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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

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
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
Zeke says ...
I enjoy Afro-Latin collaborations, i feel they achieve a perfect balance.
09/17/2011 9:49:23 AM CDT
Karen says ...
likewise this reminds me of the sounds of Paul Simon's Graceland album.
09/17/2011 1:48:38 PM CDT
Stephen Craft says ...
Oh, where to start. Professor Trance and the Energizers combines African and Trance. Delerium is African Celtic and AfroCelt is similar. Johnny Clegg is African combined with many styles.
09/17/2011 2:11:49 PM CDT
betsy kain says ...
Their music is terrific! I play one CD over and over. Maybe this canare helping us work on increasing world peace so desperately needed right now. Thank you. betsy
09/17/2011 2:28:26 PM CDT
betsy kain says ...
Their music is terrific! I play one CD over and over. Maybe this can amd are helping us work on increasing world peace so desperately needed right now. Thank you. betsy
09/17/2011 2:33:02 PM CDT
Cecelia Thornton says ...
Not sure that it's a collaboration between distinct styles but I love Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masakela together, or solo for that matter. Wonderful, soulful music.
09/17/2011 5:20:52 PM CDT
Jan says ...
If I don't win, I'll just have to buy them!
09/17/2011 5:32:05 PM CDT
lori says ...
I love Playing for Change! The songs around the world concept is wonderful. The videos are top quality. If you're not familiar with PFC, check them out on YouTube...you won't be disappointed.
09/17/2011 7:19:38 PM CDT
debbie says ...
My kids love the Putumayo CD "European Playground". We play it every morning to get ready for school.
09/18/2011 12:03:44 PM CDT
Teri Goldstein says ...
I have my own tour company, Travels with Teri, which specializes in India & Asia so I am partial to that neck of the woods! I love Ravi Shankar as his sound blends traditional India sitar with new beat compositions creating an innovative sound that is still considered classical. BTW I have Putumayo's India which is fantastic!
09/18/2011 12:20:23 PM CDT
Elizabeth Black says ...
Love this label !
09/18/2011 1:14:09 PM CDT
crabpaws says ...
I've always loved Ry Cooder.
09/18/2011 1:22:52 PM CDT
Wendy Hays says ...
LOVE Putamayo! There are two blends I'd like to see: From the Atlantic/Caribbean, Cuban rhythm mixed with From the Pacific, Hawaiian rhythm. The other mix: Hawaiian strains blended with the Middle East. From an early adopter, Cheers!
09/18/2011 3:19:45 PM CDT
Lauri Krysl says ...
I would love to win this for a friend that just absolutely loves Latin music. I might just buy it anyway.
09/18/2011 5:42:33 PM CDT
Gary Larson says ...
i like to run to a variety of music. i hpe go get the chance to run to the interesting sounding beat of Putumayo! In Good Health,
09/18/2011 9:01:04 PM CDT
Mary R. Lynn says ...
very motivating
09/19/2011 12:45:50 AM CDT
Melanie Bergmann says ...
We love the Animal Playground CD from Putumayo... can't wait to hear this!
09/19/2011 10:57:19 AM CDT
Katie H. says ...
Love African grooves. I'm doing a drumming unit with my students in January. It will be a blast.
09/19/2011 10:15:40 PM CDT
angie says ...
I love the group Deep Forest. They mix electronica music with the sounds/songs/stories of native peoples from all over the world.
09/20/2011 6:45:47 AM CDT

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