PRI's The World » Tom Schnabel

Analog Africa Re-Issues ‘Diablos del Ritmo’

Tom Schnabel — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 13:00:13 +0000

There’s a great new collection on the Analog Africa label, a collection of re-issues called “Diablos del Ritmo” (the “Devils of Rhythm.”)

“The Colombian Melting Pot 1960 to 1985″ is the subtitle of this CD.

It’s a sensational and eclectic collection.

The three tracks I want to highlight are:
“El Caterete” by Wganda Kenya
“Quiero Mi Gente” by Abelardo Carbono
“Sabrosón” by Roberto de la Barrerra y su Piano

The World’s DJ Picks: Favorite Recordings of 2012 Part I

April Peavey — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 13:00:11 +0000

Big Haas Top 5 Hip-Hop Releases from the Middle East:
1. Omar Offendum – Syrianamericana
2. Asfalt – Ana Satreen
3. The Narcicyst – Leap of Faith
4. Arabian Knightz – Rebel
5. Shadia Mansour – El Kofeyye Arabeyye

Mannasseh Phiri‘s Top 5 List from Africa
1. Hope Masike – Mbira, Love and Chocolate
2. Vusi Mahlasela – Say Africa
3. Staff Benda Bilili – Booger Le Monde
4. Hugh Masekela – Jabulani
5. Habib Koite, Afel Bocoum and Oliver Mtukudzi – Acoustic Africa in Concert

Tom Schnabel‘s Top 5 Global Hits
1. Ablaye Cissoko and Volker Goetze – Amanké Dionti
2. Samuel Yirga – Guzo
3. Zani Diabaté and Les Héritiers – Tientalaw
4. Dub Colossus – Addis Through the Looking Glass
5. Omar Sosa – Eggun: The Afri-Lectric Experience

DJ Tom Schnabel Pays Tribute to Two Late African Artists

Tom Schnabel — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 13:00:40 +0000

I want to tell you about two new albums by two late-African artists that came across my desk recently.

The first one is by the Malian musician Zani Diabaté and Les Heritiers. The CD is called “Tientalaw.”
This was the last recording Diabaté made, in fact he died just a couple of weeks after this recording.
“Tientalaw” contains all the great grooves that made Diabaté famous.

The other album focuses on a really important artist from Guinea. His name is Sory Kandia Kouyaté.
His two-CD set is “La Voix De La Révolution.”

Kouyaté died at the age of 44 in 1977.

Sory Kandia Kouyaté’s voice is everything and few other singers can match him.

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Angola’s Waldemar Bastos and Classics of My Soul

Tom Schnabel — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 12:00:41 +0000

Waldemar Bastos was born in Portuguese Angola in 1954.

He was forced into exile during the post-independence civil war, but despite all the hardships and tragedy in his life (a son was killed in a Lisbon club) Bastos embraces beauty and positivity in his music.

His new album “Classics of My Soul” is like one big affirmation of everything that’s beautiful in life.

Some of the songs were performed with The London Symphony Orchestra.

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Songs of Leonard Cohen and Nick Drake, Baroque Style

Tom Schnabel — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 12:00:29 +0000

Giovanna Pessi, a Swiss harpist, and Susanna Wallumrød, a Norwegian pop vocalist, have teamed up on the album If Grief Could Wait.

The album has some original songs by Wallumrød that are really quite beautiful.

There are also cover versions by Henry Purcell, Leonard Cohen and Nick Drake.

All the songs on If Grief Could Wait are recorded in a baroque style.

In addition to the harp and vocals, there’s the viola da gamba and nyckelharpe.

One of the Leonard Cohen songs is “Who By Fire”.

One of the magical things about this record is that Susanna Wallumrød is a Norwegian pop singer and she’s been put into this classical baroque context.

You get a whole other dimension and that’s one of the things that makes this album so interesting.

This is music that just keeps giving you more and more beauty every time you listen to it.

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Afro-Funk & Soul From the 1970s and Today

Tom Schnabel — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 12:00:23 +0000

I’m a big fan of African music.

And Friday’s pick brings us one reissue and one new band doing old-school style, African music.

The reissue is by the group BLO (Berkley Jones/guitar, Laolu Akintobi/drums and Mike Odumosu/bass).

They’re Nigerian musicians from the 1970s and disbanded in 1982.

Their reissue is called “Step Three”.

Another album that caught my attention is by a new group called KonKoma.

Although it’s a newly recorded album, it definitely has that 1970s Afro-soul sound.

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Caravan Palace: Electro-Swing from France

Tom Schnabel — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 12:00:06 +0000

I’m delighted with the second album from Caravan Palace.

They’re a gypsy jazz group from France and they’ve created one of the most fun sounds this year.

The name of the album is Panic and it’s a great summer album.

“Rock It for Me” is kind-of a rock and roll song, but done in a very French way.

This is just typical of the fun that’s on the album.

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Musicians from Germany and Senegal Collaborate for ‘Amanké Dionti’

The World — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 12:00:20 +0000

A musical pairing between a Senegalese kora player and singer and a German jazz trumpet player caught the ear of KCRW’s Tom Schnabel recently. The musicians are: Ablaye Cissoko from Senegal and Volker Goetze from Germany.

The result is their new album called “Amanké Dionti.” One of the songs from the album is called “Haiti.” It’s about the country before and after the earthquake in 2010, but it goes even further than that. Haiti has historical connections to Senegal. A lot of slaves were captured off the coast of Senegal and sent to Haiti. This video to the song covers those connections.

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Hollie Cook Rocks Reggae Vibe on Self Titled Debut Album

The World — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:00:10 +0000

British singer Hollie Cook is the daughter of former Sex Pistol and punk rocker Paul Cook.

But unlike her father, Cook tackles reggae pop in her self-titled debut album.

KCRW’s Tom Schnabel brings us the review.

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World-Class Jazz Musicians Come Together for ‘Alma’

The World — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 13:00:26 +0000

Paolo Fresu, Omar Sosa and Jaques Morelenbaum are three world-class musicians on the jazz scene today.

They have come together to release a new CD called “Alma.”

Music critic Tom Schnabel shares two tracks from the album.

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Top DJ Music Picks of 2011

The World — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 13:10:43 +0000

What are YOUR favorite music picks of 2011? Share them with us here

Also see Marco Werman and April Peavey’s Music Picks of 2011

It is almost the end of the year and so a perfect time to ask our guest DJs around the globe for their favorite music picks of 2011.

DJ Mannasseh Phiri of JOY-FM in Lusaka, Zambia, Tom Schnabel of KCRW in Santa Monica, CA and Marius Asp of NRK in Oslo, Norway share their top picks.

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Chinese Band Haya

The World — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 13:00:01 +0000

The band “Haya” sings songs about nature and the Mongolian grasslands in its new album “Migration.”

The four-member group is based in China.

Music critic Tom Schnabel tells us more about the band’s mission and music.

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Cuban Flutist Orlando Maraca Valle

The World — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 12:00:10 +0000

Tom Schnabel shares one of his favorite new recording by Cuban artist Orlando Maraca Valle.

Tour Dates

Sep.15, 2011: Century Ballroom Seattle, WA – 9:30 PM
Sep.16, 2011: BLUE HORSE Bellingham, WA – 9:00 PM
Sep.18, 2011: The Granada in Alhambra Llos Angeles, CA – 7:00 PM

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Music Picks For Summer 2011

The World — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 12:00:19 +0000

What are your favorite picks this summer? Let us know here.

Anchor Lisa Mullins and KCRW’s Tom Schnabel discuss their favorite summer music releases.

Tom Schnabel’s picks:

Los Chicharrons "Roots of Life"

Los Chicharrons “Roots of Life”

Arco Iris

Amina Alaoui “Arco Iris”

Africa Caribe

Joaquin Clausell “Fania Remixes”

Lisa Mullins picks:

The Celtic Viol II

Jordi Savall “The Celtic Viol II”

Mayhem

Imelda May “Mayhem”

Vietnamese-French Guitarist Nguyên Lê

The World — Tue, 24 May 2011 19:40:49 +0000

(Photo courtesy: http://www.nguyen-le.com)

Tom Schnabel tells us about a new recording from Vietnamese-French guitarist Nguyên Lê.

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