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. [...]

Musician/composer Patrick Bettison has been feverishly composing tunes for his second album. The album will feature him on chromatic harmonica. As he writes his new tunes, he’s been recording demos of them. Edible Plants reminds me of a French movie or walking through the leaves on a lovely fall day.

Since I wrote a review for Gilfema’s latest album the other day, I thought it would be good to put up a video from their self-titled first album, Gilfema. Enjoy.

Gilfema , Lionel Loueke, Ferenc Nemeth, Massimo Biolcati “Dream” (mp3) from “Gilfema” (ObliqSound) Buy at Rhapsody Buy at Napster Stream from Rhapsody Buy at Puretracks [...]

When I was little this was one of my top rollerskating songs. I loved everything on the Live At Birdland album.
This performance was recorded in 1963. Enjoy!

This is from a 1997 performance at the North Sea Jazz Festival.

This is a live performance from the North Sea Jazz Festival in 2007. I think it’s a humorous performance. It’s good but also humorous.

I don’t what the relationship between Charlie Parker and Coleman Hawkins was but I would say from looking at the body language in this video that they didn’t like each other. Maybe they had a little bit of a disagreement before this was shot.

Originally from Benin, Lionel Loueke is an excellent guitarist and though he doesn’t consider himself a singer, I’d say he is. If I could make anything that sounded even remotely as good or interesting with my voice, I’d call myself a singer. He didn’t even start playing music until he was in his late teens. [...]

I just got home from walking to the grocery store. I needed to pick up a few odds and ends for dinner. The walk to the store takes about a twenty minutes. The weather is beautiful today–clear sky, nice breeze. The whole time I was walking this song was going through my head.