globalFEST!!!

i just got back to my friend's house in NYC after seeing globalFEST at webster hall. it was of course great to see Sara Tavares again, and she did a wonderful set. I also got to see Julia Sarr, who I've been writing to on myspace, and then talk to her at the end of the night, which was great. Saw Lenine, and Lila Downs, who was great. Lila combined some sick musicians who doubled on all sorts of fun instruments with some great politics. always a winning combination.
and to end the night. ANDY PALACIO AND THE GARIFUNA COLLECTIVE.
oh. my. god.
if these guys come within 200 miles of you, you MUST go see them. great people, great musicians, great energy. i think it also helped to have about 20-30 garifuna people from belize in the audience singing along to all the songs. and to have the 78 year-old mentor of the group get on stage and sing THREE songs! while dancing. i hope that i can do half of that when i'm his age.
if you want to check out their last song of the set tonight, check out calabash's free single this week - lidan aban (together).
wow. wow. wow. i turned down the opportunity to see a couple acts at globalfest after andy, as well as the after party, as my soul is so happy right now. really, you must go see andy if you get the chance.

democracy delayed in senegal

oh oh. after one successful transition of power (PEACEFULLY!) it looks like it'll be a little tough to continue this transition . . .

photos from mali bike race!

check out some photos from the bike race, and another story as well.

more biking from mali . . .

malian farmer boy hangs tough with spanish pro and ties for the win in the first race in this promo campaign to plant more trees in mali.
yeah mali!

biking in mali

i just came across this fascinating article about a bike race in mali.

also check out his day 2 post here

combines several passions of mine - mali and cycling and trees (or the environment).

however, i'm wondering why they are choosing eucalyptus trees to plant in mali. growing up in california, these trees are everywhere, they are weed like, and their leaves poison other plants beneath them, meaning no undergrowth. i've also never seen (i don't think) a eucalyptus growing naturally in my travels in mali, so . . .

also wondering if that eucalyptus wood is good for drums or other things that wood gets used for in mali.

as always, i find a way to question a super great idea - 1 million trees in mali should be a good thing.
the project is described here and here.

united nations of hip hop

Chris Berry & Panjea

You're 18. You go from your home in California to Zimbabwe. And get lost. Lost in the music, lost in the culture, lost in the magic. Only when the elders of the community there tell you - "What are you doing here? There are lots of misguided people, lost and confused people, in your country. They’re killing each other there. It’s time for you to take what you’ve learned and bring it to your own country because they need it more than we need it here. That’s your job. You’re the bridge maker" do you wake up. You are Chris Berry.

And so now, 10 years on, we find him today back on his native soil preaching an uplifting transcontinental message of hope to contagious, dance beats based in the Zimbabwean mbira and sacred Congolese ngoma drum rhythms.

Chris Berry's story is one that I have often fantasized about, and I know I'm not alone. Not only did he get lost in the music, but this amazing talent came back "funkier than James Brown", as one of my friends put it. Check out his music. Funky, fresh global music, most of it just straight up super dance energy, and most of it with strong messages.

Probably the most powerful message comes from the song "Why Do We". In the song, he asks "Why do we kill people who kill people to show people that killing people is wrong?"

Download some of his music, and read more about this amazing story. You'll be uplifted.

jamie catto's album

check out my boy jamie catto's album. recorded in 3 days. non-stop. no going back. just one long super sweet take.

testing testing

so part of my having this blog is also to test out features for my company and my general knowledge. so therefore all these playlists that are embedded as well as the new meebo box on the right. you can IM me using all the available IM platforms using meebo, and even better, you can IM (using meebo) me right from this page without signing into any of your own IM accounts! wicked!

Test Playlist

this it the fun new player that we built for our french partner mondomix. nice eh?