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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

Madeleine Cohen says ...
Calexico does a great job of blending styles
09/16/2011 4:21:10 PM CDT
Agnes P. says ...
I am trying to get my "groove" back and would love to dance with my sons around our new home while we connect to our Motherland Roots! We love music!!
09/16/2011 4:40:16 PM CDT
Thomas Boggs says ...
I have absolutely no idea who these people are but they sound like something that I really ought to hear!
09/16/2011 5:17:18 PM CDT
genesis says ...
I don't have a favorite group that does this, but it does sound really awesome!
09/16/2011 5:33:06 PM CDT
Yvonne says ...
As much as I love music ,I'd real be happy if I would win this cd because I'm from South Africa its always good to hear something from your own country
09/16/2011 5:47:43 PM CDT
cj moylan says ...
Dancing frees the body to be in tune with the spirit. All music at heart is a fusion of some sort though I am fond of Spanish guitar with a jazz element added.
09/16/2011 5:48:44 PM CDT
charlene says ...
3 moustafas 3. anything on "shopping".
09/16/2011 6:23:59 PM CDT
joe vacca says ...
latin music makes you forget all that is going wrong in your life right now and lets you have a good time!!!
09/16/2011 6:42:54 PM CDT
Amy Mc says ...
I love Cake!! My 4 year old daughter loves latin music and plays all her instruments to the beat, and thinks she is a hip-hop master. To combine both? She would be in heaven!!
09/16/2011 6:50:14 PM CDT
Kathy Abascal says ...
To me, the more Latin flavor the better, can be woven into almost all music. Also love variations on flamenco. Look forward to listening to this.
09/16/2011 6:50:57 PM CDT
Rachael says ...
I love to fall asleep to world beats!
09/16/2011 7:15:49 PM CDT
Linda says ...
Putumayo is synonymous with mind-expanding music. The new compilations will be fantastic, I'm sure.
09/16/2011 7:21:13 PM CDT
Susan Swyt says ...
Must. Have. This. More than anything, just to update my music from King Sunny Ade and Fela.
09/16/2011 8:03:39 PM CDT
Pam Suver says ...
Love this kind of music!
09/16/2011 8:20:42 PM CDT
Rhea says ...
A collaboration between two distinct music styles is exemplified by the Moody Blues music. They combined rock with classic symphonic styling for many songs, and fusions of beat, gospel, and Indian for others. The Moody Blues were great innovators and one of my favorite groups.
09/16/2011 8:50:49 PM CDT
Lana C. says ...
I so loved the Israeli Putumayo CD and the Brazilian Acoustic CD, you guys compile such beautiful music, my ears appreciate it! Can't wait to hear this new series from Putumayo!
09/16/2011 9:31:37 PM CDT
Kristine Villena says ...
Putumayo CDs is one of the CDs with such great beat to listen with and is worth the money. I have a collection of these CDs.
09/16/2011 11:07:03 PM CDT
Natalie L says ...
I like the collaboration of latin jazz and R&B in Stevie Wonder's Don't you Worry 'bout a Thing.
09/16/2011 11:10:46 PM CDT
Nancy says ...
Another winner from Putumayo!
09/16/2011 11:26:06 PM CDT
Darlene T says ...
I would love to win this.
09/17/2011 3:34:46 AM CDT
Christopher says ...
Two styles is beautiful music look no further than the Grateful Dead at the Gizah Sound and Light Theater at the base of the pyramids in Egypt 9-16-78. Hamza El Din with other Egyptian percussonists join the Dead playing the hypnotic Ollin Arrageed into Fire on the Mountain...Did anyone say total solar eclipse!
09/17/2011 7:53:46 AM CDT
Lynn says ...
One many others have mentioned - I love the Paul Simon collaborative album, "Graceland." Not very knowledgeable about other collaborations, but this 4-CD set sounds like I'd REALLY like it!
09/17/2011 8:30:03 AM CDT
Ryan Scott says ...
I really only listen to Usher.
09/17/2011 8:35:25 AM CDT
Annette says ...
I had the chance last New Year's Eve to hear Johnny Clegg who has been called the "White Zulu". He was integrating his band during the time of Apartheid in South Africa. His music combines Western rock-pop influences along with traditional African influences and when he began it was illegal to do what he was doing. He as an artist represents for me what music and art can do in pushing boundaries and pulling people together.
09/17/2011 8:55:33 AM CDT
Zeke says ...
I enjoy Afro-Latin collaborations, i feel they achieve a perfect balance.
09/17/2011 9:49:23 AM CDT

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