PRI’s The World presents the Global Hit, a daily spotlight on international musical artists or trends. Created by The World’s Marco Werman, the Global Hit features interviews with musicians, critics and deejays around the globe. He is also one of the curators of the South By Southwest Musical Festival (SXSW) – “All Music Is World Music.” Subscribe and follow:
Global Hit
Estonian Jazz
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Download MP3The World’s Marco Werman tells us about a new collection of old and significant music from the Estonian jazz scene in the 1970s.
K T Tunstall
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Musicians find their muses in lots of different places. Take singer and songwriter K T Tunstall. She cut her teeth at open mics in the pubs of Edinburgh and London. But now Tunstall is looking well past the bar. The World’s Marco Werman has more. Download MP3The Lost Cuban Trios of Casa Marina
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Today’s Global Hit journeys from Poland to Los Angeles by way of Cuba. Betto Arcos has the story of a new CD of songs that were recorded decades ago. It’s called the Lost Cuban Trios of Casa Marina.Download MP3Havana Cultura: New Cuba Sound
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Anchor Marco Werman speaks with British DJ and music producer Gilles Peterson about his trip to Havana and the artists he discovered and features on his collection, ‘Havana Cultura: New Cuba Sound.’ Download MP3>>Video: Havana Cultura – New Cuba Sound
Tom Ze
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Brazilian musical iconoclast Tom Ze has re-released a trilogy of his estudandos, or studies, of bossa nova and samba. Anchor Marco Werman speaks with him and finds out why he twisted these beloved musical styles. Download MP3>>>Video: Tom Ze at work
Natacha Atlas
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Tom Schnabel, music critic for KCRW makes his pick for today’s Global Hit. It’s singer Natacha Atlas and her new album, “Mounqaliba”. Download MP3Lee “Scratch” Perry’s Revelation
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Dancehall has been popular in Jamaica for many years. Today, it’s at its peak. Lee Scratch Perry, a legend of reggae, has released a new record titled “Revelation.” It features some of the players he’s been associated with of late including Rolling Stone Keith Richards on guitar on the track Book of Moses. The World’s Marco Werman has more. Download MP3>>>Watch Lee “Scratch” Perry perform live at SXSW
Ethan Lipton & his orchestra
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There’s a singer in Brooklyn who seems to be loved by nearly everyone who hears him. The problem is that not many people hear him. Ethan Lipton (2nd from right) is a singer and songwriter but his live performance, a large part of who he is, is rooted in European cabaret. And that kind of show calls for an audience that’s willing to do more than just listen. Marco Werman has today’s Global Hit. (Photo: Marco Werman) Download MP3>>>Watch a video of Ethan Lipton & his orchestra
Quiet Inlet from European group Food
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European duo Food has released a new album called ‘Quiet Inlet’. It’s an appropriate title. This is music that flows – away from the mainstream. Food consists of Norwegian Thomas Stronen on drums and electronics and English saxophonist Iain Ballamy. On the new record they’re joined by Austrian guitarist Christian Fennesz and Norwegian trumpeter Nils Petter Molvaer. The World’s Ken Bader has today’s Global Hit. (Photo: Knut Bry/ECM Records) Download MP3Listen to tracks from Quiet Inlet
Senegal’s Carlou D
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Anchor Marco Werman tells us about one rapper from Senegal, Carlou D who has made the successful transition from rapping to singing. Download MP3 >>Watch a video of Carlou D performing liveGarotas Suecas
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You may recall the New York-based band Brazilian Girls. It’s a rocking little ensemble, but somewhat misnamed: there are no girls from Brazil in it. Well along comes a band from Brazil called Garotas Suecas. That means Swedish Girls, but, again, no girls from Sweden in that band. Like Brazilian Girls, the misnomer doesn’t matter. The music is still great. The World’s Marco Werman has more. Download MP3
Palestinian boy’s gift for music
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Nine-year-old Mahmoud Kohail lives in Gaza City. Like many children who lived through the conflict with Israel, he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder – but not when he plays his instrument. In the Global Hit Mahmoud guides The World’s Matthew Bell through his music school in Gaza. (Photo: Matthew Bell) Download MP3>>>Video: watch Mahmoud play the qanoon
John and Yoko
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For the Global Hit, anchor Lisa Mullins tells about some of the events this week marking what would have been John Lennon’s 70th birthday. The former Beatle’s widow Yoko Ono is re-releasing re-mastered versions of Lennon’s solo albums. Ono’s own music is also doing well on the dance charts. Download MP3
Slovakia’s Longital
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The World’s Marco Werman visits with Slovakian artists Longital who draw on their background in experimental theater to concoct a cinematic pop music. Download MP3>>Watch a video of Longital performing live in Budapest
The DØ
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For the weekend Global Hit, The World’s Adeline Sire tells us about a French band that likes to think outside the French box. The name of the band is “The DØ” – it stands for Dan and Olivia, Dan Levy and Olivia Merilahti, who make up the band. Download MP3>>>Watch a video by The DØ
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