LINES OF THE DAY

". . . But the past does not exist independently from the present. Indeed, the past is only past because there is a present, just as I can point to something over there only because I am here. But nothing is inherently over there or here. In that sense, the past has no content. The past -- or more accurately, pastness -- is a position. Thus, in no way can we identify the past as past." p. 15

". . . But we may want to keep in mind that deeds and words are not as distinguishable as often we presume. History does not belong only to its narrators, professional or amateur. While some of us debate what history is or was, others take it into their own hands." p. 153

Silencing the Past: Power and the Production of History (1995) by Michel-Rolph Trouillot

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Via Da List - Rumba Para Bebo

Concerning el V's latest Afropop Worldwide program; materials recorded in Barcelona, at the end of October this year.
Tell your friends:

My one-hour Afropop Worldwide episode based on the Rumba Para Bebo is available now on Soundcloud. It came out good. Described in the [nedslist] post of November 3, this concert-memorial-Cuban-jazz-jam-rumba-Kongo-ceremony honoring Bebo Valdés (produced by Joan Anton Cararach) was held on October 29 in Barcelona as part of this year's Voll-Damm Barcelona International Jazz Festival. Starring Chucho Valdés (whose powers continue to increase) and the Afro Cuban Messengers (Gastón Joya, Yaroldy Abreu, Dreiser Durruthy, Rodney Barretto), and featuring Jerry González, Omar Sosa and Malongo, Mayra Caridad Valdés, Lázara Cachao, Javier Massó “Caramelo,” Javier Colina, Mauricio Vallina, Paloma Manfugás, Eladio Reinón, David Pastor, and more! With the voices of Chucho Valdés and Omar Sosa.

I had ridiculously more material than I needed to make this show. There were almost two and a half hours of music, and Afropop Worldwide is only an hour, so it was painful deciding what great music and which interviews to leave out, but I think I did a good job of getting every featured performer into the show. Just click here to stream.

For those who prefer ether charm, the program will air on the radio this week wherever Afropop Worldwide is heard. In New York, that's WNYE, 91.5 FM, at 11 p.m. Saturday.

There's a beautifully shot video version of two hours of the Rumba Para Bebo available streaming on arte live web, well worth watching, but it omits two substantial numbers that are central to our Afropop episode: Jerry González's interpretation of "Bésame Mucho" and Omar Sosa and Malongo's spine-tingling "Invocación," a palo monte call to Bebo. You gotta go to Soundcloud for that. (You can also get there through the Afropop website.)

Happy Holidaze.  

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