Dig music, build something positive

The people over at Calabash Music have had a neat idea. Despite what many people think, the US spends less than 1% of its federal budget on foreign aid. As Calabash points out, “If everyone in the United States gave up one soft drink a month we could double our current aid to Africa. If everyone gave up one movie a year we could double our current aid to Africa and Asia.” But rather than get preachy and feeling guilty about the situation, Calabash are running a very simple promotion called “Tune Your World”. “If every American would buy 10 songs by African Artists — We would DOUBLE the amount of money the US is currently sending to Africa.”

So their idea is simple: get ten happening songs for just $7.99. I know Calabash Music. Two things you should know about them too: they have a really good selection of music, and as they work directly with musicians and labels from around the world, at least 50% of your money is going straight to the musicians and labels. What’s more, they are highlighting a number of interesting projects such as the Refugee All Stars, the Afrobeat Sudan Aid Project (featuring Antibalas, Tony Allen and the voice of Fela Kuti, no less) and Stop Excision.

By the way, this is not an American thing. It’s a music thing. Fantastic music is being produced across Africa, but we won’t hear it unless people like Calabash and, yes, Music Wire stick it under our noses. So for some tasty MP3s, visit Tune Your World and start browsing.

Return of the cool in jazz

There is something decidedly cool about the vibraphone even though it’s not the type of instrument you hang out with or stick under your arm like Chet Baker or Lester Bowie. Yet over two albums, Pascal Schumacher and his Quartet have given the vibe a new burst of interest. They combine cool school competency with a patina of blues, which is all the more surprising as they come from tiny Luxembourg. Schumacher has recorded with Australia’s Kristen Cornwell and picked up a handful of awards. The albums “Change of the Moon” and “Personal Legend” have both been played a lot at the Music Wire office. Lyrical, stylish and yet still cool, this is jazz we could vote for.
Schumacher will be appearing with and without his quartet in January. An important date will be January 22, when they appear at the Majestic Hotel in Cannes for the prestigious Midem music fair.

Click through for his concert dates.

Sex and the Single Rabbit

With a title that is sure to get lots of search engine activity, Crammed Discs have started opening their archives. The European label is known for its cosmopolitan genre-bending style such as Bebel Gilberto (see below), the early Zap Mama and Taraf de Haidouk. In the eighties and nineties, they also had a successful electronic imprint called SSR (Sampler Sans Reproche - Sampling without fear). The virtual twin-set includes material such as the Matthew Herbert remix of a Hector Zazou/Harold Budd track, a Snooze remix by Isolée, a track off the long-deleted DJ Morpheus vs Bassbin Twin vinyl EP, sonic terrorist Meira Asher, London jazz/dope beats heads Elixir, Japan’s Tao, Phosphorus and their dreamy, soundtrack-like trip-pop and Finland’s minimal/glitch pioneer Aural Expansion.

“Sex and the Single Rabbit” will only be available through electronic outlets, which most likely means that tracks can also be downloaded individually. If that sounds tasty, try the link below.

Ugandan Hip-Hop: “no bling”

It might just sound like some place on a map, but Uganda also has its “yoof”. And they have things to say - which is hardly surprising when you see the chaos they have to deal with. Like in most African countries these days, Hip-Hop acts as the pressure valve, social commentary and popular entertainment. Check this teaser of a documentary about Ugandan Hip-Hop. As one guy points out, “they’re not interested in listening to bling-bling”. We have that much in common, then.

First spotted on African-Rap.com.

See Damon Alban and Mali’s finest in London

You’ll have to move fast on this one. Damon Alban of Blur has visited Mali on several occasions, and is determined to spread the good news about its music. He is hosting an exclusive event on December 13 in South London that will bring together Amadou and Mariam, Rachid Taha, K’naan, Souad Massi and Ba Cissoko along with 20 or so other like-minded English and American artists, a lot of whom will be your favourite acts (…….. it apparently includes some very big names indeed).

But - and it’s a major but - this is not taking place in Wembley. It’s a 300 capacity venue that will already be pretty full with the musicians and their guests. But the organisers would also like to invite some music fans and are opening a few places to the audience. So nip over quickly to the Africa Express site and… good luck!

Before that, many of the same crew will be appearing at London’s Roundhouse on December 11. Check your local press for details.

Bebel Gilberto prepares new album

Bebel Gilberto, the daughter of Brazilian pioneer João Gilberto and Miúcha, has finished her new album which will be titled Momento. Bebel shot to fame with her debut release Tanto Tempo in 2000, after appearing alongside some of the most respected artists of our time, including Caetano Veloso and David Byrne, and cutting edge experimenters like Deee Lite’s Towa Tei and Thievery Corporation.

The release is scheduled for early 2007. For more details and video clips, visit Bebel Giberto.com.

Bebel Gilberto on iTunes US.

Univers Zero in Prague and Mexico

Prog rock never really goes away. On 1st December the European band Univers Zero will play at the “Alternativa Festival� in Prague. On 22 March 2007, they will appear at the “Baja Prog Festival� in Mexicali (Mexico).

Univers Zero’s roots come from the rock and jazz scene in 70s Belgium. Extensive touring was supported by albums such as “1313″, “Heresie” and Heatwave”. After splitting and reforming a few times, Univers Zero now consists of 7 musicians. The band has plans to go into studio for a new album in 2007. For details, visit the Univers Zero website. Remember where you read it first.

Fifa Street track hits virtual streets

“Fou Ho” from Sur-Choc has remained one of the most enigmatic tracks from the Fifa Street game. The tune was picked up after becoming a runaway hit in the clubs of Abidjan, Ivory Coast. The makers of “Fifa Street 2005″ were looking for a track with a gritty feel. Sur-Choc are one of the creators of the heady Zouglou style in Ivory Coast, whose best-known act is Magic System. The band records nutty dance tracks with a rough street feel.

Yet despite touring in France and elsewhere, Sur-Choc’s material is been hard to find. We are currently trying to find information about their tours.

Sizzla: new album and US tour dates

Dancehall legend Sizzla has announced US tour dates to coincide with his new album, The Overstanding, scheduled to be released onNovember 21st, 2006.

Sizzla emerged during the latter half of the ‘90s, and quickly became one of the leaders of the modern dancehall movement. Along with Buju Banton and Capelton, he helped lead dancehall back to the musical and spiritual influences of roots reggae, favoring organic productions and heavily Rastafarian subject matter.

Sizzla’s first success came with the release of Praise Ye Jah in 1997. Widely considered one of the top modern dancehall albums of its time, Praise Ye Jah was quickly trumped by the release of Black Woman & Child that same year. The title track was a smash hit and became something of a cultural reggae anthem. Sizzla continued to release a string of successful albums including Be I Strong in 1999, the spiritually driven, hip-hop influenced Bobo Ashanti in 2001, and Da Real Thing in 2002, where he concentrated on a softer, mellower, more romantic material. With a catalogue of over 40 albums to his credit, Sizzla remains one of the most if not the most widely respected figures in all of Dancehall reggae. The Overstanding hits stores on November 21st, 2006.

TOUR DATES:

• 11/24 Newark, NJ - Terrace Ballroom
• 11/25 Bladensburg, MD - Crossroads
• 11/28 Ann Arbor, MI - Blind Pig
• 12/2 Columbus, OH - Airosa Villa
• 12/5 Wilmington, NC - The Rox
• 12/6 Winston-alem, NC - Ziggy’s
• 12/7 Raleigh, NC - Lincoln Theater
• 12/8 Norfolk, VA - The Norva
• 12/9 Philadephia, PA - Trocader
• 12/12 Providence, RI - Lupo’s At The Strand
• 12/14 Stowe, VT - Rusty Nail
• 12/15 Revere, MA - Club Lido

                                                                           Sizzla on eMusic

Boy George slammed by Culture Club

Since he left the band, Boy George has been highly critical of the members of Culture Club. Since they announced that they were re-forming for a 20th anniversary tour, he stepped up the criticisms after refusing to take part. But the band is hitting back. The limit was reached when Boy George accepted an award from Q Music for the song “Karma Chameleon”. Interviewed by the BBC, bassist Mikey Craig was hurt: “We should have been there,” said Craig. “George wasn’t the sole writer of the song. We wrote collectively. At the end of the day, Culture Club was very much ours as well as George’s. He was the visual impact that everyone got, but there was a hell of a lot behind it,” he said.

Boy George, meanwhile, is continuing his career as DJ after a spell in New York and a noted run-in with the police for possession of cocaine. Check here to listen to the recent single “Look Pon U”.