Top 10 World Music Albert Nijmolen

With the winter makings its entrance, it was good moment to play some of the excellent records that were released this year. Here are my favourite 10 World albums of 2010.





C.W. Stoneking - Jungle Blues - King Hokum
Hanibal Velasquez - Mambo Loco - Analog Africa
Ebo Taylor- Love and Death - Strut
Ali Farka & Toumani Diabaté - World Circuit
Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars - Rise and Shine
Afrocubism - Afrocubism - World Circuit
Hanggai - He Who Travels Far - World Connection
Deolinda - Dois Selos E Um Carimba - World Connection
Mulatu Astatke - Mulatu Steps Ahead - Strut
Opa Cupa - Centrodipermanenza - Emergency

Albums to look out for in 2011 based on what I was fortunate to hear of either in full or snippets.

Yemen Blues - label unknown
Singer Ravid Kahalani and his band made a stunning appearance at Babel Med and WOMEX this year

Fatoumata Diawara - World Circuit
This charming singer song writer shows her song and performance skills in a unique way for Malian standards

Orchestre Poly-rythmo de Cotonou - Strut
A very strong contender to follow up in a more funky way to the succes of Orchestra Baobab

Blick Bassy - World Connection
He followed the slave route from Cameroon to Brazil and stopped on the wway in Benin, Senegal and cape Verde. Beautiful songs on an album that includes Lenine, Marco Suzano, Richard Bona, Regis Gizavo and more.

Mariza - EMI/World Connection
back to the roots with the album Fado Traditional

and more

Hanggai videos of Dutch TV & Tour

Watch the two songs performed by Hanngai on Dutch TV

Four Seasons



Borulai



See below widget for upcoming tours

Check out music from World Connection

Check out music from World Connection

Mor Karbasi trailer

The World Sessions concept has as purpose to get to know an artist better. It starts with a short film "A day in the life of", followed by an IV on stage and the concert. Afterwards there is a meet & greet with the artist.

You can watch a small trailer of the film by clicking on the image.

Mor Karbasi came over this weekend to record the program with the glass stage
"Vrije geluiden", watch the trailer for the program in which also Hanggai played

Mor Karbasi and Hanggai on Dutch TV

Vrije Geluiden, the program known by non Dutch citizens as the TV program with the big windows had recorded yesterday World Sessions artist Mor Karbasi and our label artist Hanggai, the Mongolian punk band.

The program can be seen this Sunday 7th November 10:30 at Ned. 1

Mor Karbasi on Dutch TV and tour World Sessions

Ladino Diva Mor Karbasi will be touring Holland as part of the World Sessions series. She will come to Holland next week for promotion in which she will record for national TV program "Vrije Geluiden" two songs. TV program will be broadcasted Sunday morning 7th November.

Mor Karbasi World Sessions tour

13/11 Vredenburg Utrecht
18/11 Korzo Den Haag
19/11 Podium Mozaiek Amsterdam
20/11 De Doelen Rotterdam
21/11 Theaters Tilburg Tilburg
23/11 De Oosterpoort Groningen

More info;

www.worldsessions.nl
www.morkarbasi.com

Four star reviews Hanggai in the UK

Raving reviews Hanggai in the UK in major Pop/Rock Magazines

'Like Tinariwen, Hanggai were put on this planet to revive
your love of old-school riffage. Embrace them'
David Hutcheon, MOJO

"Mongolian band beef up their 'chinagrass' on atmosperic album"


Watch this Xiger Xiger compilation on youtube

Hanggai 5 star review in the Beijing Time Out.


Africa Unsigned competition in Amsterdam

TEDxAmsterdam & Africa Unsigned competition for 3 female artists from Kenya

Africa Unsigned Provides a Platform for Kenyan Artists during TEDx Amsterdam
THE NEW AFRICAN SOUND IS CLOSER THROUGH CROWDFUNDING
Amsterdam, 16th September 2010 – Monday the 20th September initiator Pim Betist and Jazz pianist Mike del Ferro will kick off a unique crowd funding competition during TEDxChange Amsterdam. Africa Unsigned and TEDx Amsterdam will give the winning artist the opportunity to perform live on stage on the 30th of November in the National Theater of Amsterdam. The Kenyan artist who raises the largest amount of money before the 30th of October will be offered travel costs, accommodation, studio time and a performance at the prestigious TEDx Amsterdam event on the 30th of November. TED is a small nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. TEDx stands for independently organized event. A new program that enables local communities such as schools, businesses, libraries, neighborhoods or just groups of friends to organize, design and host their own independent, TED-like events
Voting with your wallet
Music fans including the Africa Unsigned community can support their favorite artist with a minimum amount of 1 US dollar. For this competition three Kenyan African artists have been nominated : Muthoni, Neema and Liz Ogumbo. A minor investment from a large group of music lovers could make it possible for these artists to enjoy a brighter future in the music industry. By investing in one of the Kenyan artists music fans get a chance to win an invitation to see their favorite artist perform live at TEDx Amsterdam on the 30th of November. All of the money invested during this competition will be eventually be invested towards the recording of a professional EP. Investing is open to everyone on www.africaunsigned.com .

Co-Operation
The ambitious character and innovative approach of both Africa Unsigned and TEDx Amsterdam made their co-operation a logical approach. Program Director of TEDx Amsterdam, Monique van Dusseldorp: “ In our program we provide a platform for new and upcoming artists. The manner in which Africa Unsigned supports artists in Africa to break through in the western music industry is one we would like to support by offering them a platform for their skills. Pim Betist has a unique way of working that identifies with the philosophies of TED.”

Performance in Amsterdam’s Stadsschouwburg
The Kenyan artist that brings in most money through the investments of fans before the 30th of October will perform in Amsterdam’s “Stadsschouwburg” on the 30th November 2010 during the TEDx Amsterdam event. Travel and accommodation costs are taken care of by TEDx. In addition to that, the artist will also be offered some valuable studio time while in Amsterdam.

Crowd funding
All artists who reach the amount of $10,000 will be able to record a professional EP and receive guidance and promotion from Africa Unsigned. The music is distributed to all the fans that supported the artist. Africa Unsigned promotes the EP and distributes it to all online music stores (including iTunes and Amazon). The profits are shared equally between the fans and the artist.

Embed Code:

Somi kicks of a new World Sessions season

This month a new season of World Sessions starts again. Jazz/Soul singer Somi, born in Illinois with parents from Rwanda and currently living in New York, kicks of 25th September in Utrecht (Vredenburg). Somi worked in the past with artists like John Legend, Cassandra Wilson, Mos Def and paul Simon. On her latest album "If the Raines come first" she had the pleasure to work with South African icon Hugh Masekela.

Somi will be on live Dutch Television and radio during her Dutch tour.

25/9 Vredenburg - Utrecht
29/9 De Oosterpoort - Groningen
01/10 De Doelen - Rotterdam
02-10 Podium Mozaiek - Amsterdam
03-10 Theaters Tilburg - Tilburg

www.worldsessions.nl

Fatoumata Diawara plays showcase at WOMEX

Fatoumata Diawara got quite some attention when she toured with Oumou Sangare for the last year.
This has resulted in a record deal with World Circuit and the first songs should see the light very soon in the form of an EP. Most recently Herbie Hancock released his new project "Imagine" in which Fatoumata is doing vocals on one of the songs.
In October Fatou has been invited to perform a showcase in Copenhage at the WOMEX. Her new album is due for Spring 2011. Her bookings are done by her agent World Connection Agency.

Credits picture copyright 2010 Afro Pfingsten Festival

Blick Bassy tours the world and records new album

Having played recently in Isle the Reunion, Angola and The Netherlands, Blicks "Leman tour" brings him in the coming months to Cape Verde, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Zanzibar, Holland and his native France. Blick just returned from Rio de Janeiro where he recorded with the help of Lenine, the basis of his new record. With earlier collaborater Jean Lamoot, he will finish the album in Paris. The album is taking the slave route from Cameroon to Brazil with stop overs in Benin, Senegal and Cape Verde. Blick Bassy is expect to release his second album middle of February 2011.

New album Mariza almost ready

While most of us were enjoying a holiday, Mariza made it in August to a nice studio in downtown Lisbon to record her upcoming new album.
After having recorded already classic contemporary albums like Terra and Transparente, Mariza returns to traditional fado.

After several years of extensive research into Fado’s most beloved and historic songs, Mariza returns to her roots, and will present a collection of traditional fados close to her heart.

The album is expected to be released in Portugal before Christmas and followed by a Spring 201 release in Europe.

Hello World, hello Choc Quib town

The very first post from World Connection’s blog “Bringing you the world”. We are settling in our new office in Haarlem this week and made our first signing there for Europe. Colombian sensation from the Pacifico “Choc Quib Town” will be released 13th April. Fresh off a Latin GRAMMY nomination for “Best New Artist,” the group is originally from the Chocó region on Colombia’s Pacific coast. They fuse hip hop, electronica and funk with traditional Afro-Colombian rhythms.

After traveling across the globe in 2009, and their success in showcases such as SXSW in USA and WOMEX in Europe, ChocQuibTown is making important moves! Their music crosses languages and cultural barriers, making their shows a big hit in India, UK, France, Argentina, Switzerland, Belgium or wherever it is they take the stage.

This summer they will hit the festival stages in Europe, their schedule we will announce later in this blog. Check out one of their video’s “De Donde Vengo Yo” below