what's up with your multiple blogs dude?

so just a quick update - i use this blog for many things - to keep a record of random happenings, my travels, music, etc. it has at times crossed over into the "professional", especially as much of my life is a nice melange of profeesional & personal. it will continue this way i presume. however, i'm also keeping a "strictly professional" blog over at erichludwig.com
just another rss feed to add to your reader. . . ;)

water water everywhere

our street - clark st in somerville, in the middle of the rain storm yesterday. . .

Boston Modern Global Music update

I've spent the past two Wednesday nights at the MFA and have loved it! Great shows, great atmosphere, great dancing. I mean, where else can you dance outside in a gorgeous courtyard surrounded by huge trees and an huge art museum in the middle of the city! Plus the shows are done early for all you early to bedders.

There are a couple great shows coming up there that you should join me at. Next wednesday (July 30) Daby Toure will be bringing his sick guitar chops along with his band "Extra Golden", and then August 20th, there are 2 shows (early/late) which should knock your socks off. An african tribute to james brown featuring cheick lo, vieux farka toure (ali's son), and a couple members of james brown's original band (pee wee ellis is one of them).

Also coming up this weekend is Lowell Folk Festival, featuring my friend Balla Kouyate who is playing both days:
SAT July 26 - 3PM - Lee Street Stage
Duo with Pablo Dembele on Djembe and Banjo

SUN July 27 - 1 PM - JFK PLaza & 4PM - Boarding House Park
Balla and his band, World Vision

For more info:
http://www.lowellfolkfestival.org/schedule.html

Balla Kouyaté, from Mali, is a virtuoso player of an ancient instrument called the balafon, the West African ancestor of the marimba, the xylophone, the vibes, and a host of related instruments. Kouyate's family roots go back over 800 years to Balla Faséké Kouyaté, the keeper of the Sosso Bala, the first balafon, and the first of an unbroken line of djelis, or griots, in the Kouyaté clan. Kouyate, now based in Massachusetts, continues this classic tradition, with his brilliant, dazzling instrumental solos and original compositions. He will be accompanied by Sekou "Pablo" Dembele on Djembe and Banjo, Raja Kassis on Guitar, Thierno Camara on Bass and Mackane Kouyate on Calabash.

Next week also is a different sort of music - Rusty Belle - an americana/folk/really cool band is playing Lizard Lounge on thursday night (july 31). these guys played a wedding alli & i were at last weekend. we'll be there dancing away for sure.

As always, you can stay up to date by going here to see the upcoming calendar, and subscribe if you want to my list of shows:
http://soungalo.blogspot.com/2008/06/boston-modern-global-music-calendar_11.html

peace.

vinay

you can watch vinay in this pbs documentary. . .

your life. . .

is short. live it like you mean it.
or, for you techies and business school peeps:
"Your time is a zero-sum game, and only you can decide how to slice it up."

that's from david pogue, tech writer at the nytimes.

i think this is especially profound for me at this point in time due to the awful news of vinay's passing.
http://helpvinay.org/

i never actually met him, but did meet his wife and family and friends, and this man clearly inspired many people, and brought light into the lives of those around him during his time here. surely as much as any of us can hope for with our impact on this world.

Boston Modern Global Music Calendar View 2

I'm keeping a calendar of shows I think are "cool" or interesting on Google Calendar - details below if you want to view or subscribe.

subscribe:
XML: http://www.google.com/calendar/feeds/538m1pu2to3gekfet2mbkqb280%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic

ICAL: http://www.google.com/calendar/ical/538m1pu2to3gekfet2mbkqb280%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics

HTML: http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=538m1pu2to3gekfet2mbkqb280%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=America/New_York

Boston Modern Global Music Calendar

WADaBo Google Calendar!

Still a young man

I got this email (below) today, which is good/bad news. The good news = I'm still a young man, and not part of the old boys club which decides who gets to participate and who does not. The bad news = I'm still on the outside looking in, and they (the insiders) still don't "get it". [explanation further down]

I just hope that we are not subjected to another "panel of everyone" open blab sessions run by my friend DV over at RPS. He really is my friend, but I am slightly bored and annoyed by this format. Especially since he's done it now for a few WOMEX's and APAP's in a row. And of course a little jealous cause I want to be running a real panel talking about really how to do new and innovative stuff with digital technology, and bringing in people who can explain and discuss their methods.

Now, about the "getting it" part - my proposal was about the use of digitial distribution and promotion methods to not only distribute, promote, and market artists, but also how groups are using music and digital tools to create social change in the local community where the artist is based. I thought it would be amazing to have a panel with the folks I had in mind. I still do. But I'll just have to do it my own way. . .

EMAIL:
Thank you for your conference proposal for WOMEX 2008 in Sevilla, Andalusia, Spain.

This year again, we received many excellent proposals which were considered very carefully for our limited number of conference sessions. In fact, so many were so good that we were left with quite a dilemma. and as every year, with the given feedback of the Jury, the task consists in trying to balance new topics and new speakers with some others whom are known to be effective and informative communicators . This meant not being able to accept some very worthy proposals this time, yours, unfortunately, among them.

That said, please note that a WOMEX conference session is not the only way to present your activities at this year’s WOMEX.

With more than 2.800 professional visitors and 1.400 companies from more than 90 countries (2007 edition) around there will be many other ways to network across borders, whether these borders be musical, political, cultural or commercial and establish essential contacts for the future.

If you plan to attend, be sure to register at the most favourable smart rate. The deadline is Friday, the 27th of June. All registration details can be found at: http://www.womex.com/realwomex/register

Thank you for your interest and understanding. We hope to see you end of October in Sevilla, appointed as UNESCOS`s first city of Music.

Best regards

Your WOMEX conference team

Ramata Diakite - New Album coming!

I have just got a rough mix of a new album from Ramata Diakite! Very exciting. for those of you who don't know, i am managing Ramata, who is an amazingly talented singer from Mali, West Africa. the owner of her US label and i have been talking to her for a while about some new songs to complete an album, and she went ahead and got into a friend of mine's studio in mali (Studio Mali, run by Paul Chandler), and recorded 13 tracks. another friend brought back the ruff mix when he was visiting mali.
so, out of this friendly collaboration come 13 sweet, acoustic, stripped down tracks. i can't wait until we get the masters, and i can start to share some of these tracks. there is a great single in there, and a nice mix of driving acoustic grooves and some trancey vibes as well.
i am getting the lyrics translated so that everyone can understand what she is singing about. to start with, the album is called "Burutumu", which is the name of her great-grandfather's village in Wassoulou. so we start with some deeply personal roots music, and bring it to the world. again, i'm very excited, and can't wait to start sharing. . .