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& REVIEWS name. In 2003, she won the Kisima Music M U Ss | C Award for the most promising female artist 5 A 7 and is today considered Kenya's most popu- Reviewed by Richard Giles lar female singer. Mama Africa brings her TRAVEL THE WORLD WITH powerful style to the front, exhibiting her PUTUMAYO strong voice and socially aware lyrics. by various artists Putumayo, USA, 2004 (DVD, 65mins) FLOR DE AMOR Distributors: Aust—MRA Entertainment, by Omara Portuondo (07) 3849 6020: UK__Pinnacl World Circuit Ltd, UK, 2004 (49mins) ingore tel Ot oe 70622: Ua Distributors: Aust—MRA Entertainment, Putumayo, tel 1888 7888 8629, website _ tel (07) 3849 6020; UK—World Circuit hitp://www_putumayo.com Ltd, tel (0)1689 870622, website uitumayo has been releasing world music http://www.worldcircuit.co.uk . for 11 years, and its first entry into the he men and women from the acclaimed DVD field brings together some of the Buena Vista Social Club (NEXUS 5/02) label's memorable artists onto one video are still releasing new material. Omara concert album. It's a real treat. You can Portuondo is one of the originals, and her watch Oliver Mtukudzi (Zimbabwe), Touré Warm, quietly passionate Cuban vocal style Kunda (Senegal), Chico César (Brazil), works well combined with laid-back piano, Ricardo Lemvo (Congo), Kotoja (Nigeria), guitar, flute, clarinet, bass and congas. The Hisham Abbas and Jayashree (Egypt, India), album also features Cuba s legendary a Habib Koité (Mali) and many more artists. Manuel Galban on electric guitar. This 1s There's also a cute Bollywood clip. My calm and affectionate music to relax with on favourite track features Chico César dancing 9 W4™, dreamy evenings with your friends. down the street with dozens of children sur- rounding him. A great celebratory video. SPEAKING THE MAMMA TONGUE by John McDowell FLOATING WORLD Raven Recordings, USA, 2004 (51mins) by Riley Lee & Marshall McGuire Distributor: USA—Raven Recordings, New World Music, Aust, 2004 (65mins) _http:/Avww.ravenrecording. com; Eur— Distributors: Australia—New World Aquarius!, tel +49 81 4134 8545 Music, tel (02) 9565 4522; UK—New Re Records has a wonderful track World Music, tel (0)1986 781682; ecord of bringing contemporary quiet USA—New World Music, tel (303) 415 trance music to the world with artists such as P Robert Ansell and Gabrielle Roth & The 1040, http:/Awww.newworldmusic.com . a he grand master of the shakuhachi, Riley Mirrors (NEXUS 2/21, 3/03). Combining Lee. is here again with classical ha soul percussion with rhythmic drums and va s : » up bass backed vocals, their CDs always man- player Marshall McGuire and an exquisite : : : age to get you moving. "Maybe we should Chapaneee nue seal contort har (ace stand back and look with something other NEXUS 7/05). Floating World mixes clas- sha” OU" ees.” Kays McHowell in the open sical Japanese and European compositions g Song. F 8 §' in a beautiful sound performance which tures musicians and singers from Tibetan, ° P we Israeli, African and Native American tradi- touches the soul. There are compositions . : tions. Global music with a clear message to from Ravel and Erik Satie, plus a stand-out . . piece, "A Feather on the Breath of God", by unite body and soul. Highly recommended. Australian composer Anne Boyd. A pure — . sound album, connecting you with ancient b & i see || Eastern and Western classical traditions. John McDowell MAMA AFRICA 4+ by Suzzana Owiyo Arc Music Prodns, UK, 2004 (61 mins) Distributor: UK—Arc Music, tel +44 (0)1342 328 567, website http:/Awww.arcmusic.co.uk uzzana Owiyo is from Kenya, where she has been involved with music since high school. Her calling was the nyatiti (Kenyan lyre), and later she took up the box guitar. By 1997, she was a vocalist with the Extra Kimwa Band which helped make her a FLOATING WORLD by Riley Lee & Marshall McGuire New World Music, Aust, 2004 (65mins) Distributors: Australia—New World Music, tel (02) 9565 4522; UK—New World Music, tel (0)1986 781682; USA—New World Music, tel (303) 415 1040, http:/Awww.newworldmusic.com he grand master of the shakuhachi, Riley Lee, is here again with classical harp player Marshall McGuire and an exquisite collection of pieces for shakuhachi (Japanese flute) and concert harp (see NEXUS 7/05). Floating World mixes clas- sical Japanese and European compositions in a beautiful sound performance which touches the soul. There are compositions from Ravel and Erik Satie, plus a stand-out piece, "A Feather on the Breath of God", by Australian composer Anne Boyd. A pure sound album, connecting you with ancient Eastern and Western classical traditions. MAMA AFRICA by Suzzana Owiyo Arc Music Prodns, UK, 2004 (61 mins) Distributor: UK—Arc Music, tel +44 (0)1342 328 567, website http://www.arcmusic.co.uk uzzana Owiyo is from Kenya, where she has been involved with music since high school. Her calling was the nyatiti (Kenyan lyre), and later she took up the box guitar. By 1997, she was a vocalist with the Extra Kimwa Band which helped make her a NEXUS +73 OCTOBER — NOVEMBER 2004 www.nexusmagazine.com