Despite global lockdowns (or maybe because of them?), musicians are still musicking, and new albums are being released. So we continue our monthly charts highlighting some of the best.
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Continue reading 2020-08-14 Top 10 World Music Albums, August (STG #1133)
Tony Oladipo Allen was born July 20, 1940 in Lagos, and over the next 79 years he would change the sound of drumming forever. While primarily known for the 15 years he spent as drummer and band leader with Fela Kuti, Tony Allen had a whole second career post-Fela. He not only released his own albums encompassing jazz, afrobeat, and electronica — he also collaborated with musicians ranging from Brazil’s Meta Meta to Jamaica’s Ernest Ranglin to American Jeff Mills to South Africa’s Hugh Masekela… and many more.
Tony Allen died in Paris, his home for many years, April 30 at age 79. This show is a remembrance and appreciation of his life and work. Helping put his music into context is Michael Veal, professor of ethnomusicology at Yale, leader of the Aqua Ife Big Band, and author of books including Fela: The Life And Times Of An African Musical Icon and Tony Allen: An Autobiography of the Master Drummer of Afrobeat.
We start off with songs of work and labor for May Day this week. Then a brief remembrance of Nigerian afrobeat drumming pioneer Tony Allen, who died April 30, through some of his musical collaborations. (STG will air a full tribute to Tony Allen next week.)
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Continue reading 2020-05-01 May Day + Remembering Tony Allen
Fela Kuti (born Oct. 15, 1938) planted the root of what became Afrobeat music. Today, many are carrying on his work including his sons Femi and Seun, former bandmates including Tony Allen, and countless worldwide afrobeat bands from the Warsaw Afrobeat Orchestra to Brazil’s Bixiga 70. We go from the roots to the branches on this week’s show.
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Remember to get your free Daily Spin by liking and following STG on Facebook — you’ll also get other global music and cultural news, and it’s a great place to make requests and suggestions for future episodes. Continue reading 2018-10-12 Branches of Fela’s Tree
Hear a song from each of the Top 10 new world music albums. In hour 2, more global sounds + concert previews + listener requests.
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Remember to get your free Daily Spin by liking and following STG on Facebook — you’ll also get other global music and cultural news, and it’s a great place to make requests and suggestions for future episodes. Continue reading 2017-09-15 Top 10 World Music CDs, September edition
Afrobeat drumming pioneer Tony Allen celebrated a birthday July 20, and STG follows that up with a survey of the contemporary Afrobeat scene, from Nigeria to Europe to the USA to some corners of the world where you might not expect to find Afrobeat groups.
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Remember to get your free Daily Spin by liking STG on Facebook — please like and share! FB algorithms are constricting the love and fewer people are being exposed to STG’s sounds. Your shares and likes help! Continue reading 2016-07-22 Afrobeat Flavors from Across the Globe
Visionary Nigerian drummer Tony Allen has had an amazing career, from his days with Fela Kuti to his current collaborations with all kinds of artists, from British rappers to Brazilian singer Flavia Coelho. This show features a range of his work both past and present to celebrate his 20 July birthday. Plus some other music — mostly new releases and concert previews — at the end of the show.
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Remember to get your free Daily Spin by liking STG on Facebook — please like and share! FB algorithms are constricting the love and fewer people are being exposed to STG’s sounds. Your shares and likes help! Continue reading 2015-07-17 Tony Allen Birthday Bash
I hardly need an excuse to break out the Afrobeat, and this week two concerts in Cascadia reinforce my Afrobeat inclinations. Lagos Roots Afrobeat Ensemble play at Rhythm & Rye in Olympia Oct. 25, and Chicago Afrobeat Project play at Seattle’s Nectar Lounge Oct. 30. We’ll hear from them, and from other great Afrobeat players. If you missed the recent KAOS fall membership drive, you can still become a KAOS member or renew your membership, call 360-867-6894 or visit kaosradio.org/join/
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Listen to this and past episodes of Spin The Globe free at Mixcloud. Thanks for listening! Continue reading 2014-10-24 It’s an Afrobeat World!
This week’s show starts with a celebration of the lives and music of Afrobeat originator Fela Kuti and Qawwali king Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, whose birthdays are this week. Without them, the face of “world music” would be far different. Though one is known for his vocal prowess in singing devotional Sufi music and the other for feisty anti-establishment poly-rhythmic funk-jazz, both are huge figures. Listen in to see how they sound side by side. Plus new releases from other parts of the planet in the second hour of the show.
Remember to get your free Daily Spin by liking STG on Facebook — you can also subscribe to STG’s weekly email update (and we never share/sell/spam your email). Continue reading 2013-10-11 Fela vs. Nusrat
The touring Broadway show Fela! about the Nigerian originator of Afrobeat hits Seattle next week. We celebrate with songs from the many Afrobeat bands that have since emerged worldwide, from NYC’s Antibalas to Portugal’s Cacique’97 to Fela’s own offspring who are keeping the form vibrant. Plus an interview with Jordan McLean, one of the musical directors of FELA! and a founding member of Antibalas. (Congrats to the STG listeners who won tickets to opening night during this show!)
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