Putumayo Kids Presents: African Dreamland

One of the perks of writing a blog is that readers take care of you. I received a box that asked to remain anonymous, so it shall. However, the contents scream for recognition. Inside were 18 disks called Putumayo Kids Present, which I listened to all day yesterday with great pleasure. The note inside the box goes “I notice you teach children, and that you love Putumayo recordings. I notice you have never put the two together, so I assume you are ignorant of the enclosed.” Turned out to be true on many levels – I am ignorant of oh, so many things. I was also very ignorant of the Putumayo Kids series. I can blame their publicity department, but truth is I have been a Putumayo addict for a long long time. In the US it’s one of the few places we have to find out what music is popular around the world.

To the Kids Presents. There are 18 CDs here, ranging the gamut of Reggae, Brazil, Asia, Celtic, France, etc etc. In other words, the kids series closely resembles the “adult” series. American audiences will be familiar with Arlo Guthrie, Carlos Santana, Miriam Makeba, Judy Mowatt, Rufus Thomas, Michele Shocked, Trout Fishing In America, Leon Redbone, Rita Marley, Rosie Flores, Eric Bibb, Flaco Jimenez, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Desmond Dekker, Taj Mahal and Toots and the Maytals. The New Orleans Playground is filled with great hits, and could have been released for an adult crowd with pleasure. Which points out the fun of this series. Adults can listen with pleasure while children explore the sounds of the world in a calm setting in the dreamland series; and a totally fun setting in the playground series.

Most of the songs started off on an album made for an adult, but the astute ears at Putumayo know which songs can sooth and energize a child. What I’m saying is that the Kids Presents label is simply a marketing tool to get moms and dads to buy some great music for their kids. At the same time, I bet the parents become addicted and start buying the “adult” versions for themselves. Whatever works. I am impressed, as usual, with Putumayo, and encourage all grandparents to buy a full set for the youngsters in their lives – if only so you’ll have something interesting to listen to when you visit! Finding the series is fairly easy – simply do an Amazon search on “Putumayo Kids Presents”.

Putumayo Kids Presents

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Putumayo Presents - Euro Groove

Spring is returning to South Texas, without the rain we need. But the air is clear. It is great to have change, and Putumayo snuck in some mind-changing attitudes on me this week. Nearly always when I get a Putumayo album I’m expecting a dance with the moon and the planets in my backyard, with lots of sweat and pleasurable discussion. This time out, the discussion is still pleasurable, the dance still apparent, but the sweat has disappeared. This is cool jazz, with the dance centered more around the stars deep in Andromeda instead of our solar system. Still grounded, but with a weightlessness only musicians of deep thought can accomplish. The flavors are from many countries, and like all Putumayo products, the flavors defy boundaries. Most Americans associate curry with India, when in fact it is used all over the world. Samba, Brazil. Ha! Now we can samba on the moons of Saturn without blinking. Music is indeed universal. And Putumayo helps us reap the benefits.

Toufic Farroukh is living in France, but pleasures us with middle-eastern flavors with Destins et Désirs, featuring the singer Jeanne Added. Jazzamor shares their South American flavors from Germany. Fiamma Fumana checks in from Italy with the acoustic flavors that both Spanish and New Orleans tinged, with a slight touch of bagpipes to keep the pleasures joyful. !DelaDap borrows from the smooth jazz flavorings of the US and Brazil while adding instrumentation that spices the music with gypsy romance. Mystic Diversions, like their name, is not claiming any precise flag to comfortably wrap themselves around but find themselves chilling out in Italy while Pati sings the song in French. It’s obvious the cultural “melting pot” the United States likes to brag about without any truth or proof is truly alive and real in Euraope, even though they don’t talk about it. They simply live it. Thanks, Putumayo! Putumayo Presents - Euro Groove

Putumayo Presents African Reggae

Nothing is better in life than to wake up on a Monday morning to a music that is uplifting and loud. There’s no way the work day will seem a burden when a life-enhancing music fills the air. Putumayo supplies this need with this album. And, to be honest, it wouldn’t hurt my brain to listen to this set every day. As Zoro says in Jubliani, “Jah Children, have a little bit of life I say. Don’t let your problems get you down.” Could sound callous in the face of oppression, were it not for the musicians bringing their total being to deliver the message.

The influence of Desmond Dekker, and even more Bob Marley is very evident on this entire set, but each artist implants enough of themselves that this becomes a vital addition to the Putumayo family. Putumayo’s ability to bring the best music of different cultures to the United States and distribute it far and wide is very important, and each CD also supports a different non-profit group within the culture of origin of each release. That would mean nothing if the music weren’t great. Fear not, the editors have impeccable taste. Putumayo

FileFactory.com

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Putumayo Presents India

India has many flavors of music, and we are often treated to the frantic side of Bollywood flavors here in the US. Putumayo has decided to focus on the jazzier and smoother side of music from India on this release, and have even used a food metaphor themselves to discuss this collection. “A captivating musical masala.” Like many of Putumayo’s collections, this one includes a recipe for a scrumptious pilaf that I made while listening to the CD several times. The entire CD is engaging, with special shoutouts for Bombay Jayashris, Sanjay Divecha, Kailash Kher, and Deepak Ram. The poetry adds a full dessert to this party. I love this, from Naino Sey: “She speaks to me. Teases. Then hugs and languorously sighs. All this with her eyes.”

Many thanks to Kaveh Sarfehjooy for continuing to share the world of Putumayo with the eartaste family of readers. Putumayo Presents India

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The video is by Niraj Chag, featuring Swati Natekar on vocals. The lyrics sing "Is my essence just a delusion? How long to I submit to a night where dreams are shattered, and mine forsake me?"

Putumayo Presents: Acoustic Arabia

If you've ever been to a restaurant and ended up ordering several of the appetizers instead of dinner, and came away satisfied & full, then you have experienced the sensations this album provokes. Putumayo has released a great Sunday afternoon CD. I often review the Putumayo disks on Fridays because of the party atmosphere, and this one could also be shared at a party – an afternoon party that allows some moments for reflection. For example, Les Orientales presents Alger, Alger with a good tango beat with some flamenco thrown in to stop and pay attention to (“Algiers has a beauty that makes us insane”). As usual, the world music in Putumayo is a focus on one culture who has willingly accepted the sounds of other cultures into their pop music. Fine collection of many flavors, including jazz, accordions, and many more to have your palette enthralled for a full hour. This eartaster is completely satisfied. Shoutouts for the performances of Jamal Porto (“sing for everlasting happiness”), Rasha ("Does my love recall the past we shared?”), Charbel Rouhana and Hani Siblini, and an old favorite, Souad Massi (“that’s life – bitter and sweet”). Many albums here that will be sought out for my collection due to the appetizers offered here. Putumayo Presents: Acoustic Arabia

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Learn about folk music from North Africa

Putumayo Presents Acoustic France

It’s hot again today, and the margaritas are flowing sweetly on this marvelous hump-day. Sandrine Kiberlain is introduced by a song where she is bored by everyday events, but there’s a person in her life that makes it all worthwhile. Simple concept with a marvelous pop beat. Of course, as with this entire album, I am deaing with a language I am only familiar with from one college course (which means I understand very little). No bother to me, because as with all great music, the emotions come through the voice and the back-up. The same holds true of all the following songs – all enjoyable new pop.

Thomas Dutronc is a crack-up because in the song he’s a traveling musician calling out to women passing in the street, makes one wonder if it’s autobiographical. The guitar playing is superb, and he’s convincing me he’s got the personality to actually call over to women passing down the street.

Constance Amiot is a perfect example of what makes the Putumayo releases so much fun. Constance is not from France, but born to French-speaking parents in the Ivory Coast, and later moved to the US. She does perform in France, but also performs in the US, and plays a funky acoustic. The song is about Tempo, and she manages to add a bit of hip-sop sensibility to a funky folk song. Very cool.

Carla Bruni turns in a fun song, which also features some exciting guitar work. She’s followed on the next song by Rose, who has an exciting voice and an upbeat song about a “pathetic jerk”. Poppy entertainment, great for this Wednesday hump-day. Pass another margarita, please.

Romane is a guitar player dreaming of the early 1900’s between two huge wars and bringing the smoky bars to life with great pleasure and passion. I am in a club listening to the song that is timeless and full of gypsy longing. Rupa & the April Fishes explore the same era with sultry vocals and jazzy accordions. Les Escrocs brings us deeper into the century to the bars of the beat era with jazz poetry. Well performed, the lyrics about friends are a blast: “Welfare, I’ll write to you from time to time. Send wire transfers direct to my island, with your friend, minimum wages. You will be my two best friends. It’ll be great!”

Another fine compilation from Putumayo, set to be played over and over when stars, margaritas and laughter come together for a friendly evening.

Putumayo Presents Acoustic France

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Putumayo Presents - Café Cubano

Along the sidewalks cafés acoustically send musical invitations to stop awhile and listen carefully and maybe even dance a bit, with a horn player sometimes joining along in a manner reminiscent of the mariachis strolling through San Antonio. The lyrics send out pleasant dreams and understandings toward me – making me wish a day trip to this island was not deemed illegal by the US Government. I’m hoping that someday soon someone will investigate the folly of that decision and allow us again to travel in freedom around the world. Till then Putumayo is doing a fine job keeping us abreast of the music around the world.

Rene Ferrer in Como a Cada Mañana enlivens me with this: “I feel every morning and I have to shout – to give thanks to life and getting to see it pass by”. José Cónde with El Chacal makes me dance freely through the yard, “through a path of violence we will never arrive.” Lena Ferrer with Ay, Mi Vidita investigates sharing culture with the poem “when you decide to give a bouquet of yourself things will change.” Amen to that. Let’s hope we learn that lesson sooner than later. German Obregón in his song Pincel Campesino sings “I have a place of my own in front of a beautiful palm tree.” Asere brings several horns into the café to play the beautiful Corazón, a song to a lover who is “my most precious and beloved happy distraction.”

The music is very important here, but I’d like to mention my grateful eartaste shoutout to Putumayo for graciously including a recipe for Salsa de Mojito to make the music taste even better, especially with a drop or two of rum. Thanks! I should also take a moment to mention the musicianship and songwriting on this CD are superb. While the songs have definite flavors of the island and beyond (I tasted a bit of Brazil for example), there are some very interesting arrangements that expanded my musical horizon. For example, the ending of Corazón enters a musical realm that is satisfactorily surprising, and the musical break in Pincel Campesino is pure ecstasy.

Putumayo Presents - Café Cubano

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Putumayo Presents Italia

A new sound for Putumayo? This time around we have soft, singer-songwriter mellow music to drink with a glass of wine and a good meal of eggplant parmigiana, with a side of Penne ‘Al Brucio’ (the recipe is included in the booklet that accompanies the CD). The music reflects how much modern Italian music has been influenced by the regional musics of South America. The percussive accents prove the influence goes both ways, so the Putumayo world party flavors make for gentle excitement on the new CD. Shoutout for the treat by Rocco De Rossa called Iquique, which borrows spices from all the shores along the Mediterranean.
Putumayo Presents Italia

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Putumayo Presents ¡Salsa!

The challenge is not to get up and dance. Fugget it. Impossible. Ay Valeria! by Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca has one major purpose – to get me up off my couch and move. The story is a forlorn one, the narrator is going around asking people, including a gardener, what happened to his lover. The poetry is that his love is his “flower of Eden”, and therefore perhaps the gardener has seen her. He has fertilized her with tenderness, “and above all love”. In true Putumayo fashion, Ricardo was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and grew up loving the music of Cuba. His heritage allows him to truly place the elements of Africa that people talk about when discussing South American dance music. Works for me. He’s done an excellent job working with Makina Loca to make me want to listen over and over. A shoutout to Juanito y la Agresive for introducing me to the fascinating ¡Salsa Cali! scene in Columbia with the tune Angoa. Great party CD!

Putumayo Presents ¡Salsa!

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Looking back in history:

Putumayo World Party

If Putumayo insists on putting out a World Party CD on my birthday, well you just know it’s going to be played at my birthday party! That’s just the way it is around here at eartaste headquarters. And YES! It lives up to it’s claims of being a party CD. This particular collection is mostly new ska-reggae-samba flavors from around the world, but includes two classic cuts to keep the really old folks dancing. Two of the newer cuts that need to be shouted out are by Laid Back (who are anything but) from Denmark, and Sarazino from Canada. Laid Back keeps us Groovin’ On A Feeling - I’m just barely thinking about the strawberry covered cheesecake my daughter is whipping up as the rest of us dance around the room. Nice guitar work. Sarazino includes members from Algeria and Ecuador and have the many seasonings of the world at their fingertips, including a wah-wah guitar of all things. Good, steady rah beat. For the older folks here who like to dance along with the youngsters Osibisa shows in with a cut from 1975 (Sunshine Day), and the Zydeco Hi-Rollers really keep the party hopping with Just One Kiss (1996)! Thanks to Putumayo for knowing how to keep a fiesta jumping! Putumayo World Party

Putumayo Presents - Quebec

It’s been 100 degrees every day this week, and it stays in the 90’s in the evenings. Makes it difficult to want to get up on the dance floor and dance. Putumayo read my mind this week and released this compilation of excellent slow dances from French Quebec. Jazz stylings with a dance beat makes for a great cool-down evening. Sips of iced teas between songs helps! As usual, all the cuts on the album are well-selected and my ears are grateful for the editor who programmed the selections. There are eleven artists you’ll want to become more familiar with on this CD. Shouts for Martin Léon ("are you avoiding the stare of a lover?"), Marie-Annick Lépine ("listening to Neil Young in the living room. . .we put our small sorrows aside") & Myreille Bédard ("chilled white wine under the wisteria"). Putumayo Presents- Quebec

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Putumayo Presents A Jazz And Blues Christmas (CD)

The season is upong us, and I thought I’d review a batch of these early this year so you can have new music floating around your house directly after the thanksgiving meal. This is America, after all, and the CD I’m listening to is a perfect example of America. Putumayo has put together a compilation of seasonal songs that are very seldom heard by great artists, and there’s no reason for it except for our silly traditions of “White Christmas”. This year we can happily lay that aside and hear BB King doing Christmas Celebration, Ray Charles rocking out on Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Charles Brown (who wrote several Christmas hits for Elvis) doing a wonderful Santa’s Blues, and a very special treat – the Ramsey Lewis Trio performing Here Comes Santa Claus. There’s much more to enjoy – Randy Greer doing another Charles Brown composition, plus a regular stable of Putumayo selections of lesser known artists from around the globe who belong smack dab in the middle of your palette, Mighty Blue Kings, The Dukes of Dixieland, Emilie-Claire Barlow and the Ignasi Teraza Trio. A total gourmet package with many flavorful seasonings – a perfect hour to start off this season with. A Jazz And Blues Christmas

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Putumayo Presents - Gypsy Groove

Putumayo is a sampler label that scouts the world for great traditional dance music, often enhanced with a modern beat. Excellent Friday night party record. Putumayo is always pleasurable, and always fills my ears with fantastic flavors from around the world. This time out we’re entranced by the Roma spices that have been recreated world-wide because of the universal love of gypsy music. My grandfather always told me that we had gypsy blood, but I felt he used that to explain his restlessness. My father is the same way, and I guess I could be accused of that when I look back over this life. Why bring that up? Because this music is reaching into something primal in me. These dances are beyond dance. The entire album is eartastable, but three need to be highlighted with shoutouts --> Karen Gafaurdjanov from Usbekistan, Anselmo Crew from Hungary, and the Eastenders from Germany. Every music collector should have some Putumayo in their collection, and this is a good one to start with. Gypsy Groove

Putumayo Presents – Israel

I am extremely impressed. A compilation named Israel could go wrong on so many levels – think about it. This one doesn’t. While not the high-energy dance music that Putumayo often compiles, this is still dance music. And while one would expect many traditional sounds from Israel, Putumayo wisely chose to include that only as relevant to 2007.

If you look at Israel on a map, it is a hinge on the Mediterranean between Africa and Europe, with lots and lots of Mediterranean sea splashing up on its shoreline. Even though I have never personally been to Israel, I would expect its popular music to reflect all these truths, not the Hollywood flavors one usually hears when the term Israel pops up in entertainment circles in the US.

So we are filled with the ear-pleasuring flavors of Persia, Africa, Turkey, Europe, a bit of Jazz from the US, even some pleasurable tastes from Brazil and Jamaica. Israel is, after all, a modern nation that invites visitors from all over the world, and thus is influenced by flavors from all over. And, in good, pluralistic (in the good sense) fashion, there is music represented by folks who are Muslim, Christian, Jewish and undeclared. Not enough? How about the regions? Yep, music from Palestine, Tel Aviv, Galilee, Jerusalem, and more. If there’s any prejudice to be seen it’s in the fact that everyone is welcome as being completely human and relevant. How often can you feel this truth when your daily exposure to Israel is only the “news”? (”News” = only that which media outlets want us to know.)

You’ll notice I am not choosing a favorite cut. That’s easily explained – every cut on this album stands out and is filled with flavors I cherish. I was only familiar with two of the artists on this compilation before, but I now have many new artists to seek out and learn to know better: Etti Ankri, Itay Pearl, Hadas Dagul, Rona Kenan, Mosh Ben Ari, Moshav Band, Zafa, Sheva, David Broza, Tea Packs, Amal Murkus, The Idan Raichel Project. The diverse nature of this music is lovingly held together by one common theme – excellence. A wonderful evening of joyful movement is in store when this cd hits the laser. Deeply delicious.

Shoutouts for Tea Packs (Vehap'am Shir Ahava), Amal Murkus (Ta'alu), Hadas Dagul (Seret Eelem), Rona Kenan with Gidi Gov (Ha'rikud Ha'muzar Shel Ha'lev), and The Idan Raichel Project (Mi' Ma'amakim).

Putumayo Presents – Israel

A Putumayo Music Trivia Quiz

Putumayo is sponsoring this quiz, and has offered up a great set released last year, Tango Around The World.

I woke up this morning to 8 emails, and the first had every answer necessary. Will be sending the other 7 folks a used cd from my review pile.

Here’s the “world-music” story and quiz: In 1978 this Jamaican artist’s 3rd solo album was released on a British label owned by a rock band. One of the band members sang a duet on the first single that was written by a songwriting team in Detroit, and had been a hit for an American soul group. Obviously, there are world-wide roots for this single from the album.

For your copy of Tango Around The World, email the name of the artist and the song. Extra credit if you can also name the singer who sang along.

THE WINNER IS:

mike c. (UK) to me 4:56 AM

Hi

The answer to the trivia quiz is:

Artist - Peter Tosh
Single - (You Gotta Walk) Don't Look Back
Album - Bush Doctor
Guest singer - Mick Jagger

All the best
Mike :-)

The Putumayo connection to the song =:-)

Putumayo Presents - Brazilian Café

Lazy Sundays are easy to achieve when the weather stays above 100 degrees for an entire week. The music Putumayo serves up this time out is perfect for a Lazy Sunday, with voices floating over the clouds and instruments swimming through the humidity with pure blissful peace. Many thanks for sharing the talents of Katia B, Ceumar, y Teresa Cristina and Grupo Semente with the neighborhood today. The slower dancing possible with this CD makes for a cooler atmosphere than is possible by just sitting around complaining about the weather. I can feel the waves splashing around as I move through the shade offered by the hackberry trees. Experience pleasure – when you purchase this CD you wil be helping a children’s group in Brazil, as well as receiving a recipe for a 4-layer pleasurable dessert known as coffee pave and finally a recipe for cafezinho. The Brazilian Café is proud to serve up many different flavors for your ears, your soul, and your tongue. Brazilian Café

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Putumayo World Music Radio ! !

Listen to Putumayo World Music Radio online: live365 * putumayo

Putumayo Presents: Latin Reggae

There is a oneness in the world that is held together by musicians and poets. Last night a blustery winter entered south texas and has blended with my heating system in such a way as to make it ineffective on the material plane. No problem, I’ve been listening to my collections of 60’s bluesoul all day to keep warm. Then it came time for the eartaste party to start, and the spirit of knowledge of my needs made itself known. Oneness. The first envelope opened today was sort of cheating. Putumayo has a distinctive envelope, so I knew a party was enclosed.

I wasn’t wrong. This entire album moves my body and my soul. The very cool thing is it’s dance, but not sweat-inducing dance. With the cold air enveloping every square centimeter of my surroundings, the last thing I want to do is sweat. But move to a beat and feel the warmth of the spirit moving within and without, perfect. Absolutely. The editors have chosen some fabulous musicians, none of which I recognize as household names in the United States.

Muchachito Bomba Infierno opens with enough ska on Conversaciones Incompatibles to let me know this album means business. Macaco takes over with Mulata Descolorada and offers up some excellent jazz. Next up is Charito Va by Radio Malanga, willing me up from under a blanket covering my body to allow the messenger to warm my understanding of true warmth, along with extended jazz-tinged reggae spirits. And on it goes. The bands are from Barcelona, Argentina, Puerto Rico, and more, with musicians from Nigeria, Netherlands, Chile, Montreal, in short, true to Putumayo tradition, this is a taste of the world through the ears of reggae. Sweet.

Latin Reggae

Toure Kunda - E'mma

Whenever a Putumayo recording walks through the door, you know it’s going to be a great Friday party. This new record is called World Hits, and it’s almost as if the compiler went through our collection and eartasted his way to the top world music recordings of all time, which this collection is. You’ll hear Gipsy Kings, Jimmy Cliff, Mongo Santamaria, Kaoma with their great tune Lambada, etc etc. But what’s most fun is the songs that were mainly hits in Europe or just barely scratched the top 100 here in the US.

In that light, I chose Toure Kunda as the taste of the day, an african reggae flavored piece of pound cake flavored with a touch of cinnamon. They know how to get the dance party started with rhythms that start my flying feet soaring smoothly around the floor.

The first shoutout goes to Miriam Makeba, with a version of Pata Pata recorded twenty years after the huge world-wide hit. Her voice is much more mature, and the music has much better fidelity than the familiar hit version. The other shoutouts go to Johnny Clegg with Scatterlings of Africa and Manu Dibango with Soul Makossa.

“A portion of Putumayo's proceeds from the sale of this album will be donated to World Learning .” An investment you’ll enjoy listening to for many years!

Putumayo Presents: World Hits

Free Albums from our Saturday Night Gift Exchange

EDIT: Both CDs were claimed SUNDAY morning, when I woke up and had barely poured my first cup of coffee. Burgandy's album will be heading toward C.B. in Wisconsin, and the Tango album will be heading toward L.C. in Florida. Great job, quick response!
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We have two gifts this week, in exchange for whoever answers the questions first by sending an email to [removed after winners announced to discourage spam].

Luck Media has sent us a copy of Burgandy Brown's "My Lucky 13" to send out to the 1st person who can tell me what song of hers was reviewed at Eartaste.

Putumayo World Music has sent us a copy of Tango Around The World to give away to the 1st person who can name every Putumayo recording we featured this year.

Good luck! -Rich