Jewish/Algerian pianist and composer Maurice El Medioni, Grandmaster of Raï (once called the “Rubén Gonzaléz of the Maghreb”), teamed up with Cuban/Klezmer super-drummer Roberto Rodriguez on a new record for a combustible blend of Arabic, African, Jewish, and Latin elements. Surprisingly not that far apart, Algeria and Cuba are connected by a common cultural heritage originating from Andalusian Spain in the 10th century. The two exiles, Rodriguez and El Medioni, come together in this Descarga (which literally translates as ‘to unload’ and is used to refer to a Cuban jam session) and celebrate a time when Jews and Arabs met to make music and share things. Listen to tunes from this latest release “Descarga Oriental: The New York Sessions,” and more on this edition of New Sounds.

PROGRAM # 2543, Unexpected Musical Collaborations (First aired on Wednesday, May 10, 2006)

ARTIST(S)	RECORDING	CUT(S)	SOURCE
Maurice El Medioni Meets Roberto Rodriguez	Descarga Oriental: The New York Sessions	Ana Ouana [9:00]	Piranha #2003 www.piranha.de
Podjama	& Saraswati	Janger Bali [4:00]	Altrisuoni #171 www.altrisuoni.com
Michael Nyman	Live	The Upside-Down Violin [17:00]	Virgin #39917 Info at www.michaelnyman.com *
Maurice El Medioni Meets Roberto Rodriguez	Descarga Oriental: The New York Sessions	Malika [7:00]	See above.
Reconciliation, with Alan Dargin	Two Stories In One	Bis [6:00]	Natural Symphonics #1131 Out of print, but try Amazon.com*
Värttinä	Vihma	Uskottu ei Uupuvani [5:00]	Wicklow/BMG # 63262 www.varttina.com