Move over, Stradivarius!

In a recent MSNBC article, two violins infested with white fungi, which have rendered the delicate wood of the instruments soft and squishy, brought in more money at an auction than the classic Stradivarius.

Apparently the partially-decomposed wood has really good acoustic properties.

Read the full MSNBC article >>

Playlist: September 30, 2009

Playlist: September 30, 2009

7:00
Knossos - (Dark Light in the Wake of Silence)
Angels of Venice - Sins of Salome (Strange Flesh)
The Shroud - Black (Strange Flesh)
Said Mrad - Esmerim (Esmerim)
Oojami - Urban Dervish (Bellydance Breakbeats)

7:27
Natacha Atlas - I put a spell on you (The very best of Natacha Atlas)
Tarkan - Hup (Karma)
Haifa Wehbe - Bade Eish (Bade Eish)
Loreena McKennitt - Marco Polo

7:46
Chris Gacsi - Sallam 'Alay (One)
Voyage - Dreamtime, Ketschak (Kelim Dance)
Chris Gacsi -

8:12
Vagabond Opera - Hebbina; Rumeniye, Rumeniye
The Red Elvises - Scorchi Chorni, Siberia (Six-String Samurai)
The Red Elvises - Sad Cowboy Song (I Wanna See You Bellydance)
Vuisotskiy - Variations on a Gypsy Theme (Greatest Hits)

8:48
Okudjava - Devotchka Plachet, Tuman Tuman Tuman (Greatest Hits)
Sofya Rotaru - Small Incident (Glasnost)

September 23, 2009

September 23, 2009

7:00
House of Tarab - Tablah Solo
Zarbang - Circle in Seven
Gypsy Caravan - T'yem (Kabila Project)
Raquy & the Cavemen - Debke (Naked)

7:26
Tim Rayborn - Dokuc (Kabila Project)
Ruben van Rompaey - Karavansaray (Eastern Expressions)
Johannes Linstead - Journey to Alcazaba (Mediterranea)
Harry Saroyan - Cairo, Dulab el Houb, (Saroyan Sings "Cairo")
Cheb Mami - Azwaw 2 (Meli Meli)

8:02
Cheb Mami - Parisien du Nord (Meli Meli)
Faudel - Dis-moi (Baida)
Maghrebika with Bill Laswell - Matkhafsh (Neftakhir)
Cheb i Sabbah - Esh 'Dani, Alash Mshit (La Ghriba)

8:31
Karsh Kale - Home (Redesign)
MIDIval punditZ - Dark Age
Terry Oldfield - Jayadev, the Bard of Love (Spirit of India)
Umrao Jaan Soundtrack - Salaam
Roman Chowdhury - You & Me Remix

Meet Hanggai

If you will be in New York tomorrow (September 18), you might check out Hanggai, a Mongolian folk group that will be performing at the Peter Norton Symphony Space. Hanggai's characteristic sound is referred to as Chinagrass, a mix of contemporary Chinese folk music of the grasslands with rock instruments.

Khoomei -- aka "throat singing", when one person sings two notes simultaneously -- along with horsehair fiddle (morin khuur) and a two-string lute (tobshuur) are traditional elements of the music from this part of the world. Combined with punk-inspired electric guitar, this blend is sure to make for a unique concert-going experience.

Info about the group & concert via World Music Central
Find their CD on Amazon + audio samples

September 16, 2009

September 16, 2009

7:00
Orion Prophesy - Waterchild (Waterbone)
Shajarian & Kalhor - Lover's Plight (Night Silence Desert)
Turkish Nines
Voyage - Tamarkand (Kelim Dance)

7:30
Zachary J. Mechlem - Sameera
Nawal al-Zoghbi - Adi
Amr Diab - Weghalawtac (Awedony)
Belly Dancing - ?
Kardesh Turkuler - Anako/Ishler Nanay!/Gel Bize Keriz Edelim (Bahar)
Chris Gacsi - Lama Bada (One)
Divahn - Dror Yikra, Yigdal

8:00
Hashisheen - Hashish Poem (The End of Law)
Kalila - Hafla (MC World Beats 1)
Said Mrad - Beirut Chill (Esmerim)
Oojami - Neyzen (Bellydance Breakbeats)

8:26
Miriam Makeba - Pata Pata
Mahlathini & Mahotella Queens - Melodi Ya Lla (Urban Africa: Jive Hits of the Townships)
Zap Mama - Mupepe (Adventures in Afropea 1)
Ubaka Hill - Dream Shift (Beyond the Wind)
Klezmer Juice - Papirosen
Hedingarna - Vipolska (Karelia Visa)

September 9, 2009

September 9, 2009

7:00
Metkal Kenawi -- Seedi Nights
Shuvani - Ney Taxim (Dance of the Wise Woman)
NO blues - Farewell Shalabiye
Yoko Kanno - Diggin My Potato, the Egg & I (Cowboy Bebop Soundtracks)

7:20
Tarkan - Vay Anam Vay (Metamorfoz)
Said Mrad - Oriental Lament (Esmerim)
Oojami - Istanboogie (Bellydance Breakbeats)
The Mother Fakirs - Shiva's Groove

7:42
Jeff Stoff - Funky Nawari (Arabian Travels 2)
Knossos - Tarak (Dark Light in the Wake of Silence)
Shiva in Exile - Khundas (Strange Flesh)
The Shroud - Black (Strange Flesh)

8:04
Groove Alla Turka - Nihavend Longa, Habibi
Husnu Shenlenirici & Laco Tayfa - Izmir'in Kavaklari (Bergama Gaydasi)

8:25
Klezmer Connexion - Magic Carpet Ride
Metropolitan Klezmer - Uncle Moses's Wedding Dance
David Krakauer's Klezmer Madness
Vagabond Opera - Rumeniye, Rumeniye
Simply Tsfat - Vnisgav
Klezmer Juice - The Happy Nigun

World Music Festival in Chicago in September

If you can make it to the Chicago area September 20-24, this looks like a good time in Millennium Park. They're going to have 6 concerts, bringing in big names in world music.



Go to World Music Central for more the lineup and info.

Czech Folk Rock Video: Cansikou - Borrega

As best I can tell, this claymation music video by Cansikou is about sheep, rugby, and intriguingly hypnotic wavy lines. Is this provincial shepherd succumbing to the allure of violent Maori tackle sports? How do his sheep feel about it?



Hooray for Czech folk rock!

Promising-looking new albums

Keep in mind I haven't listened to either of these, but have seen them announced through World Music Central. Click on the album titles for more info.


Hossam Ramzy - Ruby (Bellydance)


She’koyokh - Sandanski's Chicken (Klezmer)

Playlist: September 2, 2009

Playlist: September 2, 2009

7:00
Hossam Ramzy - Shimmers in the sand(Eternal Egypt)
Sirocco - Cabaret Dance
Nourhan Sharif - Eb'n Hallal (Cairo)
Suhaila Salimpour featuring Susu Pampinin - Exhale (Fate)
Harry Saroyan - Midnight Fantasy (Saroyan Sings "Cairo")
Bellydance Superstars Vol. 2 - Walla Marra

8:00
Music of Islam: various artists from --
Turkey - Baqara Surah II, 1-5
Iran - Farhan'e a'vam
Morocco - Youbati
Egpyt - Bent el Balad
Yemen - Ya Rabbat el Hussein

8:30
Hashisheen - The Western Lands (The End of Law)
Ubik Heredia - Psychic Vampires; UCK Grind - Justice; Hamstar - Rapid Fire (Taqwacore Invasion)

Dalai Lama Lattes

Another MSNBC post... a coffee shop in Taiwan will draw a picture of the Dalai Lama in foam on top of your latte. Keith Olbermann on Oddball: "That looks more like Dilbert, not the Dalai Lama."

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

From MSNBC: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/vp/32650584#32650584

Obama: "Happy Ramadan"

From MSNBC:

Obama hosts dinner for Islamic holy month

President praises American Muslims for contributions to culture, country

(Photo from MSNBC)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32652126/ns/politics-white_house/
It's definitely been refreshing to see Obama honor the traditions of other religions (besides Christianity, which has always been honored by US presidents) since he's been in the White House. For those who are celebrating Ramadan, many happy blessings to you! (And to those of you who are not, as well!)