Burning Dervish News

I am sorry to say that I will not be posting for a while. I have had a family emergency which has kept me offline and will for the immediate future. I look forward to being back.

Cheers.

Sonny Okosuns: Power to the People

"...Nigeria's Sonny Okosuns is one of the continent's most enduringly popular performers...In the early '70s, he helped usher in a back-to-African-roots trend with a stylistic mix of Western pop and local highlife he called "ozzidi." He later broadened it to include the rapidly spreading gospel of reggae. His diversity has kept him from being pigeonholed...his albums typically feature vocals in English as well as the Nigerian Ishan language..." - All Music Guide

Here is an interesting article with some biographical notes from June 2007.

Capitol Theatre, Again

When I posted about the old Capitol Theatre in Passaic, NJ back in January I had no idea the entry would have the legs it has head...At least once a month I get an email from someone with reflections or comments on their experiences there. Here is one that came in over the weekend from Ira Bourstein (the ALL CAPS are preserved from the original email):

"I HAD THE LUCK/PLEASURE/DEAFNESS OF WORKING AT THE CAPITOL FOR ABOUT 8 YEARS. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT CAPITOL FANS MAY HAVE. IT WAS GREAT BEING A PART OF ROCK HISTORY, BUT NO WAY TO MAKE A LIVING. MOST OF THE STAFF RECEIVED A FLAT $30 PER EVENING, WHICH COVERED ARRIVING IN THE AFTERNOON FOR LOAD-INS AND SOUND CHECKS, AND STAYING AT LEAST TO THE END OF THE SHOW,OR LONGER FOR THOSE WHO HAD TO LOAD OUT.(AND NOTWITHSTANDING "STAY", JACKSON BROWN'S PIANO WAS NOT LEFT FOR LAST).

LESS THAN THE MINIMUM WAGE, BUT MOST OF US WOULD HAVE DONE IT FOR FREE."

If you would like to take Ira up on his offer, you can email him here.

Rachid Taha: Made in Medina

I cannot believe I am just learning about this record. If Joe Strummer and Peter Gabriel recorded together, I think it would sound like this.

From Taha's Wikipedia entry:

"Rachid Taha (born 1958 in Oran, Algeria) is a French-Algerian musician. His music is influenced by many different styles such as raï, techno, rock and punk. Based in Paris...he usually sings in Arabic...Politically-engaged, he has always stood up to defend democracy, tolerance and altruism against racism, fundamentalism and discrimination."

Of the songs listed below, "Barra Barra" was used in the movie Black Hawk Down, "Ala Jalkoum" features Femi Kuti and "Vérité", well, that's just my favorite track on the record.

I have been listening to this album non-stop for the last four hours...

Download Barra Barra, Ala Jalkoum and Vérité
from Made in Medina