The Library CD Shelf
Dig It
The Artifacts
www.area707.com
No ISBN CD $12.97 www.cdbaby.com
As their name implies, The Artifacts specializes in digging up tunes
from American musics past, along with a couple of clever new tunes.
The main emphasis is on jazz vocals with a blend of swing, thirties
blues (both country and urban) as well as 1950s rhythm and blues
techniques not always applied where you would expect them to be. This
is sophisticated music, yet not pretentious or boring. All three
members of this swinging trip sing as well as play beautifully
understated music. Both Karen Tamborski and Dorian Bartley sing like
very experienced jazz chanteuses. Steve Tamborski, the token male in
the group, has a controversial vocal style. Some will love it for its
bold innovative style; others may find it off-putting. I can only
think of one other jazz singer who puts a bit of a yodel in his
vocals: Leon Thomas, who shocked many back in the 1960s and 70s. One
thing not controversial about Mr. Tamborski's musical ability is his
guitar playing: it's simply outstanding: a blend of jazz guitar
influences of the 1940s and 50s with the slide guitar stylings of aces
like Robert Johnson, Elmore James and Greg Allman. Although having
virtuoso technique, Mr. Tamborski keeps his solos short and to the
point. The song and the sound of the group as a whole is of prime
importance to all three members. Steve also plays mandolin in a style
reminiscent of bluesman Yank Rachel. Dorian Bartley plays a fine,
sophisticated acoustic bass and Karen Tamborski (Steve's wife) plays
drums (a snare plus congas) and other percussion instruments. I have
seen this group live several times over the years and have been very
impressed by their musicianship and vocal prowess: especially their
sophisticated and clever harmonies. Few tunes are done exactly like
their originals: take a tune famously accompanied by slide guitar,
play mandolin or mandola instead, add doo-wop style harmonies to a
late 1930s vocal sound and you have old-fashioned but with a new twist
at the same time. Vocally two sexy angels plus a jazz yodel;
instrumentally subtle, smooth, sophisticated and exciting all at once.
Too bad there aren't more groups like this on the national music
market!
Rumba, Mambo, Cha-Cha-Cha
Various Artists
Putumayo World Music
28 W. 25th Street, 5th floor, New York, NY 10010
No ISBN CD, $14.98, www.putumayo.com
Although all three dance/music styles originated in Cuba, these
percussive horn-flavored rhythms are the basis of "the Latin sound"
heard around the world and now seen on T.V. dance competitions. Of
course, some bands like to put their own local twist to the music:
leave it to Putumayo to dig up some easy-to-love, very danceable
sounds from some expected and unexpected places like 'Salsa Celtica',
Celtic-flavored 'Esperanza" or Rus Tres Muchachos & Companeros'
version of 'Pa Mantener Tradicion (Latin music from Russia?). My
favorite has to be 'Fruko y Sus Tesos' revival of Perez Prado's
classic 'Mambo #5': if this doesn't make you want to get up and shake
your booty, you're probably already dead. Danzon, an important style
predating both chachacha and mambo, is not forgotten either: listn to
Orquesta La Modern Tradicion. Although the groups on this recording
are from all over the planet, Cuba is represented by musicians as well
as by songs and styles. Listen to the Havana-based group 'Asere' doing
'Oriente', a tribute to the province of Cuba from within which so many
styles have sprung. Orente lies closest to Haiti and immigrants from
Haiti have contributed much to the Cuban sound for hundreds of years,
but that's a story for another recording, perhaps. Overall, a great
introduction to a major music phenomenon and a terrific dance CD: put
it on, get up, and move!
God Bless the Hunger
Gabriel Birnbaum
boywithoutgod.com
c/o Flipswitch (publicity)
PO Box 2207, Bloomington, IN 47404-2207
$TBA www.flipswitchPR.com
Boston songwriter Gabriel Birnbaum presents a new music CD via his
"Boy Without God" pen name, God Bless the Hunger. The traditions of
soul music play a prominent role in this collection of songs anchored
by Birnbaum's unforgettable baritone voice. Overflowing with emotion,
the songs call to sex, love, death, desire, and the elusive human
pursuit of happiness, though success in that pursuit is undoubtedly a
most chancy affair. God Bless the Hunger superbly encapsulates the
quintessential dilemma of the human condition, and is highly
recommended.
Nagez Rameurs
Genticorum
c/o Rock Paper Scissors (publicity)
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2
Bloomington, IN 47404
$26.27 www.rockpaperscissors.biz
Nagez Rameurs (the title means "Pull Together, Rowers!"), is a music
CD album by Genticorum, a trio of musicians whose guitar, flute,
fiddle, and vocal performance is grounded in Quebec tradition and
culture, yet reaches out to borrow elements of Scottish, Irish, and
even Norwegian folk. Nagez Rameurs tells stories through its songs -
especially adventures of people who traveled to North America
throughout history. A flowing and beautiful celebration of human
ingenuity, flair, and drive, Nagez Rameurs is an excellent addition to
public library and international music CD collections. The tracks are
"Tout le long du voyage" (4:50), "Turlutte hirsute" (4:11), "Nagez
Rameurs" (4:37), "Les Menteries" (4:40), "Galope Doux Bedon" (3:41),
"Reel circulaire" (6:03), "Grand voyageur sur la drave" (4:41), "Valse
des poales" (4:04), "Quand chus parti du Canada" (5:43), "Violon
Guerisseur" (5:21), and "Canot decorce" (5:14).
Aratan N Azawad
Terakaft
World Village
c/o Rock Paper Scissors (publicity)
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2
Bloomington, IN 47404
$15.74 www.rockpaperscissors.biz
The international band Terakaft ("Caravan") crafts their music steeped
in Tuareg history and the culture of the Saharan desert in Aratan N
Azawad ("Children of the Azawad"), an album that calls for national
unity and hope. Though Terakaft stays close to traditional music
forms, there is room for elements of Tuareg rock to mingle freely with
West African guitar, as well as bass grooves and drums. The positive
message of Aratan N Azawad reaches far beyond any one group of people,
and is absolutely invaluable in today's turbulent world. The tracks
are "Alghalem" (3:40), "Talikoba" (3:16), "Aratan N Azawad" (4:71),
"Aman Wi Kawalnen" (3:46), "Ahod" (3:42), "Idiya Idohena" (2:35),
"Amazzagh" (3:54), "Ahabib" (5:02), "Akoz Imgharen" (2:50), "Wer
Essinen" (3:50), "Kek Amidi Nin" (3:32), "Hegh Tenere" (3:37).
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