A to Z

[Lat-Literal]

Numbers:

1 Giant Leap
2 - Death Letter No. 2 : Johnny Farmer and Organised Noise (and no 1)
3 Little Birds
4 Walls and me - Lonnie Johnson
and so on...


What about different alphabets? Lat, your work is never done...

Cheers fella - and what a great idea!!!

Actually, my 85 year old mother and I walked each other over 1 in 9s to the village duck pond this morning. We fed them the remains of a farmhouse loaf from Lidl, took in the Chinese t'ai chi'ing on a grassy knoll, re-reviewed a food poisoning incident I had in Lisbon in 1989, discussed how sunlight brings out a fluorescence in the autumnal colours, had a difference of opinion on my leaking washing machine and I let her watch the footy on the rec for a while. I'm sure we will be able to fit in the numbers at some point. Just have to decide first how on earth we can conclude the alphabeticals democratically. The second link was a treat and I loved the way Lonnie flipped on - or was it back? - to "Summertime".

[Lat-Literal]

This is my penultimate selection of late entries. The closing time for all nominations is 8.41 pm tomorrow.

H1 for Haqibah - strictly speaking, Sudanese a capella but here with instruments and a curious disco beat:

Badie Muhammad El Tayb - Nour Jabienou Sabah - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eycGBXDiufI

(George McCrae - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Htqv0PLpDDI - or just my imagination?)

H2 for Vietnamese opera Hat Tuồng/Hat Boi which readers may or may not prefer to Verdi's La Traviata:

Various Vietnam Artists - Thất Nam Dương Thành - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p45i6izXOF4

H3 for Highlife, N1 for Nigeria, N2 for Norteno and V1 for Vallenato - one representative for each as follows:

Ebo Taylor - Odofo Nyi Akyiri Biara - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYJs9ehNUFo
Osibisa - Music For Gong Gong - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjBcCl7i25M*
Los Tigres Del Norte - La Granja - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ff3C-Kyv8wI
Jose Hernando Noguera - Various - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGp6_gDApQ0

*It is recognised that Osibisa could be G for Ghana and Great Britain but be assured they are also N for Nigeria.

[Lat-Literal]

This is my last one which may take some hours to build as my settings have gone awry. Do feel free to contribute during the day while this is taking place. Let's try to begin with three additional suggestions for J and four for L. The fourth L would represent calypso as indeed could a variety of "Lords". For V, Markos Vamvakaris would be a good inclusion as an ambassador for rebetiko. I think a representative of the Galician bagpipes, XM Budino, could be a contender for X. Right - I've just about done it with the technical difficulties.

This was never going to be an all-encompassing list, nor would it be better for being so. However, I feel that we should add a few more genres to give it just a tad more credibility. I would, therefore, like to offer the elegant fado from Portugal, salsa and taiko drumming and I would welcome suggestions for other genres from other contributors before tonight. As for individuals, if we are going to include Ibrahim Ferrer and Eliades Ochoa then I do think we should add the mighty Ruben Gonzalez and the very lovely Omara Portuondo. I also propose adding Paul Simon. Finally, I'm now fretting a bit on W so I will as a finale to this "round" be placing a couple more for that letter with all the other links on this post.*

J

Jaojoby/Malagasy Music - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rab_wgQcS-8
Jah Wobble Chinese Dub - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcXIzA-KD3w
Jazz from Ethiopia/Guebrou - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUlz4_JKYC4

L

Ladysmith Black Mambazo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMhmswVLKdg
L and Ambi Subramaniam - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EfQ5_6Z70E
Yasmin Levy - Keter (Crown) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nghtf_VP-tE
Loveys String Band/Calypso - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBC_tNuPZ-o

V2/WX

Markos Vamvakaris/Rebetiko - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRIzHBzevrA
Wassoulou/Oumou Sangare - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pR1z5mST4E
Wangga Songs/Aborigines - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWG30MMKuJ8
Xose Manuel Budino/Galicia - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oR7WobV3DQA

[johncorrigan]

While not trying to add to your sterling work, Lat, you may recall that some people/ instruments etc were missed because they appeared on the original Songlines list - perhaps it could be added in to fill a gap or two.* Here's where we started:
Songlines A-Z of World Music
A – Africa Express
B – Balkan Brass
C – Cumbia
D – Diabate Dynasty (recommended Toumani and Sidiki)
E – Ethiopiques series
F – Fado (recommended, Mariza ‘Transparente)
G – Graceland
H – Hawaiian slack-key (recommended Makana Cameron ‘Ki Ho’Alu’)
I – Island Records (recommended King Sunny Ade ‘Juju Music’)
J – Antonio Carlos Jobim
K – Fela Kuti
L – Alan Lomax
M – Miriam Makeba
N – Ney (recommended Kudsi Erguner ‘Ney:The Sacred Flute of the Whirling Dervishes’)
O – Orquestra Buena Vista Social Club
P – Astor Piazzola (recommended Tango: Zero Hour)
Q – Qawwali
R – Rumba (recommended Beny More with Perez Prado and Orchestra ‘El Barbaro del Ritmo)
S – Sitar/ Shankar
T – Tuareg
U – Uilleann Pipes (recommended Seamus Ennis ’40 years of Irish Piping’)
V – Vartina
W – WOMAD
X – Xylouris (recommended Psanantonis and the Ensemble Xylouris)
Y – Youssou N’Dour
Z – Zimbabwe (recommended Thomas Mapfumo ‘The Chimurenga Singles’

*This should explain Global's point, made elsewhere, on the lack of Ethiopiques in our list...it was already on the Songlines one.

[Lat-Literal]

While not trying to add to your sterling work, Lat, you may recall that some people/ instruments etc were missed because they appeared on the original Songlines list - perhaps it could be added in to fill a gap or two. Here's where we started:
Songlines A-Z of World Music
A – Africa Express
B – Balkan Brass
C – Cumbia
D – Diabate Dynasty (recommended Toumani and Sidiki)
E – Ethiopiques series
F – Fado (recommended, Mariza ‘Transparente)
G – Graceland
H – Hawaiian slack-key (recommended Makana Cameron ‘Ki Ho’Alu’)
I – Island Records (recommended King Sunny Ade ‘Juju Music’)
J – Antonio Carlos Jobim
K – Fela Kuti
L – Alan Lomax
M – Miriam Makeba
N – Ney (recommended Kudsi Erguner ‘Ney:The Sacred Flute of the Whirling Dervishes’)
O – Orquestra Buena Vista Social Club
P – Astor Piazzola (recommended Tango: Zero Hour)
Q – Qawwali
R – Rumba (recommended Beny More with Perez Prado and Orchestra ‘El Barbaro del Ritmo)
S – Sitar/ Shankar
T – Tuareg
U – Uilleann Pipes (recommended Seamus Ennis ’40 years of Irish Piping’)
V – Vartina
W – WOMAD
X – Xylouris (recommended Psanantonis and the Ensemble Xylouris)
Y – Youssou N’Dour
Z – Zimbabwe (recommended Thomas Mapfumo ‘The Chimurenga Singles’

Now that is very interesting because in all of the getting carried away with it I am reminded that we already - or will - have several duplicates - Fado, Miriam Makeba, WOMAD, Youssou and Zimbabwe and, in effect, Graceland once Paul Simon is added. Plus we have the Orchestra concept and quite a bit of Buena Vista dotted around. What do you think JC? I wouldn't propose adding all of the Songlines selections but would have thought that Qawwali can/should now be included in our one. Also the Diabates, Jobim, Juju, Kuti, Lomax, Piazzola, Rumba and Sitar/Shankar but not Tuareg, perhaps, as it is in there under Desert Blues. Anything else? Would you, for example, like the splendid Uilleann Pipes to go in?

One thing I do feel is that when we edit down to just 26 - somehow, somehow - we should try to find different labels from the Songlines ones for all the letters but this is certainly worthwhile for the long list. I will, as promised, bring this part to a close in about half an hour's time taking on board any further comments from you and the other contributors.

[johncorrigan]

I would like Uilleann Pipes and since I was listening to Kathryn Tickell there should be a space for her or at least those Northumbrian pipes...or bagpipes!

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

...oh! I don't know!!!!! So much to choose!

[Lat-Literal]

I would like Uilleann Pipes and since I was listening to Kathryn Tickell there should be a space for her or at least those Northumbrian pipes...or bagpipes!

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

...oh! I don't know!!!!! So much to choose!

In that case, I am going to take an executive decision and go for the ones I mentioned, the Uilleann, and Cumbia, the Ethiopiques and Hawaii in generic terms. I'm still putting in the nun on the keys as she is brilliant and extraordinary in my humble opinion. It will also get the word "jazz" on there which is never a terrible thing in any fairly decent list!!!

Right, that's it. 8.41pm. Many thanks to CallMePaul, ferneyhoughgeliebte, Flay, Globaltruth, gurnemanz, johncorrigan, MrGongGong and Pianorak for the great suggestions and also to cloughie for his comments. The final long list will be posted. Then we will need to agree on just 26 as painlessly as possible. See Songlines. You can't just throw a list together!

[Lat-Literal]

A TO Z OF WORLD MUSIC

THE FULL LONG LIST

"It's ragged but right......well, almost"

A - Albanian Clarniets, Axe, Ave Maria, Analogue Africa
B - Bongos, Bulgarians, Baku, Begena, Brasileira, Bossa Nova, Balafon, Bashavav, Blick Bassy, Bartok, Bagpipes
C - Cajun, China, Cesaria Evora/Cape Verde, Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, Canada, (Mark) Coles, Cumbia
D - Djembe, Doudou, Drums, Desert Blues, Dust to Digital, (Lucy) Duran, Doug Schulkind, (Robin) Denselow, Diabates
E - English Folk, Ethnomusicologists, Etran Finatawa, Ellington/Ella, Ethiopiques
F - (K) Frimpong and his Cubano Fiestas, Franco, Flamenco, Froots, Ferraris/Fait, (Ibrahim) Ferrer, Folkways, Fado
G - (Charlie) Gillett, Gamalan, Garifuna, Ghanaian Drumming, Geofflikesmusic, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, (Peter) Gabriel, Gospel, Gogol Bordello
H - (Daniel) Humair, Harp, Horse Worship, Human Planet, Haiti, Hardanger Fiddle, Hoss Hair, Holland, Hungarian Folk and Gypsy Music, Hawaii, Hurdy-Gurdy, Haqibah,
H - Highlife, Hat Tuồng/Hat Boi
I - Irish, Ibrahims, Iceland, Igbo, Indians, Indo-Caribbeans, Iris Dement, Inuits

J - Jit, Jean Jenkins, Japan, Jajouka, (Joji) Hirota, Juju/King Sunny Ade, (AC) Jobim, Jah Wobble Chinese Dub, Jaojoby/Malagasy Music, Jazz from Ethiopia/Guebrou
K - Kwela, Kwassa Kwassa, Klezmer, Kora, (Mary Ann) Kennedy, (Lopa) Kothari, Konono No 1, (Andy) Kershaw, Kodaly, (Fela) Kuti
L - Lee Scratch Perry, La Bamba/Los Lobos, Lo - Ismael and Cheikh, (Alan) Lomax, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, (Yasmin) Levy, L and Ambi Subramaniam,
L - Loveys String Band and Various Lords/Calypso
M - Margaret Menezes, Mediterranean Polyphony, Mbaqanga, Mississippi, Mulatu, Missa Luba, Mali, Miriam Makeba, Mahotella Queens, Mbube, Mabel Mafuya, (Cheb) Mami,
M - Middle East, Morocco, Mbalax
N - New Orleans, Neville Brothers, Nueva Cancion, Natacha Atlas, Nigeria, Norteno, Northumbrian Pipes/Kathryn Tickell
O - Okinawa, Overtone Singing, Orchestras/Orkestars/Orkestrars, (Geoffrey) Oryema, Ojos de Brujo, Oi Va Voi, Omar Pene, (Eliades) Ochoa, OK Jazz, Omar Souleyman,
O - Otis - Redding/Taylor/Shuggie
P - (Violeta) Parra, (Karine) Polwart, Pygmies, Princes - Buster and Far I, (Augustus) Pablo, (Jocelyn) Pook, Pipa/Liu Fang, Palm Wine Music/SE Rogie, (Astor) Piazzola,
P - (Omara) Portuondo
Q - Qatari Music, Quechua, Quilapayun, Queen of Salsa - Celia Cruz, Quizaz, Quizaz, Quizaz, (Gospel) Quartets, Quebecois, Qawwali

R - Rai, Reggae, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Rinken Band, (Frederic) Rzewski, Rajasthani Reggae/Gypsies, Real World Records, Rumba, Ruben Gonzalez
S - Soundways, Harry Smith, Sacred Harp, South African Gospel, String Bands, Salif Keita, Smadj, (Joseph) Spence, (Black) Stalin, Sufi/Nusrat, Sa Ding Ding, Satomi Saeki,
S - Sitar/(Ravi) Shankar, Salsa, (Paul) Simon
T - Throat Singing, Township Jive, Tom Brosseau, Tizita, (June) Tabor, Taraf de Haidouks, Tinariwen, Tony Allen, Tunng, (Hugh) Tracey, Transglobal Underground, Toure(s),
T - Taiko Drumming
U - Upsetters, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Uganda, U Roy, Unthanks, Ute Lemper, U Srinivas, Ustad Nishat Khan, Umm Kulthum, Urdu, Uilleann Pipes
V - Vinicio Capossela, Venezeula Youth Orchestra, Vieux Farka Toure, Vallenato, (Markos) Vamvakaris/Rebetiko
W - Watersons, Wayward Band, Wolof, Woody Guthrie, WOMAD, (Grover) Washington (Jr), (Amy) Winehouse/Monkey Man, (Chris) Wood, Wassoulou/Oumou Sangare,
W - Wangga Songs/Aborigines
X - Xenakis, Xhosa, Xenia Belmas, Ximena Sariñana, Xue-Wei, Xuefei Yang, X Seamen's Institute, Xose Manuel Budino/Galician Pipes
Y - (La Monte) Young, (Guo) Yue, Youssou N'Dour, Yusuf Islam, (Big) Youth
Z - (Frank) Zappa, Zimbabwe, (Tom) Ze, Zein l'Abdin al Ahmed Alamoody/Zein Musical Party, Zuhara Swaleh, Zarah Leander

[Lat-Literal]

THE SHORT LIST

I suggest that one of us puts together a draft short list - basic, one from each of A to Z, and hence 26 - for brief discussion. This need not be me. I don't mind doing it but it might be nice to invite someone else to do so. Please let me know if you would like that role. Ideally, it would give credit to as many contributors as possible and also be evenly spread among those who contributed most. However, in fairness, it probably would not be right to bring many overtly classical and jazz selections forward from the long list. There are a few potential headaches. One that leaps out to me is English Folk versus The Watersons. That will need clarification. For all of these words, I reckon it should be pretty informal!

[johncorrigan]

THE SHORT LIST

I suggest that one of us puts together a draft short list - basic, one from each of A to Z, and hence 26 - for brief discussion. This need not be me. I don't mind doing it but it might be nice to invite someone else to do so. Please let me know if you would like that role. Ideally, it would give credit to as many contributors as possible and also be evenly spread among those who contributed most. However, in fairness, it probably would not be right to bring many overtly classical and jazz selections forward from the long list. There are a few potential headaches. One that leaps out to me is English Folk versus The Watersons. That will need clarification. For all of these words, I reckon it should be pretty informal!

I'll have a go at giving it a start Lat going by your suggestions. I've looked already and have seen a few headaches, but I'll just dig out the paracetamol. Be with you in a day or two.

[Lat-Literal]

I'll have a go at giving it a start Lat going by your suggestions. I've looked already and have seen a few headaches, but I'll just dig out the paracetamol. Be with you in a day or two.

That's excellent JC - I'm really pleased.

[johncorrigan]

here's my two bob's worth folks and I don’t mind being shot down...and some of the artists I can’t speak for...a shorter list

A - Albanian Clarinets or Analogue Africa – keeping them in there, Lat but tough competition
B - Bulgarians or Baku – Baku, I mean both are unique sounds but somehow Baku is uniquer
C - Cesaria Evora/Cape Verde or Cumbia – tending to the former – purely personal
D - Djembe or Desert Blues or Dust to Digital (hard one)
E - English Folk or Ethiopiques – I think it has to be Ethiopiques to get over the headache,Lat
F - Fela or Fado (sorry Lat - moved Fela – too much pressure on K – and has to be him, doesn’t it?)
G - Gillett or Gospel, - they’re both world in the extreme – quartets would tip the balance for me
H - Hardanger Fiddle or Highlife – I chose Hardanger because I feel we need to reflect Scandinavia in the list
I – Irish – Irish would take in so much from Peadar Ó Riada and Cór Chúíl Aodha to the MacPeake Family and Van and the Dubliners and Gloaming and Liam O’Flynn
J - Jean Jenkins or Juju/King Sunny Ade – like the idea of the former but the latter was a trailblazer and probably plump for that
K - Klezmer or Kora, This is tough but Kora is so influential... it’s hard to think of a more influential world instrument except maybe the Oud
L - Lee Scratch or Lo - Ismael and Cheikh or Lomax - I’m going Lomax to represent the collectors
M - Mediterranean Polyphony or Mahotella Queens – probably going for the former – just so unusual
N - New Orleans or Northumbrian Pipes – New Orleans covers a multitude of joys
O - Orchestras/Orkestars/Orkestrars or OK Jazz - Orchestras etc is a hard one to beat
P - (Violeta) Parra or Princes – I’ll go Parra and I’m light on South America and that probably weights Reggae
Q - Qawwali – no contest really (sorry) – I’ll take the quartets and stick them in Gospel
R - Reggae, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Rinken Band, (Frederic) Rzewski, Rajasthani Reggae/Gypsies, Real World Records, Rumba, Ruben Gonzalez – I’m sorry, I can’t decide except reggae or is that too obvious ( did I miss Rai somewhere?)
S - Salif Keita, or (Joseph) Spence Sitar/(Ravi) Shankar, Salsa, (Paul) Simon (see T)
T - Throat Singing or Township Jive, Tom Brosseau, Tizita, (June) Tabor, Taraf de Haidouks, Tinariwen, Tony Allen, Tunng, (Hugh) Tracey, Transglobal Underground, Toure(s),Some letters need a lot more thought, subsets even – Th, TA, TR, To, Tu, Ti etc – catch my drift
U – U Srinivas, there we go
V - Vinicio Capossela or Venezeula Youth Orchestra, (I like their Scottish connection)
W - Watersons, or Wolof or WOMAD – probably go for the Watersons to ease the headache but...
X - Xenakis, Xhosa, Xenia Belmas, Ximena Sariñana, Xue-Wei, Xuefei Yang, X Seamen's Institute, Xose Manuel Budino/Galician Pipes – I don’t know enough to decide and tend towards Xhosa through ignorance to be honest
Y - Youssou N'Dour – thought I’d make a decision
Z – Zimbabwe. ..and another decision

and we didn't get to accordions or harmoniums etc or papa wemba

[Lat-Literal]

here's my two bob's worth folks and I don’t mind being shot down...and some of the artists I can’t speak for...a shorter list

A - Albanian Clarinets or Analogue Africa – keeping them in there, Lat but tough competition
B - Bulgarians or Baku – Baku, I mean both are unique sounds but somehow Baku is uniquer
C - Cesaria Evora/Cape Verde or Cumbia – tending to the former – purely personal
D - Djembe or Desert Blues or Dust to Digital (hard one)
E - English Folk or Ethiopiques – I think it has to be Ethiopiques to get over the headache,Lat
F - Fela or Fado (sorry Lat - moved Fela – too much pressure on K – and has to be him, doesn’t it?)
G - Gillett or Gospel, - they’re both world in the extreme – quartets would tip the balance for me
H - Hardanger Fiddle or Highlife – I chose Hardanger because I feel we need to reflect Scandinavia in the list
I – Irish – Irish would take in so much from Peadar Ó Riada and Cór Chúíl Aodha to the MacPeake Family and Van and the Dubliners and Gloaming and Liam O’Flynn
J - Jean Jenkins or Juju/King Sunny Ade – like the idea of the former but the latter was a trailblazer and probably plump for that
K - Klezmer or Kora, This is tough but Kora is so influential... it’s hard to think of a more influential world instrument except maybe the Oud
L - Lee Scratch or Lo - Ismael and Cheikh or Lomax - I’m going Lomax to represent the collectors
M - Mediterranean Polyphony or Mahotella Queens – probably going for the former – just so unusual
N - New Orleans or Northumbrian Pipes – New Orleans covers a multitude of joys
O - Orchestras/Orkestars/Orkestrars or OK Jazz - Orchestras etc is a hard one to beat
P - (Violeta) Parra or Princes – I’ll go Parra and I’m light on South America and that probably weights Reggae
Q - Qawwali – no contest really (sorry) – I’ll take the quartets and stick them in Gospel
R - Reggae, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Rinken Band, (Frederic) Rzewski, Rajasthani Reggae/Gypsies, Real World Records, Rumba, Ruben Gonzalez – I’m sorry, I can’t decide except reggae or is that too obvious ( did I miss Rai somewhere?)
S - Salif Keita, or (Joseph) Spence Sitar/(Ravi) Shankar, Salsa, (Paul) Simon (see T)
T - Throat Singing or Township Jive, Tom Brosseau, Tizita, (June) Tabor, Taraf de Haidouks, Tinariwen, Tony Allen, Tunng, (Hugh) Tracey, Transglobal Underground, Toure(s),Some letters need a lot more thought, subsets even – Th, TA, TR, To, Tu, Ti etc – catch my drift
U – U Srinivas, there we go
V - Vinicio Capossela or Venezeula Youth Orchestra, (I like their Scottish connection)
W - Watersons, or Wolof or WOMAD – probably go for the Watersons to ease the headache but...
X - Xenakis, Xhosa, Xenia Belmas, Ximena Sariñana, Xue-Wei, Xuefei Yang, X Seamen's Institute, Xose Manuel Budino/Galician Pipes – I don’t know enough to decide and tend towards Xhosa through ignorance to be honest
Y - Youssou N'Dour – thought I’d make a decision
Z – Zimbabwe. ..and another decision

and we didn't get to accordions or harmoniums etc or papa wemba

Wow, if that is "a day or two", I'd love to see what your week is like.

This is very, very good and will need some thought before sensible comment. However, a couple of things for now. One, I like the idea of a selection to which theoretically other ones can be attached. So, for example, your L for Lomax would in Joe Boyd podcast terms open the door to thoughts about Jenkins, Tracey etc too without the need to use E for ethnomusicologists. Your P for Parra is interesting because I tried to be thorough in all that I did but uncharacteristically I went for shorthand there in simply writing "Violeta". By rights at least three of them would have been mentioned. Actually, I think of her and then I think of Jara and also Inti-Illimini but oddly none of us thought about those at the time.

[Pianorak]

Dear Zarah has been eliminated - something that Austrian chap would have done if he had realized she was almost certainly spying for the Russians (via her Swedish CP contacts).

[Lat-Literal]

Dear Zarah has been eliminated - something that Austrian chap would have done if he had realized she was almost certainly spying for the Russians (via her Swedish CP contacts).

Is that right? The great Kenny Everett was always stronger in radio innovation than he was in terms of music knowledge and taste. Having said as much, he may just have had more knowledge of classical music than the rest but even then not a lot. From memory, his comments were made on one of his editions of the World's Worst Wireless Show in which, while there were some genuine shockers, there were good things too. If Frank Carson was "it's the way I tell 'em", Ken in those days was perhaps "it's the way I hear 'em".

http://www.chronoglide.com/wwwshome.html

nb. I did genuinely appreciate the clip from a singer who I recognise as having considerably more merit than he gave to her - but introductions to singers do stick in the mind!