#4893, Music for the Native Americans
Hear extensions of pow-wow traditions from Medicine Singers and guitarist Yonatan Gat which may touch on psych-punk and spiritual jazz; avant-hip hop with pow-wow singer Joe Rainey; contemporary indigenous jazz from bassist and bandleader Mali Obomsawin; and music by First Nations song carrier Jeremy Dutcher.
Listen to music from The Medicine Singers which has its unexpected dual origins in both Native American powwow music and musical improvisation, and can range from psychedelic punk to spiritual jazz and electronic music. Hear some of the physical power of the powwow drum, together with New York guitarist Yonatan Gat. See Medicine Singers with Lee Ranaldo in New York, at Kaufman Music Center on June 15, as part of the 25th Annual New York Guitar Festival.
Also, hear music from Pow Wow singer Joe Rainey, of the Ojibwe community in Minneapolis which fuses traditional melodies and “vocables” (Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork) with the producer Andrew Broder in something of an avant-hip hop partnership. Then, there’s work by Native American bassist, singer and bandleader Mali Obomsawin, who is from a Wabanaki family in New England, which explores the heritage and experience of Indigenous jazz. Listen to music from the album, Sweet Tooth, which features field recordings and vocals in both English and Abenaki.
Listen also to music by Jeremy Dutcher, the classically trained Two-Spirit song carrier, composer, activist, and ethnomusicologist, who is a Member of the Wolastoqiyik People of the Neqotkuk (formerly known as Tobique First Nation) in Eastern Canada. Dutcher’s music features archival recordings of their Wolastoq ancestors, as well as choral-leaning music with elements of jazz and pop from the album Motewolonuwok (People of great spiritual power). Plus, hear music by Robbie Robertson, of The Band, who is Mohawk, and grew up on reservation outside of Toronto, and more. - Caryn Havlik
Program #4893, Music for the Native Americans (First aired 6/11/2024)
ARTIST: Robbie Robertson & The Red Road Ensemble
WORK: Ancestor Song [2:00]
RECORDING: Music For The Native Americans
SOURCE: Capitol / EMI Records 28295
INFO: Available at Amazon.com
ARTIST: Medicine Singers
WORK: Sunset [6:19]
RECORDING: Medicine Singers
SOURCE: Stone Tapes
INFO: https://medicinesingers.bandcamp.com/album/medicine-singers
ARTIST: Bizhiki
WORK: Gigawaabamin (Come Through) [3:09]
RECORDING: Unbound
SOURCE: Jagjaguwar
INFO: https://www.bizhiki.org
ARTIST: Joe Rainey
WORK: b.e. son [3:31]
RECORDING: Niineta
SOURCE: 37d03d
INFO: https://joe-rainey.bandcamp.com/album/niineta
ARTIST: Joe Rainey
WORK: turned engine (feat. Allie Bearhead) [3:58]
RECORDING: Niineta
SOURCE: 37d03d
INFO: https://joe-rainey.bandcamp.com/album/niineta
ARTIST: Robbie Robertson & The Red Road Ensemble
WORK: Cherokee Morning Song [2:58]
RECORDING: Music For The Native
SOURCE: Capitol / EMI Records 28295
INFO: Available at Amazon.com
ARTIST: Jim Pepper
WORK: Witchi-Tai-To (Song) [1:00]
RECORDING: Pepper's Powwow
SOURCE: Embryo #SD-731. LP
INFO: Out of print, but try auction sites
ARTIST: Mali Obomsawin
WORK: Pedegwajois [5:41]
RECORDING: Sweeth Tooth
SOURCE: Out Of Your Head Records
INFO: mali-obomsawin.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Jeremy Dutcher
WORK: Ultestakon [3:41]
RECORDING: Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa
SOURCE/INFO: jeremydutcher1.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Robbie Robertson & The Red Road Ensemble
WORK: Twisted Hair [3:22]
RECORDING: Music For The Native
SOURCE: Capitol / EMI Records 28295
INFO: Available at Amazon.com
ARTIST: Jeremy Dutcher
WORK: Sakom [2:02]
RECORDING: Motewolonuwok
SOURCE:Secret City Records
INFO: https://jeremydutcher1.bandcamp.com/album/motewolonuwok
ARTIST: Robbie Robertson & The Red Road Ensemble
WORK: Ancestor Song [1:00]
RECORDING: Music For The Native Americans
SOURCE: Capitol / EMI Records 28295
INFO: Available at Amazon.com
