Hot Tips

[Rob Hall]

That's interesting Jamie. Dan Aurbach also produced the last Dr John album, which sounded rather good to my ears. I'll keep an ear open for this.

[Jamie Renton]

And I'll keep an ear out for the DR John album. I usually shy away from old rhythm n blues types working with modern rock people, but am now inclined (thanks to your recommendation and Aurbach's work on the Bombino album) to give this one a listen.

[Jamie Renton]

The new James Hunter Minute by Minute (Concord) is a joy from start to finish, as is Artimis (Manivette) the latest from Mousu T e lei Jovents. I'm also enjoying Los Desterrados' Dos Ammantes (Emkalador)

Honest Jon's have got a new double compilation of vintage British calypso, hi-life and jazz: London is the Place for Me 5&6 which is up to their usual high standards.

[gary booth]

The new James Hunter CD currently going down a storm in the Renton household, workplace and earphones, is up for grabs as a prize on the next No Reason podcast - answer a very easy question and it's probably yours.

[Ted]

Is the answer Howlin Wilf?

[NormanD]

We haven't even thought of a bleedin' question yet!

Although, what I had in mind was something along the lines of "What is the ECB likely to do to avoid a run on the banks in Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece and Spain?"

[David Flower]

That'll be Cryin' Wilf

[kk]

I wasn't as taken with the debut album by Tuareg blues-rocker Bombino as some. But his new one Nomad really hits the spot. Recorded in Nashville and produced by Dan Aurbach of the Black Keys (whom I'm led to believe are a modern beat combo popular amongst the more "with it" of today's young people), it's out on Nonesuch next month.

that album is now streaming here

http://www.npr.org/2013/03/24/174857551 ... bino-nomad

[Jamie Renton]

Ry Cooder's Live in San Francisco has His Ry-ness playing tunes from all points in his career with a kick-ass band that features Flaco Jimenez and a 10-piece Mexican brass section. Nothing we haven't heard him do before, but the old buzzard sounds like he's having fun for a change. Out on 9th Sept on Nonesuch

There's a lot of desert blues about at the moment, but Chatma the latest from Tamikrest is my pick of the current bunch, with a diverse mix of sounds and tempos + it really rocks! Glitterbeat are putting it out on 16th Sept.

Lala Njava's debut solo release is callad Malagasy Blues Song & is a lovely, smoky, moody album. Out on Riverboat/MWN 30th Sept

I don't know if it's down to this this weather we've been having lately, but Analog Africa's Afrobeat Airlines 2-Return Flight to Ghana 1974-1983 is the album I return to the most at the moment. 16th Sept release date.

[gary booth]

Thanks Jamie. You've sold all four to me.

[matt m]

Listening to a pre-release CD of Leyla McCalla's solo album right now. Interesting stuff. She's the cellist from the Carolina Chocolate Drops. She plays the cello like a banjo on some nice, bluesy, gospelly songs, and her vocals are really unaffected and natural-sounding. You can hear she's classically trained but it doesn't make the music stuffy at all.

Also been liking the 'Daora' double-CD compilation of new Brazilian music very very much indeed. A game of two halves: lots of hip-hop on the first CD; then funk and Afro-Brazilian bands on the second. Wouldn't be surprised if others have already been raving about it on here?

Oh and there's the reissue on Mr Bongo of 'Chapter One', an album by BLO, allegedly "Africa's first rock band". Whole lot of fun. Sounds like 70s American truckin' music might have if it had been funky and African-ized.

[Jamie Renton]

Just listening to Inner Fire the forthcoming album from Souljazz Orchestra, out on Strut next Feb and sounding very tasty so far. Analogue global jazz with a groove!

PS Apologies for my dereliction of duty re' updating this thread, one way or another, I've been too busy for my own good these last few months.

[Jamie Renton]

Playing catch up with my hot tips. Some a bit longer in the tooth than others but all sounding hot to me. Hope you find something you like.

London based Sudanese singer Amira Kheir has got a beautiful new album out on Contro Cultura Music (through Sterns) Alsahraa features a light, minimal mix of Sudanese roots, blues and jazz. This clip from BBC Africa doesn't quite do it justice, but you get to hear what a lovely voice she's got: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAu11OjT0is

Devil's Tale is a meeting of Romanian brass blasters Fanfare Ciocarlia and Canadian Django-style guitar man Adrian Raso, with sleevenotes from our own (our very own) Garth Cartwright. a firm favourite of mine for a while now. Here's the opening track (with some pleasingly old-style animation): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyaSWN_nfxc

Reggae-wise, Christopher (son of Alton) Ellis put out Better Than Love, a very tasty EP of old style ska, rocksteady & reggae, late last year. I've only just found out about it. In an ideal world "You Babe" would be the toppermost of the poppermost: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWXEsq1KNh0

Frank Bey is a new name to me, a veteran soul-blues singer with a rich, gruff tone. His album Soul for your Blues came out last year on Blue Dot Records. Be warned, his reading of John Prine's "Hello In There" packs an emotional punch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4x-f4Pi0kVA

[Jamie Renton]

Just had a sneaky advance listen to the forthcoming album from Bassekou Kouyate & N'goni Ba and bloody good it is too (I mean, really good!)

[Jamie Renton]

Brit kora man Seckou Keita's latest 22 Strings is a solo record (following his collaboration with Welsh harpist Catrin Finch) and it's an absolute beauty. Have a listen to this and you'll hopefully hear what I mean:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVfx_m5--cQ

He really makes those strings sing dontcha think?

Out in May.