulp -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRRzWTRvR5k&list=PLC34P6wYzOMWuz8rm7ed3DvctupL7T3rq&index=2

Ah, I see you have!

Erm, I think Ola Belle Reed is too close to Dust to Digital although there is a case for A for Appalachian. You want O for Orchestras, JC wants B for Baku, I'm not against either of those selections and if R wasn't for Reggae it would most obviously be for Rai. I think we all prefer Reggae? I'm sensing generally that Albania is not considered the greatest of list openers. If it were to go, I would prefer Atahualpa Yupanqui as its replacement. However, I'm minded to dig in my heels on Mediterranean Polyphony if sacrificing the clarinets.

The only thing I'm not keen on is to end with both "Youssou N'Dour" and "Zimbabwe". Both were in Songlines. To have just one of the two would show we have given it thought!

Can we at least go for xoomii for X or is there a stronger contender for X?

Further thoughts: If we keep with P for Parra, Violeta we will have another woman specifically mentioned in the list. As JC says, Scotland is reflected in several entries. It isn't as if we have opted for E for English Folk. It probably would not make sense to have both Parra and Yupanqui in the list but there is a significant Y that we could include and it is Yemen:

Ofra Haza - Im Nin Alu -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2xNTzlFSk0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRnzTTYk7_Q

[Lat-Literal]

Right, Youssou N'Dour was in the Star Band in the 1970s which went on to have close associations with Orchestra Baobab. N'Dour was instrumental in the reforming of Orchestra Baobab in the early 2000s and produced their comeback album "Specialist in All Styles". Consequently, I think N'Dour is represented in O for Orchestras and I am deleting him from Y. I am putting Violeta Parra in for P which is in line with JC's initial thinking, Xoomii in for X and in a completely offbeat but predictable decision given my liking of her Yasmin Levy for Y. This increases the number of women specifically mentioned in the list. It is not an imposition. The entire list remains a semi-finalised draft so if there is considerable disgruntlement please say and I won't be offended. We will still need to sort out S, T and V, preferably by 8.41pm tonight. And there is still an option to shift Violeta from P to V.

Yasmin Levy - Soghati - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-up7weiNvg

A - Albanian Clarinets
B - Baku
C - Cesaria Evora/Cape Verde
D - Dust To Digital
E - Ethopiques
F - Fela Kuti
G - Gospel
H - Hardanger Fiddle
I - Ireland
J - Juju/King Sunny Ade
K - Kora
L - Lomax, Alan
M - Mediterranean Polyphony
N - New Orleans
O - Orchestras
P - Parra, Violeta
Q - Qawwali
R - Reggae
S
T
U - U Srinivas
V
W - The Watersons
X - Xoomii
Y - Yasmin Levy
Z - Zimbabwe

[Globaltruth]

Fair point re Ola.

S - I suppose Spanky Wilson is a bit too specific (although the advice contained in here is excellent https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBfGfEVIS_M) and Soul Music is a bit too general... a dilemma - perhaps Staff Benda Billili as a reminder to us all as to what can happen to talent when it is badly managed (aka exploited) or Sound of the World which I always felt was mostly a Charlie Gillette initiative and is worth celebrating...?

T = Tartit, Tinariwen, Timbuktu, Tony Allen (well...), Taraf de Haidouks, Tunng.

[Lat-Literal]

Inclined to agree, Global, if for nothing else, 'Goodbye Babylon'...and there have been others.
I keep coming back to Paul Simon for S because it covers so many bases - Ladysmith, township jive, Hugh Masekela, Boyoyo Boys https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgA3gSiVwas , Indestructible Beat of Soweto perhaps etc, as well as Central and South America - but my heart says Joseph Spence.

For T, I'm going Tuvan Throat Singing just to get the desert involved, but where's the Tourés?

Fair point re Ola.

S - I suppose Spanky Wilson is a bit too specific (although the advice contained in here is excellent https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBfGfEVIS_M) and Soul Music is a bit too general... a dilemma - perhaps Staff Benda Billili as a reminder to us all as to what can happen to talent when it is badly managed (aka exploited) or Sound of the World which I always felt was mostly a Charlie Gillette initiative and is worth celebrating...?

T = Tartit, Tinariwen, Timbuktu, Tony Allen (well...), Taraf de Haidouks, Tunng.

I was a bit white socks and fluffy dice in my Ford Escort youth - among many other things - so I am not going to rally against soul music but I doubt it quite fits the bill here. I like the link, especially as I was half expecting Elaine Spanky Macfarlane. We are essentially on S and T now plus V and a bit of meandering on P. Much as I love the Venezuelan Youth Orchestra, it is, well, an Orchestra. I accept that I asked for wider recommendations to be taken on board but it might just be that Parra does need to be moved to V which would provide a lot of lovely other options for P. With the remaining 3-4 letters, we are into (a) classics that probably cannot be missed out - I suggest this is essentially a range around Graceland and Buena Vista (b) parts of the world that have not been addressed or have been inadequately addressed and (c) anything extraordinarily interesting. In respect of (c), I am attracted, GT, to your idea of broadcasting as an accompaniment to the Lomax angle. "Sound of the World" is certainly Charlie's vehicle and I still access it quite regularly. Also keen to see Desert Blues on the list, I note there is Tinariwen and Tartit and Toumast and Tamikrest if not Taraf. But whether we will get everything slotted in remains to be seen.

Incidentally, Tony Allen is already there under F for Fela Kuti. I may have said this before but he is a massive name in Malmesbury. The one you hear all the time on the bus!

[Globaltruth]

In respect of (c), I am attracted, GT, to your idea of broadcasting as an accompaniment to the Lomax angle. "Sound of the World" is certainly Charlie's vehicle and I still access it quite regularly. Also keen to see Desert Blues on the list, I note there is Tinariwen and Tartit and Toumast and Tamikrest if not Taraf. But whether we will get everything slotted in remains to be seen.

Incidentally, Tony Allen is already there under F for Fela Kuti. I may have said this before but he is a massive name in Malmesbury. The one you hear all the time on the bus!

Tony & Fela - worth having twice, due to their importance.
Yes, I admit I was trying it on with Soul... I suspect JC may join me in a vote for Taj Mahal though, who unites Blues and WM together in a progressive way. Also on Mr Obama's playlist, although, like everyone else, he only has 1 vote.

V - Voice Squad as an example of that sort of thing?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYI9DEACPwc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwBRX5JiwpE

(now where is that emoticon for 'shamelessly weeping'?)

[Lat-Literal]

Tony & Fela - worth having twice, due to their importance.
Yes, I admit I was trying it on with Soul... I suspect JC may join me in a vote for Taj Mahal though, who unites Blues and WM together in a progressive way. Also on Mr Obama's playlist, although, like everyone else, he only has 1 vote.

V - Voice Squad as an example of that sort of thing?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYI9DEACPwc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwBRX5JiwpE

(now where is that emoticon for 'shamelessly weeping'?)

Well, here are a few options if we still wish to quibble with Albania and/or any permutation thereof so what do you and JC think?

Ay Candela/Paul Simon/Sound of the World/(Ali Farka) Toure/Violeta Parra
Albanian Clarinets/(Violeta) Parra/(Joseph) Spence/Township Jive/(Amadito) Valdez
Atahualpa Yupanqui/(Omara) Portuondo/(Paul) Simon/Tinariwen/Voice Squad
Analogue Africa/Paul Simon/(Compay) Segundo/Taj Mahal/Victor Jara

Then we have the Pipa (ie as far as China), Salif Keita, Shankar/Sitar, Taraf de Haidouks and the Venezuelans, not that it is difficult!



Here's an idea:

Arsenio Rodriguez (for Buena Vista)
Paul Simon (for Graceland)
Sound of the World (as a radio counterpoint to Lomax)
Tinariwen (for Desert Blues)
Violeta Parra (for Nueva Cancion/Women)

But didn't you mention a while back how fantastic it would be to have two short lists or am I very much mistaken on that point???

[Globaltruth]

Arsenio Rodriguez (for Buena Vista)
Paul Simon (for Graceland)
Sound of the World (as a radio counterpoint to Lomax)
Tinariwen (for Desert Blues)
Violeta Parra (for Nueva Cancion/Women)

Gets my vote.

But didn't you mention a while back how fantastic it would be to have two short lists or am I very much mistaken on that point???

[Lat-Literal]

Gets my vote.

Had you worried there.

Thanks for the vote but we now need to wait for JC's comments.

While we are waiting, a track on which Youssou N'Dour is a percussionist:

Paul Simon - Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes - https://youtu.be/uf4YyXVoWeA

[johncorrigan]

Arsenio Rodriguez (for Buena Vista)
Paul Simon (for Graceland)
Sound of the World (as a radio counterpoint to Lomax)
Tinariwen (for Desert Blues)
Violeta Parra (for Nueva Cancion/Women)

But didn't you mention a while back how fantastic it would be to have two short lists or am I very much mistaken on that point???

I think the Sounds of the World, Global, is an inspiration; and I worried 'bout the Cuban drought, so R is good - in fact I like them all except I'd go Tamikrest...Tinariwen blazed the trail but Tamikrest carry the torch on...with a few others, but I like them best...at the moment...but I'm happy to compromise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3mbeo7pwxY

I liked the Taj suggestion but maybe that's for the next A-Z, whatever that is. I like the way it's been licked into shape, Lat.

[Lat-Literal]

I think the Sounds of the World, Global... it's an inspiration, and I worried 'bout the Cuban drought, so R is good - in fact I like them all except I'd go Tamikrest...Tinariwen blazed the trail but Tamikrest carry the torch on...with a few others, but I like them best...at the moment...but I'm happy to compromise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3mbeo7pwxY

I liked the Taj suggestion but maybe that's for the next A-Z, whatever that is. I like the way it's been licked into shape, Lat.

You mean we can do another one.

You might not realise it but you have done a lot of the great work on it already.

Rai etc.

A - Arsenio Rodriguez
B - Baku
C - Cesaria Evora/Cape Verde
D - Dust To Digital
E - Ethopiques
F - Fela Kuti
G - Gospel
H - Hardanger Fiddle
I - Ireland
J - Juju/King Sunny Ade
K - Kora
L - Lomax, Alan
M - Mediterranean Polyphony
N - New Orleans
O - Orchestras
P - Paul Simon
Q - Qawwali
R - Reggae
S - Sounds of the World
T - Tamikrest
U - U Srinivas
V - Violeta Parra
W - The Watersons
X - Xoomii
Y - Yasmin Levy
Z - Zimbabwe

[johncorrigan]

You mean we can do another one.

You might not realise it but you have done a lot of the great work on it already.

Rai etc.

A - Arsenio Rodriguez
B - Baku
C - Cesaria Evora/Cape Verde
D - Dust To Digital
E - Ethopiques
F - Fela Kuti
G - Gospel
H - Hardanger Fiddle
I - Ireland
J - Juju/King Sunny Ade
K - Kora
L - Lomax, Alan
M - Mediterranean Polyphony
N - New Orleans
O - Orchestras
P - Paul Simon
Q - Qawwali
R - Reggae
S - Sounds of the World
T - Tamikrest
U - U Srinivas
V - Violeta Parra
W - The Watersons
X - Xoomii
Y - Yasmin Levy
Z - Zimbabwe

So Xoomii is Tuvan Throat Singing...brilliant, Lat...onomatopoeic if ever there was one! and there's still 41 minutes to spare.

[Lat-Literal]

So Xoomii is Tuvan Throat Singing...brilliant, Lat...onomatopoeic if ever there was one! and there's still 41 minutes to spare.

Yes.

And Arsenio is A.

I thought we would keep the reggae in and omit the Albanian Clarinets for now.

And I have combined Tamikrest and Tinariwen.

Why not?

The A List is done.

Very many thanks, JC. It is very close, I think, to the list you initially produced.

THE FINAL SHORT LIST (A)

A - Arsenio Rodriguez
B - Baku
C - Cesaria Evora/Cape Verde
D - Dust To Digital
E - Ethopiques
F - Fela Kuti
G - Gospel
H - Hardanger Fiddle
I - Ireland
J - Juju/King Sunny Ade
K - Kora
L - Lomax, Alan
M - Mediterranean Polyphony
N - New Orleans
O - Orchestras/Orkestars
P - Paul Simon
Q - Qawwali
R - Reggae
S - Sound of the World
T - Tamikrest and Tinariwen
U - U Srinivas
V - Violeta Parra
W - The Watersons
X - Xoomii
Y - Yasmin Levy
Z - Zimbabwe

Footnote:

From my point of view, I reckon I am very organisational but am at my best when I have "on the same level support" as you gave me in sterling fashion, otherwise I muddle. I do encouragement, fairness and what I hope is subtle criticism but what I am rubbish at is disciplining other people, being disciplined or exercising self-discipline but anyway we did it.

Thanks people!

[Lat-Literal]

Anyhow, all contributors deserve a great thank you present so here it is:

https://youtu.be/XCGdj6BAU4Q

So pleased we have Charlie in the list - absolutely deserved in my opinion!

It's not World Music as such but it's a masterclass in music and attitude.

I found him inspiring and liked him very much!