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New Sounds

Saturday, June 07, 2008
  • Glenn Kotche  (Michael Wilson)
    Glenn Kotche (Michael Wilson)

    New Music for Thumb Piano

    Nearly ubiquitous in sub-Saharan Africa, the thumb piano (also known as mbira, kalimba, sanza, and other regional names) has both a musical and spiritual legacy. We’ll hear contemporary extensions of that tradition on this New Sounds program, including selections from the Congotronics project, where homemade amplification distorts the thumb piano sound so that it has an entirely different texture, and is then accompanied by wickedly insistent percussive groove. Also, listen to Wilco drummer Glenn Kotche’s latest release "Mobile," which has him performing on the thumb piano for his solo drum kit compositions. Plus, there’s music by Ugandan-born New Yorker Samite, the late Camerounian writer/composer/musician Francis Bebey, and more.

PROGRAM # 2552, New Music for Thumb Piano (First aired on Fri. 5/26/06)

ARTIST(S)

RECORDING

CUT(S)

SOURCE

Zimbabwe

Shona Mbira Music

Nhemamusasa, excerpt [1:30]

Nonesuch Explorer #79710** www.nonesuch.com

Francis Bebey

Akwaaba

Akwaaba [5:30]

Original Music #105 Out of print, but check Amazon.com*

Francis Bebey

Nandolo / With Love

Rwanda [6:00]

Original Music #027 Out of print, but check Amazon.com*

Konono No. 1

Congotronics

Paradiso [7:30]

Crammed Discs #27 **
www.crammed.be *

Samite

Embalasasa

Setula [6:30]

Triloka/Artemis #82071** www.triloka.com *

Glen Velez

Seven Heaven

Ramana [6:30]

CMP#30 Out of print, but try his site www.glenvelez.com

Glenn Kotche

Mobile

Fantasy On A Shona Theme [4:00]

Nonesuch #79927 ** www.nonesuch.com

Zimbabwe

Shona Mbira Music

Dande [4:00]

See above.

Egberto Gismonti

Sol Do Meio Dia

Kalimba [5:00]

ECM #1116 ** www.ecmrecords.com

Comments

  • [1] julieanne sullivan from Douglaston NY January 05, 2009 - 09:48AM

    This past week I listened to a show with an American guitarist that has become a master of the mbira. Could you please tell me the name of the artist and title of his CD?


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