This Week's Picks (#21)

Please enjoy this week's picks.

"A Night Like This" - Caro Emerald


This track is from Dutch jazz singer Caro Emerald's debut album Deleted Scenes from the Cutting Room Floor released in 2009. She may be new on the scene, but she creates a hip twist on a throwback jazz and swing sound.

"Grand Sud" - Eugenio Bennato


Eugenio Bennato is an Italian artist who specialises in tarantella, folk music of Southern Italy. Tarantella is one of the most recognizable folk styles of Italy.

This Week's Picks (#20)

Things are a little crazy as I pack and prepare for my trip back to the States, so this week's post is abbreviated. However, I hope you enjoy and please send in your picks for Wednesday's Reader Picks!

"Sweet Home Chicago" - Robert Johnson


Ok, so I'm not going home to Chicago, but rather than criticize me you should be thanking me for not choosing Christmas music (which I have already pulled out). As I pack my bags for a holiday season at home, I do enjoy listening to this track. I'm not the only one craving my old home in the States. 

Madrid!

First, I should apologize for missing both the "This Week's Picks" and "Wednesday Reader Picks" this week, but I was in Madrid....can you blame me?

I had a wonderful time exploring the beautiful Spanish city and consuming more tapas and good Spanish wine then I would like to admit. On Monday night, I went to the jazz club, Cafe Central to enjoy a show that was part of the 2010 Madrid Jazz Festival. In return for missing the past few days' posts, here's a review of that gig:


Moisés P. Sánchez Quartet at Café Central in Madrid Monday 15th November 2010 Review

Patrons lit up cigarettes and chatted calmly amongst themselves as a drummer tested his drum kit on stage. It had all makings of a cool jazz evening. The Moisés P. Sánchez Quartet was set to perform as part of the 2010 Madrid Jazz Festival at the smaller, more “authentic” Café Central jazz club. The quartet started the evening with an energetic chart that was experimental but palatable. The quartet excelled at the showy intensity of most of their pieces, which risked becoming predictable if it weren’t for a few moments of brilliant melody and quiet reserve. The pianist, Moisés P. Sánchez, showed off throughout the night with his fast fingers and extended techniques. The quartet put on a good show that thrilled the audience and that proved to be a good addition to the Madrid Jazz Festival.

Gregory Isaacs (1951-2010)

On October 25th, Jamaican reggae singer Gregory Isaacs lost his battle with lung cancer. Isaacs led a long career singing smooth reggae, starting to record in his teens. Developing a style that was smooth and romantic, Isaacs distinguished himself as a top reggae artist. A drug addiction threaten to end his career early until his 2008 album Brand New Me proved that he was still capable of producing a top quality album. His latest album Isaacs Meets Isaac, with Zimbabwean reggae singer King Isaac, was released while he was still living.

A suggested playlist in tribute to Isaacs long and successful career includes:

“Night Nurse”


“Let’s Dance”


“Soon Forward”


“I Will Return”


“Over and Over Again”

Ana Moura's London Debut

The Portuguese fado singer, Ana Moura, finally made her London debut on Thursday at Islington’s Union Chapel. Riding on the success of her most recent album, Leva-me Aos Fados (2009), she attracted an enthusiastic audience. 

While Moura’s opening act, Pura Fé, was disappointing, Ana was a true star. Moura and her band were greeted throughout the night to thunderous applause and adoration by the audience. Her strong deep voice often left the audience breathless. The highlight of the night for this reviewer was Moura’s rendition of the Rolling Stones’ “No Expectations”. Moura’s performance of the classic left me with tears in my eyes. Moura also performed a show-stopper when she switched off the amplification and sang acoustically as if she was in a traditional fado house. 

Moura was accompanied by a band of acoustic guitar, bass, and the talented Bernardo Couto on Portuguese guitarra. While Moura stole the show with her sparkling dresses and powerful voice, Couto’s virtuosity was noticed and appreciated by the audience. 

Moura’s London debut was a definite success. She has left her adoring London fans anxiously awaiting her return.

 

"Os Buzios"


"No Expectations"

Nomad's Calendar: This Weekend

Check out some of the great gigs coming up tonight and tomorrow.

• *November 6th, Saturday 9:00pm: Alejandro Toledo and the Magic Tombolinos @ Hootananny Brixton (95 Effra Rd Brixton SW1 1DF) FREE ALEJANDRO TOLEDO AND THE MAGIC TOMBOLINOS, Hoots favs, recently showcased on C4, 'seduced by an exotic sway of melodies..a frenzy of beats and riffs which left us unabel to sit still, gypsy klezmer with shades of Middle Eastern mystery interspersed with vibrant African and Latin, the mix was intoxicating,' Songlines
• November 7th, Sunday, 6:00pm: Raki and Rebetiko with Cigdem Aslan @ Ottoman Palace (14-16 Camden High Street NW1 0JH) £8-10  An evening of Turkish and Greek song, led by talented singer Cigdem Aslan, in the opulent surroundings of Camden's Ottoman Palace.The evening wil recreate the mood of a typical 'Cafe Aman' or 'Meyhane' with plenty of food on the table and drink flowing freely!
• *November 7th, Sunday 7:00pm: El Mahico @ Hootananny Brixton (95 Effra Rd Brixton SW1 1DF) FREE Rootmaster presents EL MAHICO Hip Hop and Funk with Flamenco guitars and Latin flavour: "Flamenco and rock have been fused before....But Leicester's El Mahico venture into entirely new territory, adding hip-hop and political punch and the musical mix works surprisingly well." 

Also, watch this space for a review of fado singer Anan Moura's London debut.

Wednesday's Reader Picks

Have you recently heard a great track that you would like to share? Send in your review of a track for our weekly "Reader's Picks" series. Here, we want to know what you listen to.

How do I get my review posted?
Send the review you've written and a link to the track on YouTube to nomadsplaylist@hotmail.com. Please include the name you would like us to use as the author of the review (it can be your full name, first name, or user name). We will post up to three tracks in a given week.

I have a great track I would like to share, but I don't want to write a review. Can I still share it?
Of course! Please send us an email with a link to the track on YouTube and we might include the track in our "This Week's Picks" series.


I emailed a review and it did not show up in this week's series. Should I resend it?
No. We keep all the reviews we receive and if your review didn't make the cut for this week's series, we will keep it to possibly appear in another series. However, we have the right to mediate the content on this blog. If we feel your review does not belong on this blog, either for inappropriate content or an inappropriate piece, we will not post it.

This Week's Picks (#19)

Please enjoy this week's picks!

"Yegelle Tezeta" Mulatu Astatke


I have recently fallen in love with this track. It was made famous a few years ago by being featured in the movie Broken Flowers. Astatke is the father of Ethio-Jazz and his most recent album Mulatu Steps Ahead has received great reviews. This track is mellow and, recorded in 1970s, stands the test of time.


"Batarsite" Danyel Waro


Waro is this year's winner of the WOMEX 10 Award for Artists from this weekend's festival. He is a musician and activist from Reunion Island. The genre is called maloya which mixes music from Africa, Madagascar and India.