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Putumayo’s New “Beat”

By Dan Storper, September 7, 2011  |  Meet the Blogger  |  More Posts by Dan Storper
Read on for a chance to win a 4-CD set from Putumayo’s Beat series and Groove series. Dan Storper is the CEO and Founder of Putumayo World Music. Putumayo continues its exploration of contemporary world music with the launch of a new "Beat" series, which follows in the footsteps of the successful “Groove” series. New releases African Beat and Latin Beat highlight the exciting blends of world music and electronica, R&B and more coming out of studios in Europe, America, Africa and Latin America. These releases are available at most Whole Foods Market stores. On Latin Beat, we explore funky new blends of Latin music, in which electronic beats, hip-hop flavors, DJ remixes and cutting-edge grooves are fused effortlessly with Colombian cumbia, Cuban son, Mexican banda, Spanish flamenco, Afro-Peruvian roots music and more. Cuban band Moneda Dura adds the voice of Buena Vista Social Club legend Ibrahim Ferrer to a catchy breakbeat sound. Colombians Jontre and Mariposa Solar demonstrate how effortlessly groundbreaking Latin musicians are using traditional rhythms in a contemporary pop context. Spain's Digitano takes Gypsy flamenco instrumentation and layers on electronic effects. These collaborations between modern Cuban groups and Cuban legends provide insight into how Latin music has managed to stay as popular and relevant today as it was 50 years ago. On African Beat, Putumayo features artists who are as likely to have traditional African drumming, soukous and mbaqanga on their IPods as they are the latest European dubstep and R&B. These tracks reveal that even in this globalized, hi-tech world, the divide between the past and the future is not as great as it may seem. Songs by musicians with deep connections to their roots, including Vieux Farka Touré and Les Barons, are remixed and reworked by Western DJs. The music of South Africa's Busi Mhlongo, Senegal's Lëk Sèn and Malian/French group Donso reveals how hip-hop, electronica and other urban musical styles have been incorporated into traditional African music, taking it in surprising new directions. We hope you give these new sounds a listen. Do you have a favorite song or group that showcases collaboration between two distinct music styles? Let us know what it is in the comments below for a chance to win a 4-CD set from Putumayo’s Beat series (African Beat and Latin Beat) and Groove series. (Arabic Groove and Turkish Groove). Comment by September 21st for a chance to win. We’ll choose one comment at random to receive the CDs.
Category: Music

 

1,011 Comments

Comments

Susan says ...
Wow! Went to Amazon to listen to these. It's was hard to stay in my seat. Love it. Sign me up for a chance to win them. Thanks for the new musical adventure, Whole Foods.
09/08/2011 4:37:12 PM CDT
Laura says ...
Can't wait to hear this especially the African Beat! Would love to win the set!
09/08/2011 4:44:37 PM CDT
Sandra guardiola says ...
Love Cuban music ever since I heard Ricky ricardo and love the soundtrack of The Mambo Kings new band I love is Grupo Fantasimo
09/08/2011 4:46:43 PM CDT
Jill says ...
I would love to win those. What great music choices.
09/08/2011 4:48:00 PM CDT
Suzanne says ...
Sounds like something I would love to own....would get me moooving!!!
09/08/2011 4:48:06 PM CDT
Michael. Billups says ...
I love the perfect weave that Carlinhos Brown does with Afro-Pop/Soul and Brazilian Funk.
09/08/2011 4:48:41 PM CDT
Angie says ...
Awesome...I love listening to different music while I am cooking dinner with my children! We would love to have this to add to our collection!
09/08/2011 4:52:51 PM CDT
Tara says ...
These would be an awesome addition for our home learning! ^_^
09/08/2011 4:54:25 PM CDT
Rosalyne says ...
Enjoy listening to these tunes when sitting on my break at the worlds airports! Thanks for the offer, anyway!
09/08/2011 4:55:24 PM CDT
Owen says ...
I *love* the Putamayo CDs that I have heard so far! African Beat and Latin Beat sound right up my alley. I actually used to own Turkish Groove, but I lent it to a friend who never returned it!
09/08/2011 5:02:35 PM CDT
Rob says ...
I just love listening to ethnic rhythms especially latin and african sounds! Putumayo would be perfect!
09/08/2011 5:02:39 PM CDT
Jason M says ...
I've been fascinated with world music since Peter Gabriel brought a bunch of musicians together to record the seminal "Passion" and "Passion Sources," thus starting his world music label I'd love to hear what Putumayo's uncovered. I don't remember any good bhangra music right now, but I can't pass up the opportunity to mention the great Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan to anyone seeking good world music. :) His "Mustt Mustt" has been remixed and covered by everyone from Massive Attack to Orchestra Baobab, for example. (Orchestra Baobab is Afro-Cuban plus a lot more African strains, and worth pursuing on its own as well.)
09/08/2011 5:06:57 PM CDT
Amy Moskovitz says ...
Hi! I'd love to be chosen at random to receive this set!
09/08/2011 5:07:36 PM CDT
dave hodges says ...
Music from around the World is cool but eat locavore and leave a small footprint.
09/08/2011 5:11:19 PM CDT
Lees Hummel says ...
I teach dance and always use putamayo music. I love it. Please let me win Latin and african beat cd's. Thanks!
09/08/2011 5:17:08 PM CDT
Jeri Walker says ...
I love these recordings. I use Putumayo recordings of all kinds in my music education classes as well as teacher in-service workshops and my work with young children. Keep them coming! Oh, and they are great for running music, too.
09/08/2011 5:19:06 PM CDT
Catherine says ...
My kids love their Putamayo CDs. Our favorites are Animal Playground and World Playground.
09/08/2011 5:19:45 PM CDT
Viva says ...
I own Putomayo World Playground (for kids). I love the music on this cd. It's something that all ages can really enjoy. I'd love to get the beat and groove set too. Thanks!
09/08/2011 5:25:35 PM CDT
Heather says ...
I really like Ozomatli who mixes latin music with hip/hop/rap rythms.
09/08/2011 5:27:41 PM CDT
Kathy says ...
I don't know much about the different groups but did enjoy the music when we were in Africa
09/08/2011 5:28:33 PM CDT
Lara says ...
Even if I don't win, I'll check out the African Beat CD!
09/08/2011 5:32:04 PM CDT
Lydia says ...
Would love to move to the beat!
09/08/2011 5:36:22 PM CDT
Alicia says ...
Can't wait to check these out!
09/08/2011 5:36:33 PM CDT
nancy miller says ...
I love you WHOLE FOODS!
09/08/2011 5:39:45 PM CDT
Cathleen Washington says ...
love their childrens cd's :-)
09/08/2011 5:44:50 PM CDT

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