“Conference of the Birds” is my weekly radio program on WNUR-FM. It airs on Tuesdays from 5-7:30 am Chicago time (UTC-5). And, of course, when technology cooperates, you can just come here for the archives. You can subscribe to the podcast with this URL (click here to subscribe in iTunes).

For this week, I just played a bunch of music that sounded good to me, no more elaborate theme involved. That ended up meaning mostly music from Brazil and afro-latin stuff, plus a few other odds and ends.

Enjoy!

Listen:

download program (136MB, 2 hrs 28 min)

Artist: “Track” – Album (Label)
Rail Band: “Duga (Bambara version)” – Belle Epoque, Vol. 1: Soundiata (Stern’s Africa)
Feliciano Gomes: “Nyamugowelo” – Forgotten Guitars from Mozambique (Sharp Wood Records)
Mulatu Astatke: “Asiyo Belema” – New York-Addis-London: The Story of Ethio Jazz 1965-1975 (Strut)
Jimmy Amukamua: “Khukhava Minyinzi” – Before Benga, Vol. 1: Kenya Dry (Original Music)
Hector Rivera y su Conjunto: “Yo Quisiera Ser” – Caliente = Hot: Puerto Rican and Cuban Musical Expression In New York (New World)
Docteur Nico & African Fiesta: “Olga” – Merveilles du passé (1967) (Sonodisc)
Kawaliwa and Mary with the AGS Boys: “Rin” – The Kampala Sound (Original Music)
João Gilberto: “Saudade Fez Um Samba” – Chega de Saudade (Odeon)
Jorge Ben: “País Tropical” – Jorge Ben (Dusty Groove America)
Aldo Sena: “Sentimentos ” – The New Brazilian Music Vol. 3 (BM&A)
Caçapa: “Coco-Rojão no. 4” – The New Brazilian Music Vol. 4 (BM&A)
Chicago Afrobeat Project: “West Ganji” – Chicago Afrobeat Project (Chicago Afrobeat)
Orchestra Baobab: “Toumaranke” – Pirates Choice (Nonesuch)
Ry Cooder & Manuel Galban: “Dru Me Negrita” – Mambo Sinuendo (Nonesuch)
Maysa: “Quem Quiser Encontrar o Amor” – Maysa (Universal)
Quarteto Em Cy: “Underground” – Quarteto Em Cy (Odeon)
Nara Leão: “Minha Namorada” – O canto livre de Nara (Philips)
The Bees and the Honey: “She Don’t Deserve You” – One Kiss Can Lead To Another: Girl Group Sounds Lost And Found (Rhino)
The Bogard Brothers: “I’m In Love” – Flying Rock – South African Rock ‘N Roll: 1950 – 1962 (Global Village Music)
O Bando: “Longe do Tempo” – O Bando (Shadoks)
Waltel Branco: “O Sambo Brasileiro” – Guitarra Bossa Nova (Musidisc)
Manu Dibango: “Bush” – Kusini (Soundtrack) (DST)
Segun Bucknor: “La La La (Hard Version) (Part 1)” – Poor Man No Get Brother: Assembly & Revolution 1969-1975 (Strut)
El Rego et ses Commandos: “Djobime” – Legends of Benin (Analog Africa)
Ali Hassan Kuban: “Habibi” – Walk Like a Nubian (Piranha)
Orchestre Makassy: “Mume Wangu Pt 1 & 2” – Collected Works 1978-1982 (unknown)
Los Tainos: “Amor Mio” – Sí, Para Usted: The Funky Beats of Revolutionary Cuba, Volume 1 (Waxing Deep)
Ñico Estrada y su Sonora: “El negro bembón” – Gózalo! – Bugalú Tropical Vol 3 (Vampisoul)
Roberto y su Nuevo Montuno: “Virazon” – El Yerbero del Barrio (International)
Los Caballeros de Colon: “Con Los Caballeros” – Panama! – Latin, Calypso And Funk On The Isthmus 1965-75 (Soundway)
Lou Donaldson: “Snake Bone” – Say It Loud (Water)

WNUR Conference of the Birds, 2012-02-28 (complete) [ 2:28:24 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

“Conference of the Birds” is my weekly radio program on WNUR-FM. It airs on Tuesdays from 5-7:30 am Chicago time (UTC-5). And, of course, when technology cooperates, you can just come here for the archives. You can subscribe to the podcast with this URL (click here to subscribe in iTunes).

The good thing about doing my show on Tuesdays is that I always get to do a show on Mardi Gras. Sometimes I play “carnival” music more broadly, but this year was all Louisiana music, mostly New Orleans, although there’s a sizeable cajun & zydeco set. It opens a little slow, although I thought the recordings of sounds on New Orleans streets were so cool I had to share ‘em. There are also a goodly number of classics, although I seem to have failed to play any versions of “Big Chief.” A couple of popular bounce tunes from last year’s show resurfaced in the midst of a bigger set of that stalwart New Orleans variant of rap.

Enjoy!

Listen:

download program (138MB, 2 hrs 31 min)

Artist: “Track” – Album (Label)
A parade with brass bands: “Parade of the Krewe of Momus/When the Saints Go Marching In” – Music of New Orleans, Vol. 1: Music of the Streets: Music of Mardi Gras (Smithsonian Folkways)
Hank: “On Mardi Gras Day” – Music of New Orleans, Vol. 1: Music of the Streets: Music of Mardi Gras (Smithsonian Folkways)
Dave Bartholomew: “Shrimp & Gumbo” – Doctors, Professors, Kings & Queens: The Big Ol’ Box of New Orleans (Shout Factory)
Bo Dollis & Monk Boudreaux with Rebirth Brass Band: “Shoo Fly” – Mardi Gras Indians Super Sunday Showdown (Rounder)
Chuck Carbo: “Can I Be Your Squeeze” – New Orleans Funk (Soul Jazz)
Curley Moore: “Soul Train” – Wardell Quezerque: Sixty Smokin’ Soul Senders (Funky Delicaciesa)
Lee Dorsey: “Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley” – Freedom For The Funk (Charly)
Art Neville: “Bo Diddley” – Get Low Down!: The Soul of New Orleans, ‘65-’67 (Sundazed)
The Meters: “Look-Ka Py Py” – Look-Ka Py Py (Josie)
The Gaturs: “Gator Bait” – Saturday Night Fish Fry (Soul Jazz)
K.C. Red: “Shake On That Stick” – The Greatest Rap Hits from Down South New Orleans, Vol. 1 (Don’t Even Trip Entertainment)
Da Sha Ra: “Bootin’ Up” – Brass Bands & Mardi Gras Indians (unknown)
2 Blakk: “Second Line Jump” – The Greatest Rap Hits from Down South New Orleans, Vol. 1 (Don’t Even Trip Entertainment)
Big Freedia: “Hit Me On My Next” – Big Freedia Hitz, Vol 1 (Big Freedia)
Young Guardians of the Flame: “New Way Pocky Way” – Brass Bands & Mardi Gras Indians (unknown)
Li’l Queenie & the Percolators: “My Darlin’ New Orleans” – Doctors, Professors, Kings & Queens: The Big Ol’ Box of New Orleans (Shout Factory)
Lloyd Price: “Where You At” – Creole Kings of New Orleans (Specialty)
Professor Longhair: “Boogie Woogie” – New Orleans Piano (Rounder)
Fats Domino: “Jambalaya (On the Road)” – Blueberry Hill (Synergy)
Feufollet: “Cow Island Hop” – Cow Island Hop (Valcour)
Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie: “Canaille” – Doctors, Professors, Kings & Queens: The Big Ol’ Box of New Orleans (Shout Factory)
Boozoo Chavis: “Dog Hill” – Doctors, Professors, Kings & Queens: The Big Ol’ Box of New Orleans (Shout Factory)
Buckwheat Zydeco: “Hot Tamale Baby” – Doctors, Professors, Kings & Queens: The Big Ol’ Box of New Orleans (Shout Factory)
Clifton Chenier: “Ay-Tete Fee” – Creole Kings of New Orleans (Specialty)
Fernest Arceneaux: “Zydeco Boogaloo” – Best of Louisiana Music (Mardi Gras)
Kid Ory’s Creole Jazz Band: “Royal Garden Blues” – Doctors, Professors, Kings & Queens: The Big Ol’ Box of New Orleans (Shout Factory)
Dr. Michael White: “St. Phillip Street Breakdown” – Doctors, Professors, Kings & Queens: The Big Ol’ Box of New Orleans (Shout Factory)
Louis Cottrell: “Bourbon Street Parade” – New Orleans: The Living Legends (Riverside)
New Orleans Jazz Vipers: “Digga-Digga-Do” – Doctors, Professors, Kings & Queens: The Big Ol’ Box of New Orleans (Shout Factory)
Dr. John: “My Indian Red” – Treme: Music From the HBO Original Series, Season 1 (Geffen)
Clarence “Frogman” Henry: “Ain’t Got No Home” – Doctors, Professors, Kings & Queens: The Big Ol’ Box of New Orleans (Shout Factory)
Lloyd Lambert: “Whistlin’ Joe” – Creole Kings of New Orleans (Specialty)
Ernie K-Doe: “Mother-in-Law” – Doctors, Professors, Kings & Queens: The Big Ol’ Box of New Orleans (Shout Factory)
Betty Harris: “Break in the Road” – Saturday Night Fish Fry (Soul Jazz)
Eddie Bo & the Soul Finders: “The Hook and Sling” – The Hook and Sling (Funky Delicacies)
Ernie & the Top Notes: “Dap Walk” – New Orleans Funk (Soul Jazz)
Soul Rebels Brass Band: “Let It Roll” – Brass Bands & Mardi Gras Indians (unknown)
Bo Dollis & Rebirth Brass Band: “Let’s Go Get ‘Em” – Mardi Gras Indians Super Sunday Showdown (Rounder)

WNUR Conference of the Birds, 2012-02-21 (complete) [ 2:30:33 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

“Conference of the Birds” is my weekly radio program on WNUR-FM. It airs on Tuesdays from 5-7:30 am Chicago time (UTC-5). And, of course, when technology cooperates, you can just come here for the archives. You can subscribe to the podcast with this URL (click here to subscribe in iTunes).

This week’s show was the convergence of Valentine’s day and my shift during WNUR’s annual phoneathon fundraiser. This is convenient, because I love doing my show and I love my listeners, especially the ones who call, comment, tweet, or otherwise provide feedback about what they hear. I built my playlist mostly from a subset of tracks in my iTunes library which have “love” in the title. That pool is over six days worth of music, so obviously I was never going to fit everything in, and the problem was aggravated by the need to spend some time telling people the call-in number and soliciting support. But I hope that wasn’t too obnoxious, and there are still a few days left if you’d like to support the station—we take pledges online… (there’s a new t-shirt this year we’re giving in thanks for pledges of $30 or more—the design is the new image for the blog post and podcast file.)

Enjoy!

Listen:

download program (141MB, 2 hrs 34 min)

Artist: “Track” – Album (Label)
Hüsker Dü: “Love is All Around” – Eight Miles High/Makes No Sense At All (SST)
Agent Orange: “Somebody to Love” – This is the Voice (Restless)
Wilson Pickett: “Everybody Needs Somebody to Love” – A Man and a Half: The Best of Wilson Pickett (Atlantic)
Johnny Osborne: “We Need Love” – 100% Dynamite (Soul Jazz)
Mike James Kirkland: “Love is All We Need” – Doin’ It Right (Luv ‘n Haight)
Unknown: “Give You My Love” – Boddie Bonus Disc (Numero Group)
The Sisters Love: “Give Me Your Love” – Give Me Your Love (Soul Jazz)
Big Maybelle: “That’s a Pretty Good Love” – Blues, Candy & Big Maybelle (Savoy)
Erykah Badu: “Love of My Life Worldwide” – Worldwide Underground (Motown)
The Coup: “Laugh, Love, … (Radio Mix)” – Pick a Bigger Weapon (Epitaph)
Greyboy: “Got to Be a Love (with Quantic & Sharon Jones) (Paul Nice remix)” – Soul Mosaic (Ubiquity)
Quantic and his Combo Barbaro: “I Just Fell In Love Again” – Tradition in Transition (Tru Thoughts)
Afro-Cuban All Stars: “Amor Verdadero” – A Todo Cuba Le Gusta (Nonesuch)
Lord Cobra y Los Hnos. Duncan: “Love Letters” – Panama! 2: Latin Sounds, Cumbia Tropical & Calypso Funk on the Isthmus 1967-77 (Soundway)
Elvis Costello: “They’ll Never Take Her Love From Me” – King of America (Columbia)
Anna Fermin & Friends: “Love Shack” – Poor Little Knitter On The Road: A Tribute to the Knitters (Bloodshot)
John Lee Hooker: “I Love You Honey” – The Boogie Chillen Man (Blues Encore)
Big Bill Broonzy: “Glory of Love” – Sings Folk Songs (Smithsonian Folkways)
The Velvet Underground: “Some Kinda Love (Closet Mix)” – Peel Slowly and See (Polydor)
Michael Yonkers Band: “Microminiature Love” – Microminiature Love (Sub Pop)
ESG: “My Love For You” – A South Bronx Story (Universal Sound)
Brian Eno & John Cale: “Lay My Love” – Wrong Way Up (All Saints)
Dr. John: “Bring Your Love” – The Essential Recordings (Purple Pyramid)
Fats Domino: “I’m In Love Again” – Blueberry Hill (Double Pleasure)
Sugar Billy: “Super Duper Love, pt. 2” – Super Duper Love (Fast Track)
The Staple Singers: “Tripping On Your Love” – Soul Gospel (Soul Jazz)
Donny Hathaway: “Love, Love, Love” – Extensions of a Man (Atco)
Stevie Wonder: “I Love Every Little Thing About you” – Music of My Mind (Motown)
Etta James: “Sunday Kind of Love” – At Last (Argo)
Billy Holiday with Lester Young: “Me, Myself & I (Are All in Love With You)” – Lady Day & Prez 1937-1941 (Fremeaux & Associates)
Ella Fitzgerald: “It’s De-Lovely” – Twelve Nights in Hollywood (Hip-O Select)
Tony Malaby: “What Is This Thing Called Love?” – Adobe (Sunnyside)
Ahmad Jamal: “Let’s Fall in Love” – Ahmad’s Blues: Live At The Spotlight (Chess)
DKV Trio: “Love Cry” – Trigonometry (Okkadisk)
Joe McPhee, Ken Vandermark, Kent Kessler: “I Leave You Love” – A Meeting in Chicago (Okkadisk)

WNUR Conference of the Birds, 2012-02-14 (complete) [ 2:34:24 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

“Conference of the Birds” is my weekly radio program on WNUR-FM. It airs on Tuesdays from 5-7:30 am Chicago time (UTC-5). And, of course, when technology cooperates, you can just come here for the archives. You can subscribe to the podcast with this URL (click here to subscribe in iTunes).

This week’s show starts with a hip-hop block, then transitions over to a set of African music. From there, a less easily labeled block of funk/soul/latin ingredients, and as seems to be becoming the habit, it goes out on a block of jazz. There are a lot of good tunes this week: I hope that distortion which seems to have been creeping into some of the archives isn’t as bad as it’s been.

Enjoy!

Listen:

download program (146MB, 2 hrs 39 min)

Artist: “Track” – Album (Label)
KRS-One: “Sound of Da Police” – Classics from Hip Hop’s Holy Grail (Sessions)
Tha Alkoholiks: “Make Room” – Hip Hop Forever (BBE)
Blue Scholars: “Blue School” – Blue Scholars (Massline)
Lyrics Born: “Callin’ Out” – Later That Day (Quannum Projects)
Tenor Saw: “Ring the Alarm” – 200% Dynamite (Soul Jazz)
The Upsetters: “Live Injection” – 200% Dynamite (Soul Jazz)
Purna Das Baul: “Sonogo Aian Dada” – Bauls of Bengal (Cramworld)
Musafir: “Roomal” – Dhola Maru (Sounds True )
Nat Saunders: “Round & Round the Barroom” – The Bahamas: Islands of Song (Smithsonian Folkways)
Nico & L’African Fiesta Sukisa: “Banoko” – 1968/1973 (Sonodisc)
Adikwa Depala: “C.C.T. Ebongisi Mokiri” – The World is Shaking: Cubanismo from the Congo, 1954-55 (Honest Jon’s)
Bowane: “Kotiya Zolo Te” – Roots of Rumba Rock: Congo Classics 1953-1955 (Crammed)
Pablito & l’Orchestre African Fiesta: “Domingo O Sabado” – African Fiesta (African)
Orchestre Kin-Bantou: “Bandoki 1 & 2” – Kin-Bantou (Sonafric)
Rex Williams: “Ererimbot Ayafung Oko” – Club Africa Vol. 2: Hard African Funk, Afro-Jazz, & Original Afro-Beat (Strut)
Tlahoun Gèssèssè: “Tchuheten Betsemu” – Éthiopiques 17: Tlahoun Gèssèssè (Buda Musique)
Betty Everett & The Willie Dixon Band with Ike Turner: “Tell Me Darling” – King Cobra: The Chicago Sessions (Fuel 2000)
5 Spiritual Tones: “Bad Situation” – Good God! A Gospel Funk Hymnal (Numero Group)
Doug Wintz: “Whelp” – Watts Funky (BGP)
Free Som Orchestra: “The King’s Bounce” – Ultimate Brazilian Breaks & Beats (Murge Discos)
The Apostles: “Six Pack” – Kapp 7″ (Kapp)
La Perfecta: “Toutt Moune Boule” – Creole Love Calls – Rythmes Latins Des Antilles (Isma’a)
Arsenio Rodriguez: “Porfiando El Gallo Muere” – La Pachanga (Fania)
Hugh Masekela: “Emavungweni” – Grrr (Verve)
Michael Zerang: “El Magnifico” – Redmoon Theater’s The Ballad of Frankie and Johnny (Eighth Day Music)
Taj Mahal: “A Little Soulful Tune” – Giant Step (RCA)
Golden Gate Quartet: “Let That Liar Alone” – Travelin’ Shoes (Bluebird)
Peter Tosh: “Treat Me Good” – The Toughest (Heartbeat)
Ian Gordon-Lennox: “Little Man’s World” – Low Brass (Altrisuoni)
Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet: “Salvatore” – Saxhouse (Knitting Factory Works)
Misha Mengelberg/Steve Lacy/George Lewis/Arjen Gorter/Han Bennink: “The Happenings” – Change of Season (Music of Herbie Nichols) (Soul Note)
Joan Jeanreaud & PC Muñoz: “Hopper” – Pop-Pop (Deconet)
Matana Roberts: “Libation for Mr. Brown: Bid em in…” – Coin Coin Chapter One: Les Gens de Couleur Libres (Constellation)
Amir ElSaffar Two Rivers Ensemble: “Venus, the Evening Star” – Inana (Pi)
Karl E.H. Seigfried: “The Boxing Bassist Suite: Portrait of Jack Johnson” – Portrait of Jack Johnson (Imaginary Chicago)

WNUR Conference of the Birds, 2012-02-07 (complete) [ 2:39:26 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

“Conference of the Birds” is my weekly radio program on WNUR-FM. It airs on Tuesdays from 5-7:30 am Chicago time (UTC-5). And, of course, when technology cooperates, you can just come here for the archives. You can subscribe to the podcast with this URL (click here to subscribe in iTunes).

This week’s show is mostly not for the listeners with the short attention spans. Many of the songs are in the 8+ minute range, although there are a couple of punchy soul and latin numbers in the mix as well.

Enjoy!

Listen:

download program (138MB, 2 hrs 31 min)

Artist: “Track” – Album (Label)
João Gilberto: “É Preciso Perdoar” – João Gilberto (Polydor (Brazil))
Tom Christensen: “Nostalgia” – Paths (Playscape)
Eri Yamamoto Trio: “We’ll Figure Out Blues” – In Each Day, Something Good (AUMFidelity)
Horace Silver: “Sighin’ and Cryin’” – Song for my Father (Blue Note)
Kahil El Zabar Trio: “The Ebullient Duke” – Love Outside of Dreams (Delmark)
Robert Marcel Lepage: “Mustang Dimitri” – Les Clarinettes Ont-Elles un Escalier de Secours? (Ambiances Magnetiques)
Chris McGregor Trio: “Church Mouse” – Our Prayer (Fledg’ling Records)
Live Action Brass Band: “…And Justice For All” – Horn to Horn (Outpost Productions)
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble: “Hypnotic” – Hypnotic Brass Ensemble (Honest Jon’s)
Nkengas: “Jungle Funk” – Club Africa (Strut)
Barry Waite & Ltd: “Funky Sting Part 1” – Out On A Funky Trip: Funk, Soul & Reggae From Randy’s (Motion)
Frederick Knight: “Here After I’m Hereafter” – The Birmingham Sound: The Soul of Neal Hemphill Vol 1 (Rabbit Factory)
Etta James: “Tell Mama” – Chicago Soul: Electric Blues, Funk & Soul Of Chicago In The 1960s (Soul Jazz)
Dizzy Gillespie & Machito: “Exuberante” – Afro-Cuban Jazz Moods (Pablo)
Roberto y su Nuevo Montuno: “Monina y Ramon” – ¡Arrollando! y con sabor (Antila Productions)
Cardinal Rex Jim Lawson: “So Ala Temem” – African Music Treasures blog (Voice of America)
Freddie Hubbard: “Mr. Clean” – Straight Life (CTI)
Miles Davis: “Spanish Key” – Bitches Brew (Columbia)
Sonny Rollins: “East Broadway Run Down” – East Broadway Run Down (Impulse)
Phil Ranelin Jazz Ensemble: “In Search of the One” – Perseverance (Wide Hive)
Darren Johnston’s Gone to Chicago: “Black and Tan Fantasy” – The Big Lift (Porto Franco)

WNUR Conference of the Birds, 2012-01-24 (complete) [ 2:30:51 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

“Conference of the Birds” is my weekly radio program on WNUR-FM. It airs on Tuesdays from 5-7:30 am Chicago time (UTC-5). And, of course, when technology cooperates, you can just come here for the archives. You can subscribe to the podcast with this URL (click here to subscribe in iTunes).

This week’s show starts off in a bit of a “chamber” jazz vein, into a slightly more bop segment. Then there’s some funk, soul, gospel, a pair of reggae tunes, and then I hit a latin groove which I was enjoying, but for which I hadn’t brought enough of my own music. The last half hour or so is based on me quickly rifling through the “Continental Drift” stacks to keep the vibe alive… it wasn’t quite what I had in mind, but it worked out OK. The audio file here only has the first minute or so of Vonski’s “Have No Fear” before time ran out…

Enjoy!

Listen:

download program (142MB, 2 hrs 35 min)

Artist: “Track” – Album (Label)
Bar Kokhba: “Abdiel” – Lucifer: Book of Angels Volume 10 (Tzadik)
Jenny Scheinman: “American Dipper” – Shalagaster (Tzadik)
Thomas Dvorak: “Mr. Handagote” – Machinarium (Soundtrack) (Amanita Design)
Andrew Bird: “Carrion Suite” – Useless Creatures (Fat Possum)
Tin Hat Trio: “A Life in East Poultney” – Helium (Angel)
Alvin Batiste: “Picou” – Bayou Magic (India Navigation)
João Donato: “Little Boat” – New Sound of Brazil (RCA Victor)
Billie Holiday: “Blue Turning Grey Over You” – Billie’s Blues (Blue Note)
Oliver Nelson: “Doxy” – Taking Care of Business (Prestige New Jazz)
Mario Schiano: “Gambrinus” – Sud (Splasc(h))
Nicole Mitchell: “Center of the Earth” – Awakening (Delmark)
Steve Reid Ensemble: “Which One?” – Spirit Walk (Soul Jazz)
Herculaneum: “Dynasty” – Olives and Orchids (EF)
Karl Hector and the Malcouns: “Tamanrasset” – Tamanrasset (Stones Throw)
Incredible Bongo Band: “Okey Dokey” – Bongo Rock (Mr Bongo)
Kashmere Stage Band: “Kashmere” – The Funky 16 Corners (Stones Throw)
Gospel Soul Revivals: “If Jesus Came Today” – Good God! Born Again Funk (Numero Group)
Rose Davis: “Yes I’ve Been Crying” – 7″ (Play 101) (Play)
Melvin Davis: “It’s No News” – Detroit Soul Ambassador (Vampi Soul)
Max Romeo and the Upsetters: “Smile Out a Style” – War Ina Babylon (Island)
Beverley All Stars: “The Monster” – Funky Chicken (Trojan)
Rolling Stone and His Traditional Aces: “Igha Suo Gamwen” – Marvellous Boy: Calypso from West Africa (Honest Jon’s)
Orchestre Yaya Mas: “Rampa Rampa” – African Boogaloo: The Latinization of West Africa (Honest Jon’s)
Fruko y sus Tesos: “Manyoma” – The Afrosound of Colombia, Vol. 1 (Vampi Soul)
Puerto Rico y Su Combo: “La Cumbia del Pescador” – Cartagena! Curro Fuentes & The Big Band Cumbia and Descarga Sound of Colombia 1962-72 (Soundway)
Wganda Kenya: “Fiebre de Lepa” – The Afrosound of Colombia, Vol. 1 (Vampi Soul)
Afrosound: “Salsa con tabaco” – The Afrosound of Colombia, Vol. 1 (Vampi Soul)
Systema Solar: “Ya Veras” – Cumbia! Bestial: Urban Soundlab of the Latin Diaspora (Chusma)
Orquesta Original de Manzanillo: “A La Hora Que Me Llamen Voy” – El Son de Cuba (Milan Latino)
Papi Oviedo y sus Soneros: “Si te vas” – Encuentro entre Soneros (Candela)
Barbarito Torres: “El Amor de mi bohio” – Havana Cafe (Atlantic)
Armando Garzon with the Quinteto Oriente: “Pensamiento” – Boleros (Corason)
Chico Trujillo: “Loca” – Plato Unico Bailable (Oveja Negra)
Chicha Libre: “Indian Summer” – Sonido Amazonico (Barbes)
Von Freeman: “Have No Fear, Soul is Here” – Have No Fear (Nessa)

WNUR Conference of the Birds, 2012-01-17 (complete) [ 2:34:36 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

“Conference of the Birds” is my weekly radio program on WNUR-FM. It airs on Tuesdays from 5-7:30 am Chicago time (UTC-5). And, of course, when technology cooperates, you can just come here for the archives. You can subscribe to the podcast with this URL (click here to subscribe in iTunes).

No overarching themes or gimmicks to this week’s show. Just music: a fairly diverse mix, I guess, although in blocks without too many whiplash transitions. Not too much talking, for what it’s worth.

Enjoy!

Listen:

download program (144MB, 2 hrs 37 min)

Artist: “Track” – Album (Label)
Indigo Trio with Michel Edelin: “Call Back” – The Ethiopian Princess Meets the Tantric Priest (Rogueart)
Nomo: “The Seams” – Nomo (Ypsilanti)
Kenny Burrell: “Wavy Gravy” – Midnight Blue (Blue Note)
Bobbi Humphrey: “Jasper Country Man” – Blue Break Beats, vol. 2 (Blue Note)
The Positive Force with Ade Olatunji: “The Afrikan in Winter” – Spiritual Jazz: Esoteric, modal and Deep Jazz from the Underground 1968-77 (Jazzman)
Dudu Pukwana and Spear: “Ezilaini” – In The Townships (Earthworks)
Art Ensemble of Chicago: “Thème de Céline” – Americans Swinging in Paris (EMI)
Quantic & his Combo Barbaro: “Mambo Los Quantic” – Tradition in Transition (Tru Thoughts)
Franco et l’OK Jazz: “Yamba Leo” – Merveilles du Passe, Vol 3 (Frochot Music)
Ensemble Aux Calebasses: “Donnez Moi la Main” – Meringue! (Cook)
Attila the Hun: “Man Man Biscoe” – The Golden Age of Calypso (Buda Musique)
Dennis Alcapone: “Teach the Children” – Trojan DJ Box Set (Trojan)
Diamond Joe: “Wait a Minute” – Get Low Down: The Soul of New Orleans 1965-67 (Sundazed )
Martha and the Vandellas: “Nowhere to Run” – Dance Party (Motown)
The Pilgrim Jubilee Singers of Chicago, Illinois: “Pearly Gates” – The Old Ship of Zion (Mobile Fidelity)
The Staple Singers: “Oh La De Da” – Wattstax: the Living Word (soundtrack) (Stax)
Black On White Affair: “Bold Soul Sister, Bold Soul Brother” – Wheedle’s Groove: Seattle’s Finest in Funk & Soul 1965-1975 (Light in the Attic)
Eddie Bo: “Check Your Bucket” – New Orleans Funk (Soul Jazz)
Calypso King & the Soul Investigators: “Some Funk” – Soul Strike! (Soul Fire)
Soulsations: “Broadway Shing-a-Ling, Pt. 1” – Eccentric Soul: Mighty Mike Lenaburg (Numero Group)
Blind Lemon Jefferson: “Prison Cell Blues” – Anthology of American Folk Music (Smithsonian Folkways)
Dave Van Ronk: “Please See That My Grave Is Kept Clean” – The Folkways Years, 1959-1961 (Smithsonian Folkways)
Fred McDowell/Johnny Woods: “Shake ‘em On Down” – Arhoolie 40th Anniversary Box Set (Arhoolie)
Prisoners at the Ramsey and Retrieve State Farms, Texas: “I Need More Power” – Negro Prison Camp Worksongs (Smithsonian Folkways)
Vester Jones: “Cluck Old Hen” – Traditional Music from Grayson and Carroll Counties, Virginia: Songs, Tunes with Fiddle, Banjo and Band (Smithsonian Folkways)
Bayta Ag Bay: “Aicha” – Music from Saharan Cellphones (Sahel Sounds)
Rasha: “Aguis Mahasnik Biman” – The Rough Guide to the Music of Sudan (Rough Guide)
Haruna Ishola and his Apala Group: “Kosi Ninu Eiye” – Apala Messenger (Indigedisc)
Johnny Hodges: “You Need to Rock” – Side by Side (Verve)
Atomic: “Nära Grensen” – Feet Music (Jazzland)
Gamelan Pacifica: “Rain” – Trance Gong (What Next)
Shivkumar Sharma, Brij Bushan Kabra, Hariprasad Chaurasia: “Dhun – Mishra Kirwani” – Call of the Valley (EMI)
Plaw: “Briing (Tube Zither)” – Bamboo on the Mountains: Kmhmu Highlanders from Southeast Asia and the United States (Smithsonian Folkways)
Matana Roberts, Josh Abrams & Chad Taylor: “Sons of Slaves” – Sticks & Stones (482 Music)

WNUR Conference of the Birds, 2012-01-10 (complete) [ 2:37:08 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

“Conference of the Birds” is my weekly radio program on WNUR-FM. It airs on Tuesdays from 5-7:30 am Chicago time (UTC-5). And, of course, when technology cooperates, you can just come here for the archives. You can subscribe to the podcast with this URL (click here to subscribe in iTunes).

Today’s show begins with a memorial for the late Sam Rivers, who among other accomplishments, performs on the namesake album for the show. I’m no Sam Rivers expert, but it was a pleasure to spend 45 minutes going over some of his music.

The rest of the show was solidly in the jazz vein, including an old track by DKV trio, who I saw put on a great show at Hideout last week, and a track from Herculaneum, who celebrate the release of their next album tomorrow night. (Unfortunately I didn’t have that album to play, but hopefully we’ll get it at the station soon.) Several other tracks I played today are either new to me or rediscoveries—it felt fresh to me, and hopefully it will to you as well.

Enjoy!

Listen:

download program (133MB, 2 hrs 25 min)

Artist: “Track” – Album (Label)
Dave Holland Quartet: “Conference of the Birds” – Conference of the Birds (ECM)
Sam Rivers: “Dawn” – Sizzle (Impulse)
Sam Rivers Rivbea Orchestra: “Arcs” – Aurora (Rivbea Sound Company)
Sam Rivers Trio: “Smoke” – Firestorm (Rivbea Sound Company)
Steven Bernstein w/the Sam Rivers Trio: “Lucky” – Diaspora Blues (Tzadik)
William Parker Raining on the Moon: “James Baldwin to the Rescue” – Raining on the Moon (Thirsty Ear)
Letta Mbulu: “Aredze” – Letta Mbulu Sings (EMI Import)
Mary Lou Williams: “Medi I” – Zoning (Smithsonian Folkways)
Oscar Pettiford: “Titoro” – Another One (Bethlehem)
Ethnic Heritage Ensemble: “Brother Malcolm” – Three Gentlemen from Chikago (Moers)
Jason Stein Quartet: “Little Big Horse” – The Story This Time (Delmark)
World Saxophone Quartet: “Picasso” – Breath of Life (Nonesuch)
Vijay Iyer: “Epistrophy” – Solo (ACT)
Trevor Watts & Veryan Weston: “Exchanged Frequencies” – 5 More Dialogues (Emanem)
DKV Trio: “Double Holiday” – Baraka (Okkadisk)
Herculaneum: “Puerto Jimenez” – Olives and Orchids (EF)
Nicole Mitchell Black Earth Strings: “Mama Found Out” – Renegades (Delmark)
Eastern Blok: “Tesla” – Eastern Blok (self-released)
Ibsen’s Ghosts: “Improvisation #1” – Ibsen’s Ghosts (Not Two)
Darren Johnston’s Gone to Chicago: “Two Ways of Running” – The Big Lift (Porto Franco)

WNUR Conference of the Birds, 2012-01-03 (complete) [ 2:25:14 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download