A reprise (and update) of a topic many readers liked, after the jump …...
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Just recently, I discovered an online music series that was a revelation … yet it existed for some time, apparently. When I used this in my weekly music profile, the response I got was like never before ….. and even from those who were (at least somewhat) familiar with the series. So I’d like to reprise it here … with an update, and a different featured tune.
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It seems prophetic that — in this time of remote virtual gatherings — that a long-standing music series (involving musicians making remote recordings) would come to greater attention. And yet Playing for Change has been hiding-in-plain-sight for well over a decade …. I swear that I am not lacking, just slow.
Its origins go back to 2002: when producers Mark Johnson and Whitney Kroeneke travelled around the world, recording musicians (using mobile equipment) interpreted in their own native styles. Ultimately, this led to an award-winning 2008 documentary — entitled A Cinematic Discovery of Street Musicians.
In 2005, Mark Johnson heard one particular street musician in California (Roger Ridley, who died later that year) sing the Lieber/Stoller/Ben E. King song “Stand By Me” — which led Johnson to imagine recording him not alone, but in a Song Around the World style. And this will be the focus of tonight’s profile: songs with some famous musicians, but also introducing North Americans to musicians from around the world — and often on non-Western instruments — to marvel at.
Meanwhile, the success of the documentary led the founders to create a 501(c)3 non-profit called the Playing for Change Foundation— to assist music programs in developing countries, offering scholarships and in a few cases creating entire music schools.
As for the Songs Around the World— four anthology albums have been released since 2009, none of which I ever recall hearing about. (Wow). There are numerous popular music songs (from pop, rock, R&B, country) that — especially in more recent recordings — feature famous musicians you know …. augmented with musicians around the world whose playing will be a revelation. Here are links to several: (search YouTube for "Playing for Change" — Song Around the World):
Grateful Dead song Ripple— w/David Hidalgo, Jimmy Buffet and Bill Kreutzmann
Doobie Brothers song Listen to the Music— w/three band members & others.
Sly Stone’s Everyday People— featuring Keb’ Mo, Josh Groban and Yo-Yo Ma.
John Lennon’s Imagine— whose ending chorus is archival footage of John himself.
Otis Redding’s Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay— with Roger Ridley himself leading.
Traditional song Richie Valens made famous, La Bamba— w/Los Lobos members
Stevie Wonder’s Higher Ground— with some exotic stringed instruments
John Denver’s song Take Me Home, Country Roads— “West Virginia” accented.
Rolling Stones song Gimme Shelter— with Taj Mahal on harmonica/vocals.
Marvin Gaye’s hit What’s Going On— with Sara Bareilles among the vocalists.
Robbie Robertson’s The Weight— with Ringo Starr on drums
The Dylan song Hendrix claimed, All Along the Watchtower— w/ two Neville Bros.
Two songs with musicians exclusively from one nation:
The blues guitarist Buddy Guy with his tune Skin Deep (w/ Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello and other U.S. musicians) — based upon his meeting a white childhood friend whose parents had cut off their relationship as teens.
The most famous Cuban song Guantanamera — with all Cuban musicians here.
Some of the most featured musicians in the series include:
Guitarist Roberto Luti (from Italy) — who at age twenty-two went to New Orleans for a nine-year stretch, incorporating what he learned into his band in Italy today.
Vocalist Clarence Bekker— a native of Suriname, then moving to the Netherlands — whose soulful voice is heard in many R&B songs in this series.
Guitarist Hisato Takenaka — known professionally as Char— who in addition to playing with Japanese musicians has toured w/former members of Vanilla Fudge.
Ukelele virtuoso Taimane Gardner — from Waikiki, Hawai'i who at age thirteen began playing in Don Ho’s band and leads her own band today.
For the new feature: why not a tribute to the recently deceased soul singer Bill Withers— some notes from a previous profile of mine:
His daughter was best friends in elementary school with Joe Walsh's stepson. It's a sign of how unaffected Bill is ... that he accompanied Joe to a recording session, then saw Ringo Starr and Mick Jagger in the studio and still thought, "Wait a minute: there's an Eagle, a Beatle and a Stone in this room!"
The drummer/bandleader for the Tonight Show, Amir Questlove Thompson summed-up his career in a quite interesting way:
"He's the last African-American Everyman. Jordan's vertical jump has to be higher than everyone. Michael Jackson has to defy gravity. On the other side of the coin: we're often viewed as primitive animals. We rarely land in the middle. Bill Withers is the closest thing black people have to a Bruce Springsteen."
While “Ain’t No Sunshine” is more my speed: methinks you will enjoy this rendition of his most famous song…. whose message resonates at this time of need.
Now, on to Top Comments:
From colbey:
In the diary by justsayin— giving a first-hand account as a Wisconsin poll worker— in response to a query, I nominate this comment from offgrid(Editor’s note: sure to please any electrician).
From jubal8:
In Ruben Bolling's front-page cartoon— wondering what if FDR had called the attack on Pearl Harbor a “hoax”?— jjohnjj offers a concise history (from Wendell Willkie to you-know-who) of how the characteristics of certain candidates interplayed with specific historical events and choices within the Republican party to bring us to this very special time in American history.
From belinda ridgewood:
This whole thread in Meteor Blades' APR today is worth reading. Denise Oliver Velezshared a "Now This" video of Obama warning us in 2014 about a global pandemic. learn's response spoke to our frustration when the fact that nothing much bad happened in some time period is taken to mean there was no risk of bad stuff, rather than, smart prepared people avoided the bad stuff. The ensuing thread expanded on that exasperation.
Highlighted by RepublicanKos :
In the diary by Davidsfr about a CNN poll showing Joe Biden with a comfortable lead nationally — this comment by Rummarhazit tonight. (Editor’s note: frivolity ensued).
And from Ed Tracey, your faithful correspondent this evening ........
In the front-page story about the cost to taxpayers incurred by the now-ousted acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly — all to lecture the crew about why he relieved their beloved commander — both Sealion as well as TMerritt open an informed discussion about Modly’s tenure in the armed services … as well as Mike Pompeo, relating to both their assessed military career potential …... and suitability for this Administration.
TOP PHOTOSApril 7th, 2020 Next - enjoy jotter's wonderful *PictureQuilt™* below. Just click on the picture and it will magically take you to the comment that features that photo. (NOTE: Any missing images in the Quilt were removed because (a) they were from an unapproved source that somehow snuck through in the comments, or (b) it was an image from the DailyKos Image Library which didn't have permissions set to allow others to use it.) |
And lastly: yesterday's Top Mojo - mega-mojo to the intrepid mik ...... who rescued this feature from oblivion:
1) Good for him, and well stated. … by RedDan +2232) My god. … by Colorado Blue +2186) It’s terrorism per the DOJ. … by redstate blueneck +1309) We need more reforms ASAP. … by jqjacobs +11811) Depraved indifference. by JMcDonald +11612) “Absolutely NO titty or sock money!” … by charlatan +11412) I like Bernie but it was time . by Stewie2 +11417) Here ya go. by BeadLady +10121) Eh...fuck ‘em….and GOTV. by jiffypop +9829) Oh KARMA, please! by kaja +94