In many West African cultures, the griot plays an important role at many different levels. Holders of histories, griots are storytellers, poets, and journalists, possessing both the ability to recount generations of history while immediately adding current events to that lineage as well.
Vieux Farka Touré's latest album Mon Pays effortlessly fits into Mali's rich music history while also presenting itself as a musical newsflash contrasting the turmoil that plagued the country in the last 18 months. In the griot tradition, histories and stories were passed down the generations through families; each griot passed his knowledge to his son, preserving cultural history. Vieux's father Ali Farka Touré has done just that. Although apparently he pushed Vieux towards a career in something else rather than music, Vieux is truly his father's son and rather seamlessly continues his father's musical legacy while also making a bold embrace of his country, his pays. Vieux links up with Sidiki Diabáte, son of Toumani Diabáte (who collaborated with Ali Farka Touré on the incredible In The Heart of the Moon album) and creates another stunning release which musically seems to acknowledge Mali's rich musical history while continuing to blaze ahead.
Tapas, sangria, and churros are dancing around my head right now, grooving to the sounds of a symphony of acoustic guitars playing at the subterranean Meson de la Guittara near Plaza Mayor in Madrid. A year and a half since I left Madrid (where I studied for a semester), I’m going back to Espana (hola gordi!) on Monday, and will be teaching English in a public middle school through a Spanish government program. Maybe that’s why this song sounds so good to me right now.
The Tallest Man on Earth, real name Kristian Matsson, is a 27 year old Swede. Echoing a nasally young Bob Dylan, the TTMOE really comes into his own on his second album, The Wild Hunt, which I have been listening to nonstop since my good buddy, and one time contributor, AMitch, played me some of his tracks. A one-man band, Kristian is a master guitar player, and weaves vivid imagery in between his deft picking and powerful strumming. Like the Scandinavian countryside where I am this week, his songs are sparse, but full of life; understated, yet complex.
“King of Spain” is a joyous shout, a childish dream, a quick-paced checklist of places, things, and experiences that the young Kristian wants to see and do. A song about growing up and finding out who you are, TTMOE sings that the only difference between him and the King of Spain is a change in name, a difference in their days. Littered with images of the country, this song feels like a welcome return to a magical place.
If you were to take a short walk south-west from CMC, walking along shady, tree-lined avenues and passing quiet houses, one would find themselves in "The Village," the oddly named "downtown" of Claremont, filled with restaurants, boutique stores, and the latest yogurt hot spot, Yogurtland. Although the Village is a great place to grab dinner or a drink, a gem is the Folk Music Center, owned by Ben Harper's parents (Ben himself is a Claremont native and his brother is a big fan of our archrival Pomona's soccer team). Although his suburban roots don't quite account for the soul and power of his music, one gets a better sense of his breadth and depth upon entering the store. Filled with guitars, sitars, banjoes, ukeleles, among others, the influence of growing up to parents who constantly had musicians of all backgrounds and styles come through for shows and new instruments clearly shows in Ben's music. Whether playing a gnarly slide guitar solo or singing gospel, Ben Harper is one of the most talented and unique artists out there now.
This Jam and a Half is a bittersweet tune of regrets, past loves, and mistakes. Ben sings as someone who can't quite settle, whether it be with someone or somewhere, and is a fool for a lonesome train, is a fool for leaving situations and people behind. He does so because he does not know better, that is who he is, and who he always will be. He recognizes who he is and the pain he causes (so far away, but I still feel your pain), but is satisfied with the live he lives. Struck with wanderlust and a yearning to go, this person might seem crazy but is "painfully sane." Sung with raw emotion and a perhaps even a vulnerability that few artists can convey, Ben sings as a travelling artist, here one day, gone the next, but gradually making his mark on the world...
What’s the last place you took a trip to? Vegas? The Bay? For the brave, or foolish, of heart, TJ? I’m sitting in Charles de Gaulle Airport right now, on my way to see a very special someone in Budapest, but even this has a hard time comparing to the epic journey that the Brothers Isley bring you in their epic jam and a half, Voyage to Atlantis.
Probably the funkiest creation since the sinking of Atlantis, the Isley Brothers made something so groovy and pure that even Midas would have a hard touching it. With a warbled guitar taking you down to the very depths of the deep blue, to a place where only mermaids and old guys with tridents dwell, Voyage to Atlantis tells about a man leaving his lady behind, but promising that he’ll always come back to her…but only if they go all the way together. To where? Atlantis of course, the paradise out beyond the sea.
Why is this a jam and a half? If the first listen hasn’t convinced you, and if hearing this crooned from apt 661L hasn’t either, then you probably should stop reading this blog. Not only is this something even Poseidon would have a hard time not jamming to in his watery palace, Big Boi sampled it in his recent jam Royal Flush (off of his oft delayed solo debut) with Andre 3000 and Raekwon.
The Isley Bros rank up there with the Mario and Luigi. the Halpern lair, and Big Leks and Oscar as far as all time brothers go. Let them take you on a voyage.
To follow up the eternal flame which is Nina Simone-Sinnerman, I bring to you two Mexican guitarists. These two Mexicans started off playing in a heavy metal band in la ciudad de Mexico, but quickly found themselves going nowhere. They moved to Dublin where they played in small time pubs and street corners, until one day Damian Rice heard them strumming away, and asked them to open up for him on his tour...The rest is history. Rodrigo y Gabriela have become internationally renown for their fusion of classical guitar/flamenco with their heavy metal past, and have created a completely unique sound...
Moose and I got put on to Rod y Gab freshman year by a colombian buddy, and intermediately realized the realness of the pair...after missing one show freshman year, and regretting it up to the day we went to their show, we decided we had to go see them in LA...boy, it did not dissapoint....Playing in the famous Orpheum Theater, an old and spectacular theater with a somewhat hesitant crowd, we did our best to give back the energy that Rod y Gab were sending out. Playing jams from their two main albums, but concentrating on their new material, Rod and Gab put on a show for the ages. Although it's hard to believe, it really is just the two of them on stage. Rodrigo picks insane melodies while Gabriela manages to play the guitar while using it as a drum. The two had a completely bare stage, although a large screen behind them showed off their insane hand speed. Both had unreal solos (check out gabriela's below), showing off the fact that they might be the two best guittarists in the world right now...Rodrigo even used a Heineken bottle (which now resides in our apartment) to make crazy sound effects with his guitar. After being escorted to our seats one time for trying to sneak to the front, there was nothing security could do to stop us doing the encore. We went straight to the front and started dancing with two other people. Rod and Gab saw us and came over while playing to show us some love, and Moose will be eternally jealous that I touched Gabriela's hand haha!
The song I'm picking for the second jam and a half is Rodrigo y Gabriela's Tamacun. Off their self-titled debut, Tamacun is classic Rod y Gab...unreal picking by rod, gabriela providing the pounding heartbeat, Tamacun represents the best of Rod y Gab, and has justifiably shot them into fame...Although I could have picked any Rod y Gab song, Tamacun gets the pick as the second Jam and a Half...
I've added a couple links for some videos that I took on my camera and phone of the concert, and of Tamacun. As always, have posted a link where you can download the song. Enjoy.
