Photographer and pianist Romain Thiery accompanies his own remarkable images of abandoned pianos in his Requiem for Pianos series. More behind the story at BoingBoing.   [Read more…]

So today is a study in contrast when compared to yesterday’s selection. To follow Kendrick Lamar’s powerhouse performance, here is Max Richter’s contemplative and scintillating “On the Nature of Daylight”. I took in the movie Arrival recently and this work featured prominently in the soundtrack. So, breathe deeply and slowly and reflect on the nature of daylight …   [Read more…]

Pulitzer Prizes are awarded for excellence in newspaper journalism, literary achievements and musical composition. Rapper Kendrick Lamar was chosen for this year’s music prize. So who is Kendrick Lamar? First, a bit of an introduction: Kendrick Lamar Visits Mr. Mooney’s Class.

A North Bergen, N.J. high school teacher, Brian Mooney, blog posted on the internet a project that his class created to explore the connections between Toni Morrison’s novel The Bluest Eye and Kendrick Lamar’s song “Complexion” from his album To Pimp A Butterfly. The internet posting was incredibly popular and eventually came to the attention of Lamar, motivating him to visit the high school and Mr. Mooney’s class. Highlights from the visit:

And now for the full-on Kendrick Lamar experience from the 2018 60th Grammys, with assists from U2 and Dave Chappelle:   [Read more…]

O.K. I think enough time has elapsed since Despacito burst onto the music scene that I can once again hear that tune and not run screaming from the room. Especially if the tune is sung by a very talented musical chicken. Hmm, wonder if he’s any relation to Foghorn Leghorn … Enjoy!   [Read more…]

Kay Kaufman Shelemay’s recent post on Ethiopian jazz master Mulatu Astatke characterizes Yekermo Sew (“A Man of Experience and Wisdom”) as his signature piece.

[It] was featured in the soundtrack of American independent filmmaker and screenwriter Jim Jarmusch‘s 2005 film “Broken Flowers” and then circulated across the world. Composed following Mulatu’s return to Ethiopia in the later 1960s, “Yekermo Sew” takes its title from a traditional Ethiopian Christian new year’s blessing in Amharic, the national Ethiopian language.

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Maimouna Youssef, a.k.a. MuMu Fresh, reminds us that we’re Stardust in this live 2015 performance at The Rawkus in London.   [Read more…]

From the Canadian electronic music group of First Nations musicians, A Tribe Called Red here is their video ‘The Light II’ featuring Juno Award winning Lido Pimienta.   [Read more…]

Mariachi Flor de Toloache is an all-woman mariachi band based in New York City. Here they showcase the song ‘Dulces Recuerdos’ from their album Las Caras Lindas.

And here’s a live performance of a medley ‘Las Caras Lindas / El Dia de Suerte’ recorded by FANIA.   [Read more…]

This is “Bring Me a Little Water, Silvy” by Huddie Ledbetter (Leadbelly), arr. Moira Smiley. The body percussion is adapted from choreography of Evie Ladin. Performed by the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Rostock Folk-Quartett.   [Read more…]

The Valiha is a traditional instrument of Madagascar made from a local bamboo. It’s often characterized as the country’s national instrument. Here it is played by Linda Volahasiniaina, a Malagasy musician and composer.   [Read more…]

From an interview by Daniela Galvez in Latina:

Daniela Galvez: Your single “Peligrosa” is all about women empowerment. Can you tell us a little bit about that?

Lila Downs: I think that it’s the notion that women are somehow dangerous if they’re leaders, if they think, if they have certain desires, and ambitions. It’s also the notion of looking at men in those same positions. Of course, they’re not dangerous; they’re just a normal guy. I think that it’s about those relationships that we had, that we’re not quite sure what we’re dealing with. I think that’s happening right now. I mean in government and in day-to-day life. It’s a confrontational time and it’s scary. At the same time, I feel like it’s a moment when finally women are really coming out and being more forward about the injustices towards our gender. This is really important. So it’s exciting and that’s what the song is kind of about.   [Read more…]