[squash54]

Johnny Clegg is a white South African who got into the fusion of African and Western music at a time in his country's history when it was difficult, if not dangerous, for blacks and whites to mix and cooperate in many ways, including artistic endeavours. He mixed western music styles and instuments with traditional (mainly Zulu) music and instruments. He wrote contempory songs with english and zulu lyrics (often mixed in the same song) and adapted traditional folk music to western styles. He has had 2 groups over the years, the first, Juluka, was not very well represented online untill a lot of albums were added to Emusic's catalogue. His second group, Savuka has a few albums on MM/Sparks and I would recommend listening to the collection of their best known material on the album entitled 'In My African Dream' particularly tracks 1,2,10 and 16. There is also a CD floating around called 'Anthology' with the best of both groups that I highly recommend if you come accross it. Another great song is 'Impi' - not on sparks but available on MP3sale.ru.
I am also a fan of groups like Ladysmith Black Mambazo and the Soweto Gospel Choir.
If anyone has any recommends for this type of music, I would be glad to hear 'em

squash

[Nightfly]

Originally Posted by squash54

Johnny Clegg is a white South African who got into the fusion of African and Western music at a time in his country's history when it was difficult, if not dangerous, for blacks and whites to mix and cooperate in many ways, including artistic endeavours. He mixed western music styles and instuments with traditional (mainly Zulu) music and instruments. He wrote contempory songs with english and zulu lyrics (often mixed in the same song) and adapted traditional folk music to western styles. He has had 2 groups over the years, the first, Juluka, was not very well represented online untill a lot of albums were added to Emusic's catalogue. His second group, Savuka has a few albums on MM/Sparks and I would recommend listening to the collection of their best known material on the album entitled 'In My African Dream' particularly tracks 1,2,10 and 16. There is also a CD floating around called 'Anthology' with the best of both groups that I highly recommend if you come accross it. Another great song is 'Impi' - not on sparks but available on MP3sale.ru.
I am also a fan of groups like Ladysmith Black Mambazo and the Soweto Gospel Choir.
If anyone has any recommends for this type of music, I would be glad to hear 'em
squash

Squash,

I have listened to and collected African music for many,many years..
I am very glad that you bought up this subject,there is a wealth of
beautiful,exciting and vibrant music coming from Africa.Where many will
hear the roots of music they listen to very day.

To start with these are two of the best samplers out there

The Indestructible Beat of Soweto Vol 1
Thunder Before Dawn: The Indestructible Beat of Soweto Vo2

These 2 samplers are the best follow the lead on the artists you like..
These 2 samplers are hard to come by and are quite a treat to have them
on Emusic. I have recordings by all of the above but I really love
the Soweto Gospel Choir very unique in the genre of Gospel and beautiful
voices.
You will find that Johnny Clegg's is more South African music based than
anything ...I don't care what he calls it...lol..we all like to be unique..
but he just part of a whole greater musical heritage..
I will post more on this subject for you and all, because I always wanted
to, but now I know I have one interested party...that's all I need...

There are many wonderful free African samplers online at Emusic too, that would be great at any price but extra nice for free. Check them out as
well..You are very lucky and fortunate to have found African music on Emusic because they have the best and rarest collection anywhere in the Western Hemisphere...and at definitely the very best prices..I have paid in the
past hefty prices for some rare pieces...(the government shuts down the
artists and the record company's for not giving their share...Mmmm. ...
...sounds familiar.. )...until I found Emusic.
I must say that many African countries have become more enlightened
since then, and our western interest in their music has helped a great deal,
by setting up favorable distribution deals with the artists.

Will post more soon,

[squash54]

Originally Posted by Nightfly

Squash,

I have listened to and collected African music for many,many years..
I am very glad that you bought up this subject,there is a wealth of
beautiful,exciting and vibrant music coming from Africa.Where many will
hear the roots of music they listen to very day.

To start with these are two of the best samplers out there

The Indestructible Beat of Soweto Vol 1
Thunder Before Dawn: The Indestructible Beat of Soweto Vo2

These 2 samplers are the best follow the lead on the artists you like..
These 2 samplers are hard to come by and are quite a treat to have them
on Emusic. I have recordings by all of the above but I really love
the Soweto Gospel Choir very unique in the genre of Gospel and beautiful
voices.
You will find that Johnny Clegg's is more South African music based than
anything ...I don't care what he calls it...lol..we all like to be unique..
but he just part of a whole greater musical heritage..
I will post more on this subject for you and all, because I always wanted
to, but now I know I have one interested party...that's all I need...

There are many wonderful free African samplers online at Emusic too, that would be great at any price but extra nice for free. Check them out as
well..You are very lucky and fortunate to have found African music on Emusic because they have the best and rarest collection anywhere in the Western Hemisphere...and at definitely the very best prices..I have paid in the
past hefty prices for some rare pieces...(the government shuts down the
artists and the record company's for not giving their share...Mmmm. ...
...sounds familiar.. )...until I found Emusic.
I must say that many African countries have become more enlightened
since then, and our western interest in their music has helped a great deal,
by setting up favorable distribution deals with the artists.

Will post more soon,

Thanks Nightfly,
I will check out your suggestions tonight and let you know my impressions with a post here soon after.
Squash

[squash54]

Originally Posted by squash54

Thanks Nightfly,
I will check out your suggestions tonight and let you know my impressions with a post here soon after.
Squash

Nightfly, I listened to the samplers (both very impressive productions) and have picked a couple of artists I will follow up. I might seek your guidance if I hit any snags in my search as I find Emusic is something of a challenge when it comes to mining their catalog. For example, the genre labels are often completely off - soul labelled hip-hop etc. Also, the 30 second sample is very frustrating when you are trying to evaluate a performer you have never heard before.
What I am interested to discover is music that has been inspired by the raw African source and then adapted and fused with western music styles and instruments. A classic example is Paul Simon's 'Graceland' and songs like 'Diamonds on the Souls of Her Shoes' (with Ladysmith B M).
In fact, thanks to your recommend, I stumbled onto an album that was exactly what I had in mind. I found your recommends by typing 'Soweto' in the search box. As you would expect, it threw up a number of chioces including the ones I was looking for. After I had checked out the samplers my attention was drawn to an album on the list titled 'Blomster I Soweto' by Marianne Antonsen. I had a listen and my ears nearly fell off - a Norwegian lass with a soul voice I would walk barefoot over broken glass to hear - singing modern African music with a stunning African choir. It is easily near the top of the top 10 albums I have aquired this year. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

[Nightfly]

Originally Posted by squash54

Nightfly, I listened to the samplers (both very impressive productions) and have picked a couple of artists I will follow up. I might seek your guidance if I hit any snags in my search as I find Emusic is something of a challenge when it comes to mining their catalog. For example, the genre labels are often completely off - soul labelled hip-hop etc. Also, the 30 second sample is very frustrating when you are trying to evaluate a performer you have never heard before.
What I am interested to discover is music that has been inspired by the raw African source and then adapted and fused with western music styles and instruments. A classic example is Paul Simon's 'Graceland' and songs like 'Diamonds on the Souls of Her Shoes' (with Ladysmith B M).
In fact, thanks to your recommend, I stumbled onto an album that was exactly what I had in mind. I found your recommends by typing 'Soweto' in the search box. As you would expect, it threw up a number of chioces including the ones I was looking for. After I had checked out the samplers my attention was drawn to an album on the list titled 'Blomster I Soweto' by Marianne Antonsen. I had a listen and my ears nearly fell off - a Norwegian lass with a soul voice I would walk barefoot over broken glass to hear - singing modern African music with a stunning African choir. It is easily near the top of the top 10 albums I have aquired this year. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Yes I find Emusic's Genre labeling in this Genre unsatisfactory often calling
African titles Reggae instead of Afro-Pop or Soukous( a type of Rumba based
guitar music..my favorite) and calling some Reggae titles African...
very annoying to us more knowledgeable seekers..but at least the titles are
there for us..I am aware of Marianne Antonsen she is a certainly a treasure
and I have a few recordings by her..The one you mentioned and Picking Up The Spirit more stripped down her and organ Gospel tunes..and they have that listed as Hip Hop...(shame on them).But "Blomster I Soweto" is a very special recording( by the way I just looked..they called it Jazz )
I listen more to authentic African music without the Western influence,they sing in either French or Congolese or their native dialect..but I love the
Music and the guitar playing..These guys were doing 17 min jams way
before The Grateful Dead...and the music is fresh and hypnotic to the Western ear..It takes a few listens to get pass the foreign language, but you can hear
great spirituality and richness in their voices that inspires and draws you in..
But I will trade you my African based for your Western mixed selections
when you find them..Maybe tomorrow night I will list my favorite
African recordings.

Thanks Squash,

[solaris]

Originally Posted by Nightfly

Yes I find Emusic's Genre labeling in this Genre unsatisfactory often calling
African titles Reggae instead of Afro-Pop or Soukous( a type of Rumba based
guitar music..my favorite) and calling some Reggae titles African...
very annoying to us more knowledgeable seekers..but at least the titles are
there for us..I am aware of Marianne Antonsen she is a certainly a treasure
and I have a few recordings by her..The one you mentioned and Picking Up The Spirit more stripped down her and organ Gospel tunes..and they have that listed as Hip Hop...(shame on them).But "Blomster I Soweto" is a very special recording( by the way I just looked..they called it Jazz )
I listen more to authentic African music without the Western influence,they sing in either French or Congolese or their native dialect..but I love the
Music and the guitar playing..These guys were doing 17 min jams way
before The Grateful Dead...and the music is fresh and hypnotic to the Western ear..It takes a few listens to get pass the foreign language, but you can hear
great spirituality and richness in their voices that inspires and draws you in..
But I will trade you my African based for your Western mixed selections
when you find them..Maybe tomorrow night I will list my favorite
African recordings.

Thanks Squash,

Just wanted to translate the title for you guys:

Marianne Antonsen-Flowers In Soweto

[squash54]

Originally Posted by Nightfly

Yes I find Emusic's Genre labeling in this Genre unsatisfactory often calling
African titles Reggae instead of Afro-Pop or Soukous( a type of Rumba based
guitar music..my favorite) and calling some Reggae titles African...
very annoying to us more knowledgeable seekers..but at least the titles are
there for us..I am aware of Marianne Antonsen she is a certainly a treasure
and I have a few recordings by her..The one you mentioned and Picking Up The Spirit more stripped down her and organ Gospel tunes..and they have that listed as Hip Hop...(shame on them).But "Blomster I Soweto" is a very special recording( by the way I just looked..they called it Jazz )
I listen more to authentic African music without the Western influence,they sing in either French or Congolese or their native dialect..but I love the
Music and the guitar playing..These guys were doing 17 min jams way
before The Grateful Dead...and the music is fresh and hypnotic to the Western ear..It takes a few listens to get pass the foreign language, but you can heargreat spirituality and richness in their voices that inspires and draws you in..
But I will trade you my African based for your Western mixed selections
when you find them..Maybe tomorrow night I will list my favorite
African recordings.

Thanks Squash,

A knowledge of the lyrics can be important in songs that tell a story or deliver a message such as a ballad and a lot of folk music. However, the human voice is also an instument capable of conveying great emotional force by sound alone. I have probably listened to more opera than any other musical genre and most of that in Italian, French and German (all I know is some basic school derived French). The lyrics of some of the greatest arias are quite silly when translated today (150 years ago they were what the audience expected and accepted).The aria 'Casta Diva' from Bellini's opera 'Norma' is a perfect example. An enduring piece of musical genius and you don't need to speak a word of Italian to appreciate that fact.
Simply put, I enjoy music to which I have a positive emotional response - often it is 'mood altering'. The Antonsen album had this effect in spades (and I don't speak a word of Norwegian).
I will start putting together a list of the African inspired music I enjoy and post it here in the not too distant future.
Regards,
Squash
P.S. Marianne Antonsen's 'Soulful Xmas Songs' is going to get a workout at my place on December 25 - it is very, very cool

[Nightfly]

Originally Posted by squash54

A knowledge of the lyrics can be important in songs that tell a story or deliver a message such as a ballad and a lot of folk music. However, the human voice is also an instument capable of conveying great emotional force by sound alone. I have probably listened to more opera than any other musical genre and most of that in Italian, French and German (all I know is some basic school derived French). The lyrics of some of the greatest arias are quite silly when translated today (150 years ago they were what the audience expected and accepted).The aria 'Casta Diva' from Bellini's opera 'Norma' is a perfect example. An enduring piece of musical genius and you don't need to speak a word of Italian to appreciate that fact.
Simply put, I enjoy music to which I have a positive emotional response - often it is 'mood altering'. The Antonsen album had this effect in spades (and I don't speak a word of Norwegian).
I will start putting together a list of the African inspired music I enjoy and post it here in the not too distant future.
Regards,
Squash
P.S. Marianne Antonsen's 'Soulful Xmas Songs' is going to get a workout at my place on December 25 - it is very, very cool

Squash,

I was aware of your great love for Opera, and the Native African recordings
will not be a far stretch for you to get into.I'm glad you wrote the above
for all to view because I hope when we post our African selections that
people will be inspired by that posting to listen to and be inspired by
foreign voices different than their own, and music of different origins.
After all we are a global community, and they say the world is getting
smaller through technology.I for one hold that believe...

and solaris thank you for that translation..

[squash54]

Originally Posted by Nightfly

Squash,

I was aware of your great love for Opera, and the Native African recordings
will not be a far stretch for you to get into.I'm glad you wrote the above
for all to view because I hope when we post our African selections that
people will be inspired by that posting to listen to and be inspired by
foreign voices different than their own, and music of different origins.
After all we are a global community, and they say the world is getting
smaller through technology.I for one hold that believe...

and solaris thank you for that translation..

Can't do my African recommends this weekend as I am going to 'Opera in the Vinyards' in a wine growing area 2 hours drive from Sydney.
However, as the final of the Rugby World Cup is also on this weekend (England v South Africa) I have to publish one of the songs on my list for the benefit of Dave C and any other English supporters. Check out the version of Swing Low Sweet Chariot by Ladysmith Black Mambazo featuring China Black. It is available in a compilation on Sparks/MM.

[Dave C]

Originally Posted by squash54

for the benefit of Dave C and any other English supporters. Check out the version of Swing Low Sweet Chariot by Ladysmith Black Mambazo featuring China Black.

I will be singing along on Saturday evening. Don't suppose you have got anything for me to sing along to when Lewis Hamilton cross the line to win the Brazilian GP and World Title on Sunday,
Cheers,
Dave C