Here to lift our April spirits is Weltbeat / Radio X host and selector Jean Trouillet with another edition of his eclectic and world-encompassing Globalwize listening experience, #388 to be exact. As we breathe a sigh of relief amongst the raging vaccine tempest and political fury, we set our sights on Trouillet's latest musical divertissement.
Kicking off his most recent sonic adventure is Italy's progressive folk band Canzioniere del Lazio, reworking two traditional Central Italian tunes, followed by Cypriot artist Antonis Antoniou (of Monsieur Doumani and Trio Tekke) off his first solo album "Kkisméttin". Turkish ashik, poet and bağlama virtuoso Aşık Veysel is next with his iconic song "Kara Toprak" ('Black Earth'), which Trouillet cleverly combines with Dutch-Turkish psych-folk outfit Altın Gün's version of the song. Mythical Argentinian artist Melingo contributes his melange of tango and rembetiko, elegantly transitioning into the polyphonic vocals of Corsican band L'Alba. After that Norway-based Lebanese singer-songwriter Tania Saleh welcomes us into her world, ten years post divorce. The San Francisco-based, world famous Kronos Quartet then beams us to Ethiopia on a composition by Ethiopian saxophonist Getachew Mekuria, only to be followed by the grand, mystic rock 'n' roll of Tuscon, Arizona-based group Xixa.
The show's second hour presents us with the hypnotic Balkan folktronica of Romanian duo Balkan Taksim and then shifts to the divine, glittering soundscapes of Sheffield-based global-roots ensemble Rafiki Jazz. Next, we are swept off our feet by Malian kora player Ballaké Sissoko, collaborating with artists such as French cello player Vincent Segal and orchestral clarinetist Patrick Messina, the mighty Salif Keita and French singer-songwriter Camille, before fellow Malian kora player Toumani Diabaté presents his very own groundbreaking collaboration with The London Symphony Orchestra. Bringing the show to a reflective close is singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ray Cooper with his tribute to the "Whistleblower" and, last but not least, Holland's piano-led Rembrandt Frerichs Trio.
You can stream the full show in our Greedio Mixcloud channel or simply click the player below. Find the full playlist here. Do enjoy.