Tiempo Libre is a band of classically trained Cuban musicians who have been nominated for three Grammy awards. Their Latin roots come through even when they collaborate with classical violinist Joshua Bell on the album At Home with Friends.
Orquesta Akokán makes its debut in New Zealand in March for WOMAD NZ. The 12 piece big band harks back to the hey-day of mambo in 1950’s Havana, even recording their first album in the original studio where all the legendary Cuban ensembles have recorded. The result is a blazing ensemble of mambo and son cubano modernized through the players experiences living and working in New York.
Rhiannon Giddens - one of the big names in American traditional music – performs at NZ Festival in March with Italian multi-instrumentalist Francisco Turrisi. The duo will play music of Americana, past and future, from their album There Is No Other.
Sitar player Anoushka Shankar’s album Traveller explores the links between Indian music and flamenco; 800 years ago the Gypsies travelled from Rajasthan in India to southern Europe; flamenco came out of mixing Indian music with that of Spain and north Africa.
Teofilo Chantre is a composer, guitarist and singer who made his name writing songs for Cape Verde singer Césaria Evora. Chantre was also born in Cape Verde but has spent his life in Paris. His music ranges from rumba to jazz and morna and sings in French or his native Portuguese.
Canadian pianist Marc Andre Hamelin gives a spontaneous interpretation of Friedrich Gulda’s 'Play Piano Play' from the album In a State of Jazz.
‘Although this fine recording is entitled 'In a state of jazz' it includes no true jazz—every note is written down—but for all that it bursts with the daring vitality that is the hallmark of the best improvised music’ (The Observer)
American singer June Christy was a major star in the 40’s and 50’s with 18 albums to her name. She developed her reputation for "cool" jazz singing with the Stan Kenton Orchestra. Her first solo album Something Cool, was responsible for launching a whole cool movement in jazz singing.
Waitemata Reverie: Music By Bruce Paine. is the new album by Wellington guitarist Gunter Herbig. Paine is one of New Zealand's leading composers for the guitar, and the works date from his earliest to his latest. Herbig has already released another album this year - on the BIS label - this time he’s on Naxos.
Music details:
GOMEZ: Para Ti - Joshua Bell and Tiempo Libre (Sony 88697 55436)
ORQUESTA AKOKAN: Yo Soy Para - Orquesta Akokán (Daptone DAP-052)
TRAD: Wayfaring Stranger - Rhiannon Giddens and Francesco Turrisi (Nonesuch 591336-2)
CARLISLE FLOYD: Trees On The Mountains - Rhiannon Giddens and Francesco Turrisi (Nonesuch 591336-2)
MINO, SHANKAR: Buleria Con Ricardo - Anoushka Shankar and Pedro Ricardo Miño (DG 477936)
CHANTRE, ESTEVE: Des Bleuets Dans Les Blés - Teofilo Chantre (Lusafrica 362882)
CHANTRE: Fonte Di Nha Sodade - Teofilo Chantre (Lusafrica 362882)
GULDA: Play Piano Play - Marc Andre Hamelin (Hyperion CDA 67656)
BARNES: Something Cool - June Christy (EMI 581861)
TURRISI: Mi Mariposa Hermosa - Francesco Turrisi (Turrisi Promo Northern)
PAINE: Seringapatam - Gunter Herbig (Naxos 8.57412)
