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Transpacific Sound Paradise
Saturday, May 7, 2016
Osei Korankye's Ghana Seperewa Highlife

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Osei Korankye is the captivating flag bearer of Ghana’s seperewa tradition. The seperewa is a small boxy harp-lute, played by the Akan people (including the Ashanti) of Ghana but (according to musician and musicologist John Collins) its roots are in what’s now the northern part of the Côte d’Ivoire. It’s related to the better known Mande kora as well as other harp-lutes of the sahel. When first brought to Ghana (essentially as war booty) in the early 1800s, the seperewa was an instrument of the Ashanti royal court. But in the ensuing decades it spread to villages. Later when the guitar came to Ghana, seperewa melodies were adapted by guitarists in modern highlife bands.

Osei's spreading the gospel of the seperewa with a great new album on the Awkaaba label. But it's extremely rare to hear this music live in the US. So we're thrilled that Osei Korankye and friends will join us live in the studio just ahead of their two NYC shows: tonight (Saturday May 7th) at 10 pm Rockwood Music Hall Stage 3, 185 Orchard Street in the Lower East Side; and tomorrow night (Sunday May 8th) at 7 pm at Barbes, 376 9th St. in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Check out Osei Korankye’s new album Emmere Nhyina Nse, a live performance video, and Osei’s chat with John Collins, demonstrating the seperewa and exploring the history of the instrument, at http://www.akwaabamusic.com/osei-korankye-emmere-nhyina-nse/.

Big thanks Colter Harper, driving force behind Osei’s album who joins us in the band and on the show today; and to Benjamin Lebrave of Akwaaba music for bringing this and more great music from West Africa to the world - check out their other releases and more at http://www.akwaabamusic.com/.

And extra big thanks to our illustrious engineers, Gil Shuster and Glenn Luttman!

This Week's Playlist:

(* = new)

Edip Akbayram ve Dostlar: Degmen Benim Gamli Yash Gonlume / Nice Yıllara Gülüm / Pharaway Sounds / * (0:00:00 Pop-up)
Reissue

Shar 'Habeel: Dance and Cheer / Various Artists: Waking Up Sheherazade Volume 2 / Ali Baba and His 40 Records (0:05:02 Pop-up)

Hirut Beqele & Police Orchestra: Ewnètegna Feger / Various Artists: Ethiopiques 13 / Buda Musique / * (0:09:28 Pop-up)

Qwanqwa: Gorage / Volume 2 / FPE (0:12:40 Pop-up)

Debo Band: Ele / Ere Gobez / FPE / * (0:20:16 Pop-up)
GIG: May 18 (Wed) Brooklyn Bowl, 61 Wythe Ave., Brooklyn: Antibalas (monthly residency) + Debo Band + Zap Mama. 8 pm.

Imarhan: Tahabort / Imarhan / City Slang / * (0:27:01 Pop-up)
GIGs: TONIGHT @ Le Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker St; tomorrow (Sun) night at Baby's All Right in Brooklyn

Kel Assouf: Azawad / Tikounen / * (0:30:46 Pop-up)

Sandaraa: Haatera Taiyga / Sandaraa (0:34:46 Pop-up)
May 11 (Wed) Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2, 196 Allen St: Sandaraa + Bridget Kearney & Benjamin Lazar Davis. 7 pm.

Tarsem Jassar: Ghaint Bande / Illuminati / Vehli Janta / * (0:39:59 Pop-up)

Delhi 2 Dublin: The Happy Track / Planet Electric (0:43:05 Pop-up)

Asala Nasri: Kabart Ala Seedak / Shakhsiya Aneeda (A Stubborn Personality) (0:45:37 Pop-up)

Dakha Brakha: Sho Z-Pod Duba / Yahudky (0:51:55 Pop-up)
GIGs: May 20-21 (Fri-Sat): PACE University Schimmel Center, 3 Spruce St: Dakhabrakha: In concert on Friday night at 7:30; performing a live film score to the silent film Earth on Saturday night at 7:30. Presented by Live Sounds.

Osei Korankye: Welcoming Song / Live on WFMU (1:06:03 Pop-up)

Osei Korankye: Thanks to the Almighty and to Grandfather / Live on WFMU (1:10:19 Pop-up)

Osei Korankye: Emmere Nhyina Nse / Live on WFMU (1:14:55 Pop-up)

Osei Korankye: Amponsah (Live on WFMU) / Live on WFMU (1:18:06 Pop-up)

Osei Korankye: The Unexpected Song about Entertaining and Having Fun / Live on WFMU (1:24:24 Pop-up)

Osei Korankye: A Song About Love / Live on WFMU (1:29:27 Pop-up)

Karavika: Little Road Song / Sunrise / Karavika / 2011 (1:35:13 Pop-up)

Shujaat Husain Khan, Mamadou Diabate, Lalgudi Khan: Sigui Dyarra / Strings Tradition (1:41:17 Pop-up)
GIGs: May 7-8 (Sat-Sun) New York Society for Ethical Culture, 2 West 64th Street: The 17th Chhandayan Annual All-night Concert of Indian music; Sunday night May 8 at 8 pm at Asia Society, 725 Park Ave; Saturday night May 15, 11 pm at Drom, 85 Ave A

Saami Brothers Qawwal: Kalam-E-Khusrau excerpt (1:46:07 Pop-up)
GIG: May 7-8 (Sat-Sun) New York Society for Ethical Culture, 2 West 64th Street: The 17th Chhandayan Annual All-night Concert of Indian music

Hamid El Gnawi: Fangoro / Saha Koyo / Detour (1:49:49 Pop-up)

Simo Lagnawi: Shemaa / Salt / Waulk Records (1:53:25 Pop-up)

Chartwell Dutiro and Spirit Talk Mbira: Zunde / Various Artists: Looking for a New England 2: The Other Traditions / fRoots Magazine (2:02:17 Pop-up)
GIGs (most with NY ensemble Timbila): Wed at Barbes, Sat at Troost, May 19 at Bar Lunatico; May 28 at Rockwood Music Hall; May 29 at National Sawdust (collaborating with Quintet of the Americas)

Kassoun Bagayoko: Kabako / Various Artists: Every Song Has its End - Sonic Dispatches from Traditional Mali / Glitterbeat / * (2:09:07 Pop-up)

Uncredited (DR Congo Lumba-Shankadi Musicians): Madimba Xylophone Duet - Song About the Chief / Various Artists: African Gems / SWP / * (2:15:29 Pop-up)

Konono N°1 and Batida: Tokolanda / Konono N°1 Meets Batida / Crammed Discs / * (2:18:05 Pop-up)
GIG: Aug 14 (Sun) Central Park Summerstage, Rumsey Playfield, 72 St. (mid-park): Mbongwana Star + Batida + Young Paris + Okayafrica Electrafrique feat. DJ Underdog

Mbongwana Star: Malukayi (feat. Konono N°1) / From Kinsasha / World Circuit (2:23:47 Pop-up)
GIG: Aug 14 (Sun) Central Park Summerstage (as above)

Dizu Plaatjes and Friends: Phalisa / Ubuntu - The Common String / Mountain (2:34:12 Pop-up)

Kasotleha Motlasi: Poriki / Various Artists: The Best of Traditional Sotho Music / ARC Music / * (2:39:02 Pop-up)

Maphuteng: Rea Itsamaela / Various Artists: The Best of Traditional Sotho Music / ARC Music / * (2:42:17 Pop-up)

Victor Prieto: Michelangelo 70 / The Three Voices / * (2:46:27 Pop-up)

Lakou Mizik: Pran Ke Mwen / Wa Di Yo / Cumbancha / * (2:52:54 Pop-up)

Catherine Velienne: Mo Mari Fini Alle / Various Artists: Soul Sok Séga: Séga Sounds From Mauritius 1973-1979) / Strut (2:58:00 Pop-up)

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If you want to be on an email list for special ticket and music giveaways and to hear news about upcoming specials and special events (including our remote broadcasts from Barbes in Park Slope, Brooklyn - send an email to Rob W here and be sure to write "list" in the subject line.

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