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2007 FAVORITES (haven't done lists since...)

This is my 2007 favorites list. A couple of caveats: as always there are many worthy cd's that didn't get auditioned. If a cd has two outstanding tracks, I think that's pretty good. The truth is I seldom find cd's that have 3+ tracks for Tangents play.

I've included e-commerce links for hard to find cd's and also background info links.

TANGENTIAL LABEL OF THE YEAR

The Tangential label of the year goes to Istanbul based Doublemoon which landed 4 titles among my favorites. Like Tangents, Doublemoon has a cross-pollinating vision.

Their website is http://www.doublemoon.com.tr/

Second place goes to World Village/Harmonia Mundi which does an excellent job signing and licensing African and European artists.

At the bottom of the list are links to other programmers I respect who have compiled lists, including one European dj collective that compiled the Top 974!

If you have questions about choices or wish to suggest additions, let me know.

2007 Tangents Top Whatever

If the title is in CAPS, it is highly recommended.

* An asterisk means it was new to me in 2007 although it was released in 2006.

The list is not necessarily in order although Arto may be my overall favorite for the second year in a row. (loved 2006's Love is Not in Your Mind)

ARTO TUNCBOYACIYAN AND THE ARMENIAN NAVY BAND - HOW MUCH IS YOURS? (Svota Music)

One-of-kind Armenian singer, percussionist and composer. His band is versatile and talented - At times their spirit reminds me of Zappa's large jazz ensembles in the late 60's /early 70's. Serious musicianship with a sense of humor. But the real story is Arto's voice. When melancholic, it'll break your heart, yet astound you in its beauty.

This cd is not available in stores or on-line. I have 10 copies for sale from the original limited edition printing. They are available for a $30 contribution or more. All proceeds go to the Naregatsi Art Institute located in Yerevan, Armenia. I was blown away by this place when I visited Armenia this past April. It receives no government or NGO funding. It is 100% supportive of artists and projects for children and the disabled. Check out http://www.naregatsi.org/. It was my second home while I visited Yerevan. If you'd like to donate without getting a cd in return - that's of course welcome. Contributions are not tax deductible. There is no deadline. I will forward funds to Naregatsi as often as necessary.

Make checks out to "Tangents Radio".

Send to:

Dore Stein
301 Gambier St.
SF CA 94103

The Arto cd's go to the first 10 folks who request one.

Thanks much!

And get this - it looks like the next Tangents Party will be an afternoon solo concert with Arto Tuncboyaciyan on Sunday, Feb. 10th. More later...

TAKSIM TRIO - TAKSIM TRIO (Doublemoon)

Sublime sounds from this Istanbul based trio, who were part of the 2007 Tangents Turkey Music tour and hopefully will again in '08. The interplay between the kanun, clarinet and baglama (saz) is gorgeous. Every track is a gem. Seamless, improvisational cohesion not unlike the emotive atmospherics of "In A Silent Way".

http://www.tulumba.com/storeItem.asp?ic=MU901017IG789

ANDY PALACIO & THE GARIFUNA COLLECTIVE - WATINA (Cumbancha)

Shame on me for letting this cd sit on my audition pile for months...it is so good in so many ways.

After reading about this recording, I wanted to like it because it's rooted in a culture, the Garifuna, that had been forgotten and is still endangered.

http://www.cumbancha.com/welcome.php?_pg=albums/watina

But the music as always is the bottom-line and every track rewards. Listen to this cd in one sitting and let it soak through.

This recording is a prime example of music as a force for positive change. Andy Palacio was recently designated as a UNESCO Artist for Peace. And most importantly the success of Watina has sparked a Garifuna music revival in Belize where Andy is from. African-Amerindian Garifuna communities also exist in Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. But in countries such as Nicaragua the Garifuna culture has all but disappeared. The language of the Garifuna is still in jeopardy of dying out. But with the international success of Watina, there is hope that Garifuna traditions will remain relevant for generations to come.

KIRAN AHLUWALIA - WANDERLUST (Times Square)

Indo Canadian ghazal singer with a crack band and lovely voice, who put on a memorable Tangents concert earlier this year at Saint Gregory's Church. She is a pioneer in combining ghazal and Portuguese fado and even has a track integrating North African desert grooves.
Check out Kiran's Press Release at rockpaperscissors.

* JOHN DANLEY AMBER DISPOSITIONS (A Priori)

One of the most astounding acoustic guitarists on earth. Those who saw him at the 2007 Tangents party know what I'm talking about. It's unfortunate few know about John, but you now have no excuse. This cd displays Danley's creativity, versatility and remarkable technique. He has pioneered the use of a paint brush as a percussive instrument on the guitar.

http://www.johndanley.com/

Bettye LaVette - Scene of the Crime (Anti)

Tangential soul singer numero uno - she's the real deal. Bettye pours every ounce of her being into her songs.

Check out interview on Fresh Air.

SABAHAT AKKIRAZ "Turku Hayattir" (Akkiraz)

One of my favorite singers and her new cd does not disappoint. I also love her longtime baglama (saz) player Erol Parlak. Sabahat performed on the 2007 Tangents Turkey Music Tour and we may do something special with Sabahat on the '08 tour.

http://www.tulumba.com/storeItem.asp?ic=MU900787IC196

* Ellen McIIwaine - Mystic Bridge (EMM)

I loved Ellen during my free-form rock days on WQBK-FM in Albany, N.Y. and she has not lost a lick. Bluesy slide guitar with cross-cultural influences - lots of tabla accompaniment on this recording.

http://www.ellenmcilwaine.com/

Mavis Staples - We'll Never Turn Back (Anti)

Mavis is in top form. This is a marriage made in gospel blues heaven: Mavis Staples and Ry Cooder. Ry produced it and his deft slide work is on display.

http://www.mavisstaples.com/

Tinariwen - Aman Inman (World Village)

The world's top desert blues band. "Amassakoul" is still my favorite album but "Aman Iman" is no slouch.

For all you ever wanted to know about Tinariwen check out:

http://www.tinariwen.com/downloads/presspack.pdf

Selim Sesler - Anatolian Wedding (Doublemoon)

My favorite Turkish Roma (Gypsy) clarinetist. Selim can cry or party on the clarinet like few can. He is featured in the documentary: "Crossing the Bridge: Sounds of Istanbul". He has been a mainstay on the Tangents Turkey Music Tour the last two years. I'm hoping for three in a row.

Floratone - Floratone (Blue Note)

A four member collective that excels at Tangential grooves. The ensemble is Tangenital Hall-of-Famer Bill Frisell, drummer Matt Chamberlain, and producers Tucker

Martine and Berkeley based Lee Townsend who has been an occasional Tangents fill-in host. Lee describes Floratone as "futuristic roots music".

More at http://floratone.com

Malouma - Nour (Marabi, distributed by Harmonia Mundi)

She is from Mauratania, at the heart of the crossroads between Arabic and black Africa. She has a voice for the ages and I can't imagine not loving something about every recording she's involved with. This cd is somewhat uneven stylistically due to post-production changes. But it's still plenty good although my favorite is the bluesier "Dunya" cd that preceded it.

I love Malouma's spirit. She is not afraid to tackle provocative issues that have infuriated authorities in Mauratania such as arranged marriages and inequality. She has persevered with her work despite being subject to Mauratania's authoritarian regime (finally overthrown in August '05), which would not allow her to sing freely.

http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/7441828/a/Nour.htm

http://calabash.typepad.com/world_music_advocate/2007/07/malouma---nour.html

Son de la Frontera - Cal (World Village)

Quite simply my favorite flamenco group both on cd and live. They are coming to the Bay Area in March!

Their debut is one of my favorite cd's of all time. So you'd think their 2nd cd would be tough to measure up? Well, you'd be right. It doesn't but it's darn good.

This group has flamenco guitar and Cuban tres dual lead. That's right, Cuban tres guitar sounding perfectly at home doing flamenco. They are the rare group that is superb in the studio and even better live. They have two terrific dancers. One traditional and another anything but. And they take palmas interplay to another level.

Bottomline:

1) See them live
2) Buy their first self titled cd
3) And if you crave more, buy "Cal".

http://www.worldvillagemusic.com/anglais/artistesfiche.php?artist_id=75

Mercan Dede - 800 (Doublemoon)

Mercan just had his Breath cd released in the States. That is really a 2006 release. His true new cd just came out in Turkey and is called 800. It's named after Rumi who was born 800 years ago and whose teachings have been a major influence on Dede's music and life. As of now, Mercan says this is his last recording and he'll retire from producing music. We'll see but here's an article from the BBC:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7015907.stm

This is a surprising recording. Mercan's signature electronic Sufi groove is complemented by multi-cultural influences, particularly Persian and Indian. The textures are more vibrant and I particularly like the tracks that feature santur and/or kanun.

http://www.tulumba.com/storeItem.asp?ic=MU901129DI222

Kroke - Seventh Trip (Oriente)

Klezmer group from Krakow, Poland that pushes the envelope. ("Kroke" means Krakow.) Kroke is my favorite Tangential klez group because of their body of work to date. Most of their cd's have a couple of outstanding tracks and this is no different. In this case the opening and closing tunes.

It's interesting how often the first and last tracks on cd's are my faves. Maybe because the artist and record label try to find the best track to lead off and the most unusual track to end with?

Fave Sampler: Various Artists - Homegrown Istanbul Volume 1 (Doublemoon)

This cd captures the best in Tangential Turkish music. Outstanding artists and tracks throughout including Tangents favorites: Sabahat Akkiraz, Selim Sesler, Burhan Ocal & the Trakya All-Stars featuring Smadj, Mercan Dede, etc.

http://www.tulumba.com/storeItem.asp?ic=MU900329HI361

Fave Compilation: Jeff Buckley - So Real: Songs from Jeff Buckley (Columbia/Legacy)

Jeff Buckley is gone but not forgotten. And this compilation shows why. Anybody who uses Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Led Zeppelin as inspiration on the same tune (Dream Brother) is major Tangentially worthy.

http://www.jeffbuckley.com/

Favorite 2005 release that I heard for first time in 2007:

Sui Vesan - Merging with the Brook (World Village)

This delightful artist from Slovakia has a striking voice employing her invented language, fresh music arrangements with unusual instrumentation. There's an archived profile with sound samples from "The World":

http://www.theworld.org/?q=node/297

Excerpting from above:

"Vesan is a master of styles, which makes her approach a little hard to pin down. She has been compared to Bjork, Tracy Chapman and performance artist Laurie Anderson. Sometimes her vocalizing sounds like the traditional singing, or -- joiking -- of the Sami people of Northern Europe and Russia. Vesan's music uses an array of instruments, including the African thumb piano - the kalimba -- and the flute, along with a wide range of percussion instruments played by her husband."

http://www.worldvillagemusic.com/anglais/artistesfiche.php?artist_id=76

http://www.suimusic.com/

Favorite obscure tune from a label sampler:

Fenómenos del Corazón by Jerónimo from Disponible en cd [cd title means "Avalable on CD" and is for real] (Producciones PyP)

http://www.myspace.com/jeronimogorraez

It's one of the Tangential hit singles of the year. I have not heard the cd it comes from.
But I've been playing this track (off a label sampler) ever since I returned from Europe in October.

LINKS TO OTHER TANGENTIAL 2007 BEST OF LISTS:

http://www.giftmusic.de/wmce/2007/001099/index.html

http://worldmusiccentral.org/

This lists the top 974 world releases in order according to a collective of European
based radio dj's.

http://www.frootsmag.com/content/critpoll/index.html

fRroots is one of the two best (along with http://www.songlines.co.uk/) world/roots magazines around.

Sean Barlow has been producing Afropop Worldwide for many years. It's an excellent show and his website is a valuable resource.

Enjoy the holidays!

peace,

Dore