Every now and then I’ll focus on a particular instrument (the harmonica) or series of related instruments (strings). But in order to create as much diverse interest as uncommon sense would bear, I typically reach to the far corners of the globe. This program, dedicated to the flute, is no different, touching on the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the US of A. There are big flutes, little flutes, simple and complex flutes, jazz flutes, classical flutes and folk flutes, solo flutes and group flutes. A profound example of this latter style is the Bolivian tarqueada [LEFT] , played on the tarka, a hefty, rudimentary instrument. On occasion dozens of flautists and drummers join in for a music perhaps best described as cacophonous, a complete community event with participation by an army of musicians and legions of dancers. It’s an egalitarian approach to the status of “musician” where almost anyone can master the basic note pattern, repeated over and over, and become a...

Due to popular demand, we welcome back to Al compas del mundo the inestimably great acts of Johnny Guitar and The Son of P.M. [ Shown here. ] Johnny says “surfs up” so off we go to fabled Phuket island, Thailand, where we’ll have fun, fun, fun now that daddy took the garuda away. Illogical silliness gets us nowhere, but that’s the sort of energy that went into compiling this playlist. Admittedly, Southeast Asian music is maybe the least known genre for this ethnomusicologist, but I feel I’ve done the show proud with a heady mix of ‘60s rock and traditional folk music. With a lucky stab I’ve come across the Haba Haba Group, classics like Asben & Melati, and Sinn, reputed to be Cambodia’s greatest pop singer (of a bygone era). If this all sounds a bit dated, it’s because it is. I have come to prefer music of the 50s through the 70s to most any sound of today. Western music had its sway as novelty (hip! modern! with it!) introduced to the Southeast Asian musical aesthetic back in the ...

  What to say about this wildly diverse batch of music from peoples all over the globe? I’m going to pick out just a few random offerings to elaborate upon, though of course, every artist represented here has a history worth noting. Johnny Guitar from Thailand, along with several other recording artists/bands there, played what was called “shadow music” back in the 60’s. Influenced by a widely popular British band, The Shadows, Mr. Guitar and friends introduced electrified surf and go-go to traditional Thai sounds to create a new genre of folk-pop music.   Nelcy Sedibe, a South African of Zulu origin recorded in the early 80’s and contributed to a collection of music promoted as The Indestructible Beat of Soweto, named after the impoverished black township near Johannesburg. As happened in Thailand and, seemingly, everywhere else on the planet, multi-media sources introduced Western music and the electric instruments played to create that contemporary with-it sound. Once again...