Stop and Hear the Music

I’ve mention Gamma, Like Very Ultra on this blog before. They have a new album out and it’s really great. I’m not a music critic or anything so I’m not going to write a pretentious review of it, but I am going to say that you should check it out. Watch the video below and click here to find out more about their music.

I’m always interested in bringing exciting bands to your attention and this is one. Grand Pianoramax is a drum and piano duo that combines jazz, funk, and hip hop influences with spoken word. Swiss born, Leo Tardin is the mastermind behind the group. He won the first Montreux solo piano competition in 1999.

If you live in the New York area, check them out tonight at the Canal Room. The drummer Tardin uses changes from time to time so tonight he’ll be playing with Jojo Mayer. Spoken word will be preformed by Mike Ladd and Celena Glenn.

Here’s a video of Grand Pianoramax featuring Celena Glenn.

Grand Pianoramax
“Nikola Tesla” (mp3)
from “The Biggest Piano in Town”
(Backdrop/ObliqSound)

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Here’s a 2003 performance with Dapp Theory.

Griots are traditional storytellers. Before the use of written language in West Africa, griots were the historians and genealogists of their villages. They also advised nobility and acted as messengers and entertainers. While griots still exist, their function has changed. Now they are popular singers who perform on radio and television. They reinterpret traditional songs.

This video is about Ablaye Cissoko. It’s the promotional video for the CD, Sira, that I reviewed last week. I like it. I hope you do too.

Charlie Hunter is a pretty amazing guitarist. Since I reviewed his album Baboon Strength last week, I thought I’d put up this video of him.

Sira is a cross-cultural collaboration between German-born jazz trumpeter Volker Goetze and Senegalese Griot singer and kora player Ablaye Cissoko. A Griot is a traditional West African storyteller. A kora is a West African string instrument that is similar to a lute and sounds a bit like a harp. The album’s title, Sira, means mermaid and is the name of Cissoko’s youngest daughter.

Now you that you know what all of these things mean let’s get on with the review. Seven of the tracks are original. The other tracks are traditional kora songs arranged by Cissoko. The music on the album is sparse. All of the tracks are trumpet and kora with no additional instruments. It’s quite laid back. I find myself listening to it a lot while working. Cissoko sings on some of the tracks. His voice is moving. As a whole this CD inspires thought and provokes the imagination. That makes it perfect for writing. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, I read that ten percent of all the profits from the album go to Tostan, an organization human rights and humanitarian organization.

My favorite track on the album is Faro. Download it and see what you think.

Ablaye Cissoko, Volker Goetze
“Faro” (mp3)
from “Sira”
(ObliqSound)

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Baboon Strength is the latest release from Charlie Hunter. He recorded it with drummer Tony Mason, and keyboardist Erik Deutsch. This album, released on Hunter’s label, is a departure from what we’re used to hearing from him.

When I heard the first track, Athens, I started laughing. I just couldn’t contain myself. Baboon Strength isn’t what I expected at all. I have to admit at first I thinking, What the heck is this? But it definitately grew on me.

I love this crazy album. It’s inspired a dancing-good time in this household. It reminds me of sixties surf music recorded eighties style.

My favorite tracks are Difford_Tilbrook, Song for Karen Carpenter, and Porter_Hayes. Download a sample track from the CD below and check out the CD for a good laugh and some wild dancing.
Charlie Hunter
“Welcome to Frankfurt” (mp3)
from “Baboon Strength”
(reapandsow, Inc.)

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Charlie Hunter was born in Rhode Island on May 23, 1967. When he was four, he moved with his mother and younger sister to a commune in Mendocino County. After a few years living there, they moved to Berkeley, California. Hunter took guitar lessons from Joe Satriani.

After graduating from high school, Hunter lived in Paris briefly. When he moved back to the Bay area, he started playing seven-string guitar and organ in the political rap group, The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy. (I used to listen to them.)

In 1993, Hunter’s self-titled debut CD was released, Charlie Hunter Trio. Since that first album’s release, he has recorded 17 albums.

Here’s a 2004 solo performance.