If you google “organ”, there are more hits on the illicit market for harvesting body parts than on the sweet and swelling sound of a well-played organ. A deeper dive, however, brings one to the musical core of the matter, though the White European point of view prevails with frequent mentions the likes of Johann Sebastian Bach and concert organist E. Power Biggs. Sliding past those relevant references, we finally land on jazz as a most fertile ground for keyboard improvisers. And just about every other music in the world as it has been practiced since the mid-20th century (electronically speaking) – the organ fits anywhere you want it. I don’t pretend to be a purist in this week’s Al compás del mundo playlist, and there may well be an electric piano or two sneaking into the mix. Sometimes it’s hard to discern between the two, but the pleasure principle was my ultimate criteria and let any (unimportant) distinctions be damned! [continued below] Al compás del mundo - programa #160, ...

What’s been said before shan’t be repeated. With a reprise of previous glorious hit parade wonders showered upon a most fortunate listening public (aka: the unwashed masses,) I don’t need to bend over any which way to explain just how seriously listenable this playlist is. Instead, there are questions inquiring minds need answered ...   Al compás del mundo - programa #159, 12-19-24, greatest hits of programs #29-31 From Son of P.M. to Bobby Moore Run List 01 The Son of P.M. - Klong Yao (Thailand) 02 anonymous - Molam Thai Country Groove from Isan (Thailand) 03 Alunan Suara Gamelan - Ini Sungguh Indah (Indonesia) 04 Lagu Minang Samsimar - Indang Pariaman (Indonesia) 05 anonymous - Astronomia (Malaysia) 06 Guadalupe Urbina - Pais Azul (Costa Rica) 07 Maria Muldaur - Guide Me O Great Jehovah (USA) 08 Our Native Daughters - Black Myself (USA) 09 Irma Thomas - Ruler of My Heart (USA) 10 Professor Longhair - Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand (USA) 11 George Clinton - Atomic Dog (USA) 12 Sh...

I'm momentarily at a loss for how to encapsulate what this week's Al compás del mundo brings forth, but maybe "loss" is the key, or rather "lost", as in showing up where one normally does not belong. There are several cases in this playlist of folks outside their usual musical boundaries. Which can actually be a positive step, artistically speaking.  Take revered Japanese folk singer, Hajime Chitose. Here she stays true to her school and sings in a most traditional manner, while accompanied by the Minyo Crusaders, a fun-loving goofball funk band, equally at home with R&B or Latin rhythms. Works beautifully, no? Than there's Johnny Clegg, a White songwriter and singer, deeply involved with Black South African music. An ardent anti-apartheid activist, he spoke Zulu, was thoroughly acculturated in that ethos, and recorded albums with a mixed-race band despite government and police persecution. Bela Fleck, known principally as a bluegrass banjoist, is he...

So much to write about! It’s a playlist of strangelings that in some other time or culture would have made no sense at all. And yet… Though first off, I need to point out that So much to write about! It’s a playlist of strangelings that in some other time or culture would have made no sense at all. And yet… Though first off, I need to point out that Programa #156 marks my third anniversary for Al compas del mundo (World Beats) on RadioactivaTX.org out of Tequisquiapan, Querétaro, deep in the heart of Mexico. Huzzah! Once the confetti settles it’s back to the task at hand: surveying this bunch of topical interest and fantastic weirdos.Once the confetti settles it’s back to the task at hand: surveying this bunch of topical interest and fantastic weirdos. continued... Run list for Al compás del mundo - programa #157, 12-5-24, novelties, notables, and just plain strange 01 Hollywood Argyles - Alley Oop (USA) 02 Little Anthony & The Imperials - Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko-Bop (USA) 03 The ...