Howard W. French (http://www.howardwfrench.com)

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A Continent for the Taking

Africa first captivated New York Times journalist Howard W. French more than twenty-five years ago, but his knowledge of and passion for the continent has the depth of a lifetime association. His experiences there awakened him as nothing before to… read more

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Commentary & Reviews · Interviews

There’s no explaining tastes and fads, I suppose. There is a way to explain why this music will never lose its urgency, though. On the piano, Tristano speaks in his own vigorous, organic tongue, with a left hand as distinctive and idiosyncratic, shall I say it? As Monk. I’m not placing the two on the same pedestal, that would be unfair to both, especially to Thelonious, who was active for far longer, and whose work was far more influential and in the end iconic. Still, the drive, the time, the Amazonian flow of Lennie merits respect and rewards frequent listening.

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Posted at 7:26 PM · Comments (0)

Fantastic African Rumba from the Senegalese masters. Here, the orchestra fronts Youssou N’dour. I particularly enjoyed El Son te Llama.

Learn more about "Specialist in all Styles"

Posted at 7:20 PM · Comments (0)

I’ve been on a major Japan enka bend lately, and love this album, whose song “Urami Bushi” plays as the final credits to the Tarantino movie, Kill Bill, roll. Gorgeous, moody, affecting music.

Learn more about "Kenkyokyusu"

Posted at 7:11 PM · Comments (0)

I’m late to this. Reich has spent quality time in Ghana steeping himself in traditional African percussion. This album, the proximate result, is a monster.

Drumming by Steve Reich

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Posted at 7:06 PM · Comments (0)

Extraordinary soul and originality from the Malian vocalist and guitar player, Rokia Traoré. All of the songs are originals, except for The Man I Love, made famous, of course, by Billie Holiday. I should say that in Rokia’s care this becomes an original, too. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard this song made new in such an interesting way. This is a great recording.

Link

Learn more about "Tchamantché"

Posted at 10:24 PM · Comments (0)

Jackie McLean in all his glory. This is Jazz! The best of the early ’60s, that is. Jackie searching for a third way, between way, way out and mainstream hard bop fronts an amazing band, most notably the very young and extra Tony Williams on percussion, and Bobby Hutcherson on vibes. Saturday and Sunday, and Ghost town are my two favorite cuts. Tony’s drumming on the haunting, laconic opening, Jackie’s extended blowing on the alto sax, and Bobby Hutcherson’s vibes work are some of the finest work I know on these instruments.

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Learn more about "One Step Beyond"

Posted at 10:29 PM · Comments (0)

Monk comes in many flavors, almost all of them great. My favorite is solo - all alone. This album deserves pride of place any Monk collection. It’s pure, distilled genius. The songs ring with the clarity and cleanliness of meditations. There is nothing wasted here. Not a note. Not a thought. Not a motion.

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Learn more about "Thelonious himself"

Posted at 9:45 PM · Comments (0)

I heard this guy in a radio interview, which I wasn’t paying attention to, frankly, until they started playing some of his music. My attention perked up because I thought it was something delicious from Sun Ra. It turns out this guy Rothenberg (on bass clarinet) is capable of some mean jazz with whales. Yes, with wales. He has done recordings of whale sounds and improvised over it on clarinet, keyboard and various electronic instruments, and the results are astounding, especially if you like Sun Ra.

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Posted at 12:05 AM · Comments (0)

This is billed as a celebration of the music of Miles Davis, which has become a sub-genre unto itself. This one caught my attention immediately, though, even against the usual cacophony of Virgin Records, in Times Square.
This recording could have very easily have wallowed in cheap gimmicks and left it at that. Instead, it’s bubbling with ideas, and interesting ones, at that. The set brings together Miles stalwarts like Ron Carter and John McLaughlin and Chick Corea (and many more) with a large cast of Indian performers. The musicianship is high throughout and all kinds of sparks emanate from the unusual instrumentation.

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Posted at 7:41 PM · Comments (0)

Sheer genius from master.

Man, you know I done enjoyed things that Kings and Queens will never have; in fact Kings and Queen ‘caint never get. And they don’t even know about. And good times, mmmmm.
I have had my fun. If I never get well no more. I have had my fun. If I never get well no more. Ohhh, my health is fading on me. Oh yes, I’m going down slow…
… Please write my mother. Tell her the shape I’m in. Tell her to pray for me. Forgive me for my sins.

Learn more about "Goin’ Down Slow - Chess Blues: 1960-1967"

Posted at 12:16 AM · Comments (0)

Sweet Congolese Jazz from Tabu Ley from the 1960s and ’70s.
What a wonderful compilation. I listened to Kimakango Mpe Libala, just to pick one favorite, and was lofted high and carried far, far away. You close your eyes and you can see the sunsetting over the broad Congo River again, or if you’ve never had that pleasure, the music will conjure it for you.
The arrangements here are invitingly simple. With these recordings we’re on the cusp of the transition from mostly acoustic bands to the big, loud and lavishly choreographed shows that Tabu Ley and Franco and many others would soon make routine.

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Learn more about "The Voice of Lightness"

Posted at 7:59 PM · Comments (0)

From the recording New Ancient Strings, which is consistently sublime music from Mali played with the kora, a traditional West African stringed instrument whose sound is vaguely reminiscent of the sitar. This CD great strength are its duets, which are just magical.

Link

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Posted at 7:18 PM · Comments (0)

Distilled languor. Brilliant and cool as can be.

Link

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Posted at 7:02 PM · Comments (0)

Possibly the sexiest song I have ever heard. Definitely not the Blues. Transport me, Rosa! From the collection Samba Bossa Nova.

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Posted at 11:17 PM · Comments (0)

I’ve had a couple of this guy’s cds for a while now and had scarcely paid them any attention for some reason.
That changed last night when I was busy writing and had left my iTunes to play on and on without minding what I was hearing.
The volume was low, but about half way into this album I began to wonder what it was that I was listening to. Quiet, powerful, soulful Jazz piano played with an utter lack of cliche.
Bill Evans? No. I know his whole oeuvre. Couldn’t be. Brad Mehldau? No. There was too much bottom to this.
I looked at my iTunes to discover it was Gonzalo. I turned up the volume, too. Then I played the whole thing again.
This was a hidden gem.
Besame Mucho, which is deconstructed and played with such imaginative flair, was the giveaway that this was a Latin artist. Silver Hollow, too, more Bill Evans like in style, is also pure genius.

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Posted at 6:19 PM · Comments (0)

If Monk could sing, this is what he might have sounded like. Oh my, Abbey has got soul, and chops and smarts - this is above all music for the mind, so well is everything here conceived. And if that conveys even a little hint of coldness, banish the thought. You’ll shiver, yes, but in warmth. A word should be said, too, for the accompanyists, too, another reflection of Abby’s smarts.
Metheny and Hargrove and Charlie Haden and Kenny Barron are anything but revelations, but you can tell they’re drinking at the source with Lincoln and digging it. What to make of Julien Lourau and Rodney Kendrick, respectively tenor sax and piano. Hardly household names, these guys bring the highest art to the table.

Learn more about "A Turtle’s Dream"

Posted at 9:05 PM · Comments (0)

Here, Wayne Shorter brings back the warm evenings, the liquid air of summer evenings, the big golden disk of the setting sun, red clay, sweat in the car waiting for Mom to make the last purchase in a round of errands, the crisp, lemon-tinged toast of a glass of perfectly chilled wine, an afternoon stroll in Paris in August with the French all away at the beach.
This is hard bob that gets away from the formulaic and earns its strips in the most beautiful and unflashy way.

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Posted at 12:54 AM · Comments (0)

Senegalese music helped define “World,” that strange and vaguely condescending category that roughly means everything that’s not from the USA, Canada, and Western Europe. As amorphous as the category is, the sound of Senegalese music is so distinctive as to help lend it a sort of foundation.
Youssou N’dour has been the most commercially succesful and easily recognizable of the Senegalese acts, with his extraordinary vocals strong enough to stand out in any crowd.
Baaba Maal, though, is sneakier. He grows on you, and in my book, his music has more bottom than any of the readily accessible Senegalese acts. His voice cannot compare to Ndour’s, but his ensemble sound has big chops - just check out the percussion here, which in my view is worth the admission all by itself.

Learn more about "Wango Arti"

Posted at 12:42 AM · Comments (0)

I think I have a new favorite album.
I’ve been listening to Billie all of my life. Somehow I’d never heard this album. Yes, I knew most of the tunes, and indeed some of these renditions, but this collection itself had escaped me, and hearing it end to end I feel like I’ve rediscovered an old, brilliant friend, captured at the very height of her poignancy.
The recording quality is fantastic, as are the accompaniments, especially, although not exclusively by a magisterial Ben Webster. Hear track 3, Ill Wind, and just shiver.
This album is a must own.

Learn more about "All or Nothing At All"

Posted at 11:36 PM · Comments (1)

Una historia morena.
Cuba channeled through the Congo River Basin = glorious stuff.
Sam Mangwana is an rumba king. Can you listen and sit still?

Learn more about "Galo Negro"

Posted at 11:20 PM · Comments (0)

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