Interactive Poll: Sounds of Asia

Edited by Mila-13 - September 06 2021 at 09:26

Edited by JD - August 28 2021 at 14:10

jamesbaldwin wrote: Basically I know well only two asian artists: - Ravi Shankar (and his daughter) - Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (thank to the Real World by Peter Gabriel) Enjoy!

Edited by Mila-13 - August 28 2021 at 13:51

The Anders wrote: Nice. I predict a very diverse poll since Asia is a big continent with many different cultures. My choice will be Balinese gamelan music - a style which, among other things, influenced a composer like Claude Debussy. Dewa Alit & Gamelan Salukat - Dripping Water / Yeh Ngetel

Edited by Mila-13 - August 28 2021 at 16:27

I will have fun with this one!

Starting with Indian music, first up (and my nomination for now) is a band based in Tampa, Florida. I used to live down there, and one night, I was driving around, running errands, and listening to a local community radio station and the DJ (Ray Villadonga) was playing an assortment of jazz rock fusion, psychedelic, space, and prog rock. One of the tracks was from a band that he cofounded and played bass for, Wahh World Fusion Band. The band primarily consists of a tabla player/vocalist, bassist, guitarist, e-sitarist, and drummer. I couldn’t find any individual tracks from their first album on Youtube, so this one is from their second album, called “Brother Ray,” in honor of Ray. Ray passed away from cancer in 2017 prior to the release of this album and he only played on a few of the tracks. I don’t think he is on this one. The end of the track has some konnakol.

Wahh  World Fusion Band – Desire on Fire

If interested, their first album “Liberation” is available as a free MP3 download from their website. Click on the “get album” link on the page.

Second up, the primary listed artist is one I have mentioned before in these polls, fusion bass player Jonas Hellborg. He is on PA and has collaborated with many artists. My previous nomination from him was a collaboration with guitarist Buckethead and drummer Michael Shrieve. This one has him collaborating with guitarist Shawn Lane and Indian musicians (and brothers) V. Umashankar (ghatam and konnakol), V. Selvaganesh (kanjira and konnakol), and V. Umamahesh (vocals). 

Jonas Hellborg / Shawn Lane / V. Umashankar / V. Selvaganesh / V. Umamahesh – Anchor

ghatam: 

kanjira:

Next, we go to Burma with Kyaw Kyaw Naing and the contemporary classical ensemble Bang on the Can All Stars. Naing plays the Burmese percussion instrument pat waing, which are 21 drums arranged in a horseshoe shape. He collaborated with Bang on the Can All-Stars for the album this track is from, “Bang on a Can meets Kyaw Kyaw Naing.”

Kyaw Kyaw Naing / Bang on the Can All-Stars – Sein Chit Tee A Mhat Ta Ya

Video showing Kyaw Kyaw Naing playing the pat waing.

Link to biography: https://cantaloupemusic.com/artists/kyaw-kyaw-naing

And finally, Japan. I have nominated previously, a couple of different artists with the shamisen, Waggakki Band – Senbonzakura and Tokyo Groove Jyoshi – What Is Hip. So, one more possibility with the Yoshida Brothers.

Yoshida Brothers – Rising

Edited by Lewian - August 28 2021 at 15:18

Here are some Turkish delights for you all.

These songs are live performances from some Turkish TV programmes.

My nomination is from one of our national treasures: the multi-instrumentalist and vocal master Fatih Erkoç. The song has many colours in it (it is a cover of an arabesk song); and definitely don't miss the ending part!

Fatih Erkoc - Emmoglu



Another song. This is our vocal virtuoso Haktan Canevi. He can sing like playing the violin. A rare talent!

Haktan - Beddua



And finally... This is from a singing competition programme. The guy here had not been known before, but now millions know him thanks to his splendid performances in the TV show!

Erkan Gümüşsuyu - Yıllar



Hope you'll enjoy my picks!




Edited by Shadowyzard - August 28 2021 at 15:23

Edited by Lewian - August 28 2021 at 15:39

^ Yes, I believe it was at a world's fair where Debussy encountered Indonesian music for the first time. This event is well documented in music history books.

Great suggestion with Jambinai, Mike!

That album was also one of my favorites from 2019. Someome had posted in the forums their recent Tiny Desk performance about a month ago, which included ONDA. Opened with Time of Extinction from an earlier album. I recommend watching this as well.