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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

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
Liz Gwinnett says ...
I have a couple of the Puumayo CD's and I give them as gifts. Looking forward to hearing this one. Thank you!
09/08/2011 5:45:20 PM CDT
Colleen McCallister says ...
The music of Ghana was the most enticing sound when I was there on missions outreaches. The joy of the people simply overflows at the first beat of the drum, and the entire community joins together in dance; in the midst of such intense poverty, there is thankfulness and rejoicing. The music simply sets the soul free to rejoice. smiles
09/08/2011 5:52:07 PM CDT
Denise Koss says ...
I actually grew up in Africa and spent a lot of time in Brazil and Bolivia. I would love these CDs.
09/08/2011 5:54:14 PM CDT
Lisa neilson says ...
Love your arrangements! Looking forward to these new ones.
09/08/2011 5:57:12 PM CDT
stravo lukos says ...
i love putumayo's line of world music. it is food for the soul.
09/08/2011 5:57:40 PM CDT
Rebecca bolduc says ...
Putamayo makes the best music! I would love to add these to my collection!
09/08/2011 6:02:11 PM CDT
Shideh says ...
I love world music, especially collaborations/fusions. One of my faves is Pink Martini.
09/08/2011 6:04:15 PM CDT
Linda says ...
Can't wait to hear this music! Love Whole Foods Market!
09/08/2011 6:21:50 PM CDT
Ide says ...
I <3 Whole Foods and I <3 Putumayo!! Great combination!
09/08/2011 6:22:00 PM CDT
Candace says ...
I love using the Putomayo for my fitness classes, and I'd love to own these two. Thank you!
09/08/2011 6:28:29 PM CDT
Stephanie Palmieri says ...
I love the Brazilian Playground... I bet I will love these too!
09/08/2011 6:37:08 PM CDT
Kristi says ...
I love Putumayo's compilations! I sometimes DJ a freestyle dance jam and it would be great to have some new world music for our collection.
09/08/2011 6:44:04 PM CDT
susan white says ...
It sounds like the kind of music that would be perfect to listen to while power walking my dogs for 3 miles each day!! It would keep me in motion!!
09/08/2011 6:45:31 PM CDT
Debbie Cauble says ...
I'm a big fan of Putumayo recordings and would love to win these. Thanks for carrying this music in your stores.
09/08/2011 6:47:23 PM CDT
Analee says ...
I'm from Belize, where Latin Am and Caribbean sounds are blended. I can't wait to hear these latest CDs. Maybe I'll win them;)
09/08/2011 6:47:44 PM CDT
Susan Cottingham says ...
African Playground is one of my favorite CDs, I can't wait to hear these néw CDs.
09/08/2011 6:50:58 PM CDT

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