Asia
PALESTINE/ENGLAND
Reem Kelani
Sprinting Gazelle
The performance by Reem Kelani at Whitby’s own Musicport in 2006 is one that will be talked about and remembered for a good long while. It had everything: drama, emotion, education, humour, power, musicianship, surprises, and above all a level of musical and personal integrity that shone throughout the whole set. How often do you see not only members of the audience but also the mc, the lovely Jo Freya, brought to tears by the sheer intensity of a performance?...
INDIA
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
Body & Soul
After the death of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan his family allowed Real World Records access to the great Qawwali master’s unreleased back-catalogue. Two compilation CDs were the result, ‘Dust to gold’ (CDRW86 - also available) was the first, and this is the second. Both are full of previously-unreleased gems and equally worthy of any afficianado’s collection. As with all of Nusrat’s recordings any album is a superb introduction to his joyful voice-based performance music...
TIBET
Yungchen Lhamo
Ama
Having walked from Tibet to India to escape the regime there, Yungchen Lhamo has since spent her time bringing a taste of Tibetan culture to the West. Her name means 'Goddess of Song', a name apparently given to her by a Tibetan Holy Man, and the title is not misplaced. Mondomix called it 'a delicately crafted album', Billboard referred to 'Ama' as 'a piece of art rather than commerce', and the Telegraph talked about 'moments of real beauty'...
PAKISTAN
Faiz Ali Faiz
L'Amour de Toi Me Fait Danser
We at folkdevils were lucky enough to see a performance of Faiz Ali Faiz at Womex 2004 in Essen. He is in every way a charismatic performer with an astonishing vocal range and delivery making Qawwali (the devotional music of Sufism) more accessible to a global audience. This album is his homage to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and, unusually takes titles composed by the master and gives them new life. The performances were recorded live in 2004 at the Opera de Lille...
INDIA
Debashish Bhattacharya
Calcutta Slide Guitar
Master guitar player, musical innovator, renowned and highly accomplished instrument builder. Debashish Bhattacharya is all of these. And more. Single-handedly, Bhattacharya has cut a swathe across the Indian classical music scene, bringing a whole new sound and method to interpreting the classical oeuvre. His patent slide guitar style is unique within its surroundings and he has had to go to great lengths to achieve notice in what is recognised to be a very demanding musical field. To these ends he has built a astonishing array of instruments which will, in his very accomplished hands, realise the high standards of classical music whilst at the same time managing to delight and surprise his audience...
folkdevils: 16 Sandgate, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO22 4DB, United Kingdom
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