World http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10004&ft=1&f=10004 World music and features from NPR news, NPR cultural programs, and NPR Music stations. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Thu, 13 Jun 2013 13:26:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif World http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10004&ft=1&f=10004 Flamenco Sensation Buika Embraces Her 'Animal' Voice When Buika was growing up on the Spanish island of Majorca, she was used to people saying her voice was ugly. But that didn't stop her. Today, Buika blends flamenco with jazz, blues and soul. Here, she explains how she found her voice and offers a look at her new album. Thu, 13 Jun 2013 13:26:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/13/191306990/flamenco-sensation-buika-embraces-her-animal-voice?ft=1&f=10004 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/13/191306990/flamenco-sensation-buika-embraces-her-animal-voice?ft=1&f=10004 When Buika was growing up on the Spanish island of Majorca, she was used to people saying her voice was ugly. But that didn't stop her. Today, Buika blends flamenco with jazz, blues and soul. Here, she explains how she found her voice and offers a look at her new album.

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]]> The Creole Choir Of Cuba: Reviving Caribbean History In 'Santiman' The 10-person ensemble is one of the best-known choirs from the island nation. On its newest album, <em>Santiman,</em> the choir sings songs in tribute to its Haitian ancestors from West Africa, who were enslaved in the Caribbean region. Mon, 10 Jun 2013 16:14:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/10/190345103/the-creole-choir-of-cuba-reviving-caribbean-history-in-santiman?ft=1&f=10004 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/10/190345103/the-creole-choir-of-cuba-reviving-caribbean-history-in-santiman?ft=1&f=10004 The 10-person ensemble is one of the best-known choirs from the island nation. On its newest album, Santiman, the choir sings songs in tribute to its Haitian ancestors from West Africa, who were enslaved in the Caribbean region.

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]]> Can't Stop The Beat: Three New Caribbean Artists Making Waves The hosts of <em>Alt.Latino</em> stop by <em>Weekend Edition Sunday</em> to share music by some powerful Caribbean female vocalists. Sun, 09 Jun 2013 06:26:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/09/187576657/cant-stop-the-beat-three-new-caribbean-artists-making-waves?ft=1&f=10004 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/09/187576657/cant-stop-the-beat-three-new-caribbean-artists-making-waves?ft=1&f=10004 The hosts of Alt.Latino stop by Weekend Edition Sunday to share music by some powerful Caribbean female vocalists.

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]]> Jose-Luis Orozco: Capturing Kids' Attention In Two Languages For the past 42 years, the Mexican singer and author has been entertaining children with songs he sings in English and Spanish. Orozco's passion revolves around teaching children to be bilingual through music. Fri, 07 Jun 2013 02:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/07/189254553/jose-luis-orozco-capturing-kids-attention-in-two-languages?ft=1&f=10004 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/07/189254553/jose-luis-orozco-capturing-kids-attention-in-two-languages?ft=1&f=10004 For the past 42 years, the Mexican singer and author has been entertaining children with songs he sings in English and Spanish. Orozco's passion revolves around teaching children to be bilingual through music.

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]]> First Listen: Buika, 'La Noche Más Larga' The Spanish singer digs deep on an album that functions as a near-perfect statement of artistic purpose. Buika's dark, husky, intriguing voice mixes the Moorish roots of flamenco with the dexterity of great jazz singers. Sun, 26 May 2013 22:30:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/26/186256848/first-listen-buika-la-noche-m-s-larga?ft=1&f=10004 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/26/186256848/first-listen-buika-la-noche-m-s-larga?ft=1&f=10004 The Spanish singer digs deep on an album that functions as a near-perfect statement of artistic purpose. Buika's dark, husky, intriguing voice mixes the Moorish roots of flamenco with the dexterity of great jazz singers.

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]]> Kobo Town: A Haunted 'Jukebox' Filled With Caribbean Sounds The Toronto band plays a mix of old-school calypso, ska and West Indian styles. But its new album, <em>Jumbie in the Jukebox, </em>doesn't so much revive classic genres as reinvent them for a new time. Wed, 22 May 2013 16:47:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/24/186058045/kobo-town-a-haunted-jukebox-filled-with-caribbean-sounds?ft=1&f=10004 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/24/186058045/kobo-town-a-haunted-jukebox-filled-with-caribbean-sounds?ft=1&f=10004 The Toronto band plays a mix of old-school calypso, ska and West Indian styles. But its new album, Jumbie in the Jukebox, doesn't so much revive classic genres as reinvent them for a new time.

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]]> Mohammad Reza Shajarian: Tiny Desk Concert Joined by three excellent collaborators, Shajarian gives what amounts to a brief master class in the art of singing. In the course of this love song, titled "Az Eshgh," the Iranian icon unleashes torrents of swooping, soaring, goosebump-inducing sound that's still perfectly controlled at age 73. Mon, 20 May 2013 14:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/event/music/185533273/mohammad-reza-shajarian-tiny-desk-concert?ft=1&f=10004 http://www.npr.org/event/music/185533273/mohammad-reza-shajarian-tiny-desk-concert?ft=1&f=10004 Joined by three excellent collaborators, Shajarian gives what amounts to a brief master class in the art of singing. In the course of this love song, titled "Az Eshgh," the Iranian icon unleashes torrents of swooping, soaring, goosebump-inducing sound that's still perfectly controlled at age 73.

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]]> Latin Roots: Son Jarocho Jasmine Garsd introduces a melancholy, mischievous genre from the port city of Veracruz, Mexico. Thu, 16 May 2013 16:49:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/182869886/latin-roots-son-jarocho?ft=1&f=10004 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/182869886/latin-roots-son-jarocho?ft=1&f=10004 Jasmine Garsd introduces a melancholy, mischievous genre from the port city of Veracruz, Mexico.

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]]> First Watch: Jeri-Jeri With Baaba Maal, 'Gawlo' A new video set at a backyard party in Dakar highlights a collaboration between the famous Senegalese singer Baaba Maal, a drum ensemble and a German techno producer. Fri, 10 May 2013 14:39:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/allsongs/2013/05/10/182859072/first-watch-jeri-jeri-with-baaba-maal-gawlo?ft=1&f=10004 http://www.npr.org/blogs/allsongs/2013/05/10/182859072/first-watch-jeri-jeri-with-baaba-maal-gawlo?ft=1&f=10004 A new video set at a backyard party in Dakar highlights a collaboration between the famous Senegalese singer Baaba Maal, a drum ensemble and a German techno producer.

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]]> A Funky-Fresh Sound From Somalia, With A Political History A dance band called Dur-Dur Band ruled the nightclub scene in 1980s Mogadishu, thanks to a unique sound made possible by access to Western culture and instruments. Sun, 05 May 2013 15:49:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/05/180871371/a-funky-fresh-sound-from-somalia-with-a-political-history?ft=1&f=10004 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/05/180871371/a-funky-fresh-sound-from-somalia-with-a-political-history?ft=1&f=10004 A dance band called Dur-Dur Band ruled the nightclub scene in 1980s Mogadishu, thanks to a unique sound made possible by access to Western culture and instruments.

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]]> First Watch: Femi Kuti, 'The World Is Changing' "A groove with a message" is how the director of Femi Kuti's new video describes the song. It's an apt way to think of all the music made by Femi Kuti, who is the son of legendary afrobeat musician Fela Kuti. Fri, 03 May 2013 16:10:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/allsongs/2013/04/30/180079131/first-watch-femi-kuti-the-world-is-changing?ft=1&f=10004 http://www.npr.org/blogs/allsongs/2013/04/30/180079131/first-watch-femi-kuti-the-world-is-changing?ft=1&f=10004 "A groove with a message" is how the director of Femi Kuti's new video describes the song. It's an apt way to think of all the music made by Femi Kuti, who is the son of legendary afrobeat musician Fela Kuti.

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]]> Baaba Maal On Mountain Stage Senegal's Baaba Maal has built a career spanning more than three decades, with a trademark sound that's found huge success around the globe. In this archival performance from 1995, Maal performs a unique and influential blend of traditional and popular African styles. Thu, 02 May 2013 11:36:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/event/music/180548391/baaba-maal-on-mountain-stage?ft=1&f=10004 http://www.npr.org/event/music/180548391/baaba-maal-on-mountain-stage?ft=1&f=10004 Senegal's Baaba Maal has built a career spanning more than three decades, with a trademark sound that's found huge success around the globe. In this archival performance from 1995, Maal performs a unique and influential blend of traditional and popular African styles.

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]]> New Cuban Sounds Rooted In Tradition From 'Global Village' World music DJ Betto Arcos returns to weekends on <em>All Things Considered</em> to share what he's been spinning on <em>Global Village</em>, the show he hosts on KPFK in Los Angeles. Sun, 28 Apr 2013 16:31:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/28/179058622/new-cuban-sounds-rooted-in-tradition-from-global-village?ft=1&f=10004 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/28/179058622/new-cuban-sounds-rooted-in-tradition-from-global-village?ft=1&f=10004 World music DJ Betto Arcos returns to weekends on All Things Considered to share what he's been spinning on Global Village, the show he hosts on KPFK in Los Angeles.

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]]> Madame Mao's Hollywood Fantasies See and hear examples of politically dogmatic — but extravagantly assembled — operas and ballets born during the Cultural Revolution. Glamorous photo stills by Zhang Yaxin of works like <em>Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy</em> were recently shown in Canada. Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:25:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/04/24/178900162/explore-madame-maos-hollywood-fantasies?ft=1&f=10004 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/04/24/178900162/explore-madame-maos-hollywood-fantasies?ft=1&f=10004 See and hear examples of politically dogmatic — but extravagantly assembled — operas and ballets born during the Cultural Revolution. Glamorous photo stills by Zhang Yaxin of works like Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy were recently shown in Canada.

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]]> Freshlyground: Polished African Pop On The Global Dance Floor Driven by Zolani Mahola's powerhouse voice, the band is one of the most talked about musical acts out of post-apartheid South Africa. Although its latest album features an American producer, its desire to hang onto the past while establishing a place in the future is decidedly South African. Wed, 10 Apr 2013 15:31:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/10/176818708/freshlyground-polished-african-pop-on-the-global-dance-floor?ft=1&f=10004 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/10/176818708/freshlyground-polished-african-pop-on-the-global-dance-floor?ft=1&f=10004 Driven by Zolani Mahola's powerhouse voice, the band is one of the most talked about musical acts out of post-apartheid South Africa. Although its latest album features an American producer, its desire to hang onto the past while establishing a place in the future is decidedly South African.

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