Seckou Keita - 22 Strings. "Seckou Keita has arguably become the most influential and inspiring Kora player of his generation, an exceptional and charismatic musician. In his new album 22 Strings, Seckou explores what it means to be a modern global citizen, and yet to live with seven centuries of tradition and heritage expressed through music. He gives us the kora in its purest guise, a wondrous instrument that can soothe the bloodlust of warriors and take the human spirit to a place of deep meditation, stillness and beauty. The title of the album says it all. Centuries ago, when the djinns, the spirits of the African bush, gave the first ever kora to the griot Jali Mady 'Wuleng' (Jali Mady 'The Red') it had 22 strings. Then, when Jali Mady died, his fellow griots took one string away in his memory. But back in its birthplace in southern Senegal and Guinea Bissau, the 22-stringed kora survives, with the extra string giving the instrument special advantages in terms of tonal reach and groove. For Seckou Keita, that one extra string represents home: the place where his heart resides."
I thought I should log in at least once from the USA. We are in San Francisco now having dropped off our hire car earlier today, flight is Wednesday afternoon so plenty of time to see the sites of SF. Weather has been brilliant, just like the sites. Not much music played, our car only had a CD player, and few opportunities to listen in hotel rooms, but heard a great local jazz trio in a restaurant two nights ago. I hop it is notb15 years before we are back again this time!
1. La Monte Young - Composition 1960 no. 7/Pauline Oliveros - First Meditation 30:08 2. John Zorn - Archery A 38:31 3. John Zorn - Archery B 20:01 4. John Zorn - Archery C 19:42
Several new things on Smiley's lively Bandcamp page, most nyop
ETA2: Even Emusers with sedate(d) ears could very well enjoy this. ;-)
Next in line, Brand new on Bandcamp:
"The second part of EK's "Spectrescapes" project is set for release late in November on the estimable Rustblade label ,and this small teaser is deliberately misleading as it's NOT on the album itself. Uploaded here you will find "Spectroscope 66"and "Spectroscope 88". ..which are previously unreleased parts of the mysterious puzzle."
I pre-ordered this and got the d/l just the other day. Quite something with its range of influences and also having had a farther-in-law who worked at the pits as a Bevan Boy (best to Google). Good stuff.
My father was also a Bevan boy, worked in Derbyshire and Nottingham, had lots of stories and letters about his time. He always supported the miners in their struggles, will give the album a listen
Comments
2. John Zorn - Archery A 38:31
3. John Zorn - Archery B 20:01
4. John Zorn - Archery C 19:42
Meow the Jewels
Craig
Matt Smiley / Cornelius Cardew - Treatise Live!