New York City: Global Beat of the Boroughs

Amazon.com
This collection makes a strong case that New York has a more ethnically diverse population of musicians than any other city in the world. In what other place can you hear Albanian shepherds' ballads, Cantonese wedding marches, Irish fiddle tunes, and Haitian gospel music, all within a few blocks of each other? This two-CD set includes examples of all of these, as well as music from recent Indo-Caribbean immigrants, a Trinidadian-style steel-drum band, and selections from two separate tribes of Gypsies. The musicians range from traditionalists like Gee Sook Baek, a Korean musician who is preserving the ancient classical music of her homeland, to players like Luis Dias, a guitarist and singer who blends rock attitude with the rhythms and melodies of the Dominican Republic. Even though Global Beat of the Boroughs includes 31 tracks, it only hints at the phenomenal variety of music played in New York City, but because the tracks are so well chosen, the musical depth of the individual selections more than makes up for the (relative) lack of breadth. --Michael Simmons

Product Description
New York's soundscape is as varied and distinctive as its skyline. But the cultural diversity and musical virtuosity featured here will surprise listeners who think they know the "real" New York. Featuring outstanding grassroots ensembles from more than a dozen of New York's most vibrant ethnic communities, this release pairs the traditional with innovative cross-cultural fusions. From Irish ceili groups to Caribbean steelbands, Gypsy ensembles to Chinese orchestras, African-American gospel choirs to Latin jazz, this audio portrait of the five boroughs will delight lifelong New Yorkers and first-time visitors alike. Over 2 hours, 31 tracks, 40-page booklet, extensive notes, and photos.

Tracks:

Fiesta De Plena - Viento De Agua
Campo - Los Pleneros De La 21
Los Vecinos Oyen - Luis Dias
Cana Brava - Jose Quezada Y Los Cinco Diablos
Kange Majekrahi - Besim Muriqi
Shota - Besim Muriqi
Doli Goca N'Penxhere - Merita Halili
Xing Jie - Music From China
Nachay Nandalala - Sampat Dino Boodram
Sanjo Kayageum - Korean Traditional Performing Arts Association
Fakoli - Abdoulaye Diabate And Super Manden
Yesa - Orlando 'Puntilla' Rios Y Nueva Generacion
Oquendo Y Libre - Manny Oquendo Y Libre
My Time (Excerpt) - CASYM Steel Orchestra
Everything Will Be Alright - Reverend Timothy Wright And The Grace Tabernacle Choir

Tracks:

Cocek Manhattan - Yuri Yunakov Ensemble
Milino Kolo - Sau Family Orchestra
Crowley's/Jackson's - Eileen Ivers
The Galloping Hound/McGreavy's/Cat's Meow/Fraher's - Cherish The Ladies
Miroloi (Excerpt) - Halkias Family Orchestra
Kokkino Gramma - Grigoris Maninakis And Mikrokosmos
A Freylekhn Purim - Andy Statman
Khsidim Tanz - The Klezmatics
Rara Processional (Excerpt)/Kongo (Excerpt) - Frisner Augustin And La Troupe Makandal
Sa Li Fe Pou Mwen (Excerpt) - Dickson Guillaume & The New York State Haitian Interdenominational Mass Choir
Charanga Completa - Los Macondos
Olive Harvest - Simon Shaheen And Qantara
Segah Suite (Chrouky, Abou Zelof, Muwashshah) - Naji Youssef And Members Of The Near Eastern Music Ensemble
Improvisation On Mugam Chargah And 'Gubayenim' - Ensemble Tereza
Haida-Haida - Cheres
O Giglio E Paradiso - Phil Valli Orchestra

Amazon.com

This collection makes a strong case that New York has a more ethnically diverse population of musicians than any other city in the world. In what other place can you hear Albanian shepherds' ballads, Cantonese wedding marches, Irish fiddle tunes, and Haitian gospel music, all within a few blocks of each other? This two-CD set includes examples of all of these, as well as music from recent Indo-Caribbean immigrants, a Trinidadian-style steel-drum band, and selections from two separate tribes of Gypsies. The musicians range from traditionalists like Gee Sook Baek, a Korean musician who is preserving the ancient classical music of her homeland, to players like Luis Dias, a guitarist and singer who blends rock attitude with the rhythms and melodies of the Dominican Republic. Even though Global Beat of the Boroughs includes 31 tracks, it only hints at the phenomenal variety of music played in New York City, but because the tracks are so well chosen, the musical depth of the individual selections more than makes up for the (relative) lack of breadth. --Michael Simmons

Album Description

New York's soundscape is as varied and distinctive as its skyline. But the cultural diversity and musical virtuosity featured here will surprise listeners who think they know the "real" New York. Featuring outstanding grassroots ensembles from more than a dozen of New York's most vibrant ethnic communities, this release pairs the traditional with innovative cross-cultural fusions. From Irish ceili groups to Caribbean steelbands, Gypsy ensembles to Chinese orchestras, African-American gospel choirs to Latin jazz, this audio portrait of the five boroughs will delight lifelong New Yorkers and first-time visitors alike. Over 2 hours, 31 tracks, 40-page booklet, extensive notes, and photos.

Customer Reviews:

this cd has a great mix!.......2003-03-21

I hope to find more cds like this one.

Oh, what a city!!.......2002-10-24

I have lived in NY all my life, not in the city,(but very close). The one thing I have always loved about living here is its cultural diversity. People from all walks of life seem to immigrate here. This 2CD set proves that. This is a great world music collection, that includes many tracks by the Latino population. There is a combination of plena, bachata, salsa, merengue and more... From the Caribbean, there is the steeldrums of Trinidad, and Haitian rara(roots music). Asian-Americans contribute some instrumental pieces from Korea and China. Also included is: Celtic, Gypsy, Jewish, Greek, Albanian, and African music. This is a wonderfully inexpensive price for so many different types of music. If you want to learn a little more about the great city of NY, then pick this up!

Brilliant.......2002-05-03

What happens when a treasured American label works with New York's Center for Traditional Music and Dance to find representative samples of the myriad musical cultures that exist in New York City? This 2CD set is the answer. From Latin America and the West Indies to Europe and Asia, this is truly a fascinating observation into various world music genres. With the always exceptional liner notes Folkways provides, this is an unquestioned bargain.

Very hot compilation of the music of many cultures.......2001-08-23

The New York City Global Beat of the Boroughs stands out as a music compilation on which nearly every one of the 30+ tracks sizzle. I like the CD best because it delivers hot tunes that sound better with multiple listenings - while preserving true, traditional ethnic music styles instead of delivering watered-down, electronic "world fusion". Some of the tracks remind me of the most 'native' world music that a David Byrne or Paul Simon would collaborate on. The music includes Latin American, African American, Middle Eastern, European, and Asian styles. I've seen a related concert in New York City - the artists are equally interesting in person.

Rock Music:

Rock Music

rock music

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