Mambo Legends Orchestra!

The former musicians of the Tito Puente Orchestra have come together as the Mambo Legends Orchestra. The Mambo Legends Orchestra brings all of its incredible musicians together under their new name to bring their music to an international audience and to further explore the music which they have been masters of playing for over 30 years. The Mambo Legends Orchestra is led by John ‘Dandy’ Rodriguez, Mitch Frohman and musically directed by Jose Madera, each having spent over 25 years working with Tito Puente. The focus of the band is driven by their dedication to keeping the sound of the 50′s and 60′s Palladium era music thriving and moving forward. The Orchestra has successfully kept the sound of the Big 3 (Machito, Tito Rodriguez and Tito Puente) alive and well, while allowing for its progression by working with new musical concepts.

You can check out more, read and listen to their new release “Watch Out! Ten Cuidao!” by going to Mambo Legends Website.

Here is a clip of the band at Martin Cohen’s house under his congahead video and blog series recorded December 2011.

Enjoy.

Dazzle

This is from a wonderful night of music at Dazzle for Greg Harris‘s Glass Gold CD release shows. Including Greg Harris on piano and marimba, Matt Fuller on guitar, Jonathan Lee Stuart on sax, Jon Gray and Erinn Bone on trumpet, John Grigsby on bass and Mark Emmons on drums.

WOMAD: Robert Plant, Justin Adams and Juldeh Camara & Band

Born in 1966 in Basse, West Africa, Juldeh Camara is a Gambian griot and master musician, playing the Riti (one-stringed fiddle). He teams up with British guitarist Justin Adams who is a long time player of world music, as well as being the guitarist and co-writer for Robert Plant. In addition, he has produced all three of Malian desert blues band Tinariwen’s acclaimed albums. This collaboration is an exciting over lapping of delta blues and west african Mali blues with rock mixed in. Searing fiddle riffs, ancient string grooves provide an incredible range and flexibility…it is hard to believe so much emotion can come from one string. Listening to them play off one another you can hear and feel the cultural sharing.

New Release of “Musst Musst.”

When I was in India in 1996 the song “Musst Musst” by Nustrat Fateh Ali Khan was a big hit, being played everywhere…radio, rickshaws, guesthouses, restaurants, in the air….It is nice to see this song being redone so well with a world fusion approach.   This is off of Kiran Ahluwalia release “Aam Zameen: Common Ground” with Tinariwen, a wonderful mix of Indian/Quwwali with West African blues infused by Tuareg musicians from Mali.

Tales From the Sahel~ Baaba Maal

Tales from the Sahel, Baaba Maal sits with renowned music journalist and author Chris Salewicz to discuss his personal experiences growing up in Africa and traveling the world, his views on issues facing Africa and the African diaspora, as well as other assorted issues of the day. As part of this project, Maal also performs an impromptu and unplugged set, making this a unique and exciting evening, culture and of course the great vocal talents of Baaba Maal.

We were honored to open up and sit in on a few tune for him!

The New World Citizen Quartet opening for Baaba Maal

Playing For Change Day

Found: http://www.playingforchange.com/blog/

If you haven’t heard about Playing For Change Day, you need to check this link. The first annual Playing For Change Day is taking place September 17th, and is going to be celebrated by thousands of people all over the world. Musicians are taking to the streets and stages in their communities to raise funds and awareness for Playing For Change Foundation, a non-profit organization that is  bringing music education programs to children around the world.

There are many ways you can participate in Playing For Change Day! Musicians, you cancreate an event in your community, or transform an existing gig you have on September 17th into a PFC Day event. If you are not a musician, you can still host a Playing For Change Day event– many yoga studios are holding “Yoga For Change” events at their studios; a couple whose wedding is on PFC Day is donating to the cause in lieu of buying party favors for their guests; one young woman is even hula hooping for change! How creative can you get? Log in to playingforchangeday.org and show us!

If hosting an event is not in the cards for you this year, you can still support Playing For Change Day by spreading the word and by attending other folks’ events. There are currently more than 75 events to choose from in dozens of countries. Get out there and have fun! Enjoy the music and the community energy of the world coming together to support music education.

Play a Song. Change the World.

-Jeremy