Best of Globalwize 2010

05/01/2023Relisten To Weltbeat Host/Selector Jean Trouillet's Annual Best-Of Picks From Around The Globe
 

As we ring in the new year, we keep some of our old habits alive and bring you another comprehensive playlist of Weltbeat host and selector Jean Trouillet's annual best-of picks from around the globe. Each year, Trouillet revisits his regular Globalwize broadcasts on Frankfurt community Radio X and designates his personal favourite releases. His picks have now made their way into Spotify playlists, which you can relisten to on demand via our Greedio quality listening channel

Today, we revisit the "Best of Globalwize 2010" lineup, which opens on a classical note with first, Austrian hurdy-gurdy player Matthias Loibner and Bosnian singer Nataša Mirković interpreting "Der Leiermann" by Franz Schubert and second, Austrian harpist Christina Pluhar's early music group L'Arpeggiata alongside Corsican vocalist Jean-Philippe Guissani of prestigious vocal group Barbara Furtuna and third, the Mediterranean Ensemble Oni Wytars. After that, we embark on an "Exotic Odyssey" with Genevan folk outfit The Dead Brothers, followed by the folkloric Mediterranean artistry of Neapolitan group Spakka-Neapolis 55 (formerly known as Spaccanapoli) collaborating with Azerbaijani mugham singer Alim Qasimov and then Italian accordionist Ambrogio Sparagna leading the Orchestra Popolare Italiana. Irish folk band The Chieftains are up next, playing alongside Mexico's Banda de Gaita de Batallón de San Patricio, Mexican-American group Los Cenzontles and US multi-instrumentalist Ry Cooder with additional narration by actor Liam Neeson, which sets the stage for Louis Armstrong and his Savoy Ballroom Five and then Lorin Sklamberg of The Klezmatics and singer Susan McKeown with their "Prayer for the Dead".

French Romani jazz guitarist Angelo Debarre takes it from there, followed by German Romani jazz musician and activist Dotschy Reinhardt and then Apulian brass band Opa Cupa with their Balkan-tinged rendition of "My Favorite Things". From Southeasteastern Europe we then head to Southern France for Moussu T e lei Jovents as well as the alternative electronic Cajun style of Féloche alongside the legendary Dr. John and then Moroccan singer Hindi Zahra with a folksy track off her 2010-released debut album "Handmade". Next up are US vocal group The Coasters with "Three Cool Cats", before we transition to a track from the Grammy-nominated album "AfroCubism" featuring collaborations between musicians from Mali and Cuba. Then it's off to Ethiopia and Eritrea with Mahmoud Ahmed and the Imperial Bodyguard Band and then the Asmara Allstars with Temasgen Yared.

Moving on to Senegal, we hear a tune by vintage outfit Étoile de Dakar and the great Youssou N'Dour, followed by the late Ugandan musician Geoffrey Oryema on a bluesy outing. We then head to Angola for the electrifying guitar sounds of Jovens Do Prenda, lay over in Ghana with Uppers International and continue on to Mali with SMOD. Remaining in afro-beat territory, we close on Canada's The Souljazz Orchestra performing an ode to Nigeria's "Agbara". From there, we revisit the "Mambo Loco" of Colombian singer Aníbal Velásquez y Su Conjunto on "Carruseles" and follow that up with London-based group Ska Cubano's "Hold Tight Jamaica". In closing, we get a taste of Jamaican mento by The Jolly Boys on "Rehab" and then stay afloat on "The Raft" by New Zealand's Fat Freddy's Drop performing live at Roundhouse.

Click below to sample the selection and head here for the full playlist. We hope you enjoy and let these tunes groove away you New Year's blues. Leave us a heart if you dig and spread the word.

AUTHOR: Lev Nordstrom