Looking Back: 2009
Looking Back: 2009
I don’t limit my listening to only the newest records that have come out in the last few months. I’m always digging back through my collection listening to music I love. I also like to explore the back catalogs of artists who are new to me. I want to write an occasional blog post that looks back to a previous year, and I’ll start with 2009 (which I recognize wasn’t all that long ago). Here’s a list of albums from 2009 that I’m listening to often these days.
Anouar Brahem: The Astounding Eyes of Rita — Last December, I called this my favorite recording of 2009. I love Brahem’s compositions and arrangements as well as his oud playing. The bass clarinet of Klaus Gesing is outstanding. Here’s a video of the quartet playing “Dance With Waves.”
Bassekou Kouyaté & Ngoni Ba: I Speak Fula — Great music from this master of ngoni with a band created for not just one but four ngoni players. The ngoni is a traditional West African stringed instrument that is in some ways an ancestor of the modern banjo. Guest musicians include Toumani Diabaté on kora and guitarist Vieux Farka Touré. Kouyaté’s wife, Amy Sacko, contributes some great vocals. Here’s a great video of Ngoni Ba.
Salif Keita: La Différence — I’ve been late to the Salif Keita party, but I’ve made up for it in the past few months. A singer from Mali who comes from royal lineage and is also albino, he sings about political and environmental issues among other topics. I’ve also been enjoying his back catalog, especially Moffou.
Tom Russell: Blood and Candle Smoke — An incredible set of songs from America’s greatest songwriter. I fell in love with Tom Russell’s songs when I heard him sing “Gallo del Cielo” over 20 years ago. Very few songwriters tell stories as well as Tom Russell. And very few songwriters capture contemporary culture as well as Tom Russell. Put those two forces together and add Calexico as the backing band and you get one of the best records of the past decade. Here’s a video of my favorite song on the record, “East of Woodstock, West of Vietnam.”
Annbjørg Lien & Bjørn Ole Rasch: Come Home — Two members of Norwegian folk ensemble Bukkene Bruse put together a great duo record. Lien plays Hardanger fiddle and nyckelharpa while Rasch plays harmonium. The songs include re-imaginings of older Lien compositions “The Old Car” and “January.” I couldn’t find any good videos of the duo, but here’s a nice one of Bukkene Bruse performing ”Maria, Hun Er En Jomfru Reen“ with Lien on nyckelharpa and Rasch on keyboards. This duo recording is worth seeking out.
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