Smithsonian Folkways Recordins / Havana & Matanzas, Cuba 1957
Album: Havana & Matanzas, Cuba 1957   Collection:World
Artist:Smithsonian Folkways Recordins   Added:Mar 2004
Label:Smithsonian/Folkways  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2004-08-30 Pull Date: 2004-10-31 Charts: Reggae/World
Week Ending: Oct 31 Oct 17 Sep 12
Airplays: 1 1 2

Recent Airplay
1. Oct 29, 2008: Orangeasm
Praise Song for Aganju
4. Oct 14, 2004: Sun in Libra, Moon in Pisces
The Turkey Vulture
2. May 20, 2008: The Professor Barnaby J. Finkerton Variety Hour -- Music that Appears to be of L
Song for Oshun
5. Sep 09, 2004: The Dog and Pony Show
Song for Osain
3. Oct 27, 2004: The Dog and Pony Show
Praise Song for Aganju
6. Sep 09, 2004: ya got me, inshted
Vamo Tune Tune

Album Review
Alex
Reviewed 2004-07-22
Field recordings of the songs and religious ceremonies of sugar plantation workers in Cuba. Amazingly enough, most of the songs are in Yoruba, Congolese, and other east African dialects. Elemental, unpolished performances and recordings. Excellent liner notes. Amazingly similar to Nigerian folk recordings I've heard. Recommend tracks 3, 15, 17. Esp. recommend 5 and 23.

1) 100 bpm. Percussion and bells.
2) 70/140 bpm. Call and resp., male solo, female chorus. Bells, complex polyrhythm.
3) 60/120 bpm. INITIAL LOW LEVEL. Sim to 2.
4) 110 bpm. Similar to 2, and 3, but mellower.
5) Celebratory tone. Less rhythmically complex, but nice melody.
6) Spoken word, male voice.
7) 132 bpm. LEVEL FLUCTUATIONS. Male voice and chorus. Unusual percussion.
8-10 ) Continuation of 7. Note that 7-10 are in a dialect of Yoruba, a language common in Nigeria.
11) Male solo, bell-like percussion.
12) 70 bpm. Surprisingly simple rhythms, tuneful call and response.
13) 80 bpm. Rattles, polyrhythmic drums.
14) 90 bpm. Male solo and chorus, drums, bells, and rattles.
15) 110 bpm. Complex polyrhythms, nice call and response.
16) Sim. to 15.
17) 100 bpm. Elegiac, beautiful use of guiros (gourd rattles). Very unusual.
18) Unison drumming. Male call and response.
19, 20) Similar to 18.
21) 100 bpm. Drum and metallic counter-rhythm. Clean sound, but a bit monotonous.
22) 80/160 bpm. Interesting 2 part chorus. Good drumming. Metallic percussion may irritate listeners.
23) 110 bpm. Female solo, mixed chorus. No percussion. Very pretty.
24) Similar to 23)
25) Male call and response. Swings gently.
26) Loosely structured fragment.
27) sim. to 26)
28) Female solo and male chorus. Tuneful but brief.

Alex D.

Track Listing
1. Tui-Tui for Shango   15. Song for Oba
2. Song for Oshun   16. Song for Yemaya
3. Praise Song for Aganju   17. Praise Song for Oshun
4. Song for Obatala   18. Okonile Re Ra
5. Song for Osain   19. Omode T'oirsa
6. Olodumare   20. E Be Oro
7. Songs for Eshu   21. The Spirit Is Circling
8. Song for Oya   22. The Turkey Vulture
9. Arara Song for Nana Buruku   23. Shanigo
10. Song for the Divine Twins   24. Oyaya Obe
11. Song for Elegua   25. Oba O China
12. Song for Ogun   26. Marengue
13. Song for Obatala   27. Umbe
14. Song for Shango   28. Vamo Tune Tune