Label: AMAdea Records

Album: Nuggets Of Gold

Genre: Traditional Folk

Buy CD

ARTIST DESCRIPTION

Zhelyazko Zhekov is one of the famous producers in the field of the Bulgarian’s folklore. He is also musician, composer, arranger, teacher and as a whole – connoisseur of the Bulgarian traditional and national music.

During the years Zhelyazko Zhekov collaborate with many of the renowned musicians and performers of the traditional Bulgarian music. Despite of this he is always in search of young talents.

In his album collection “Nuggets of Gold”, there are compositions that represent the national creation of the South-eastern region of Bulgaria. This is a place with very specific colour of this genre of music.

Listen to the music and get into one different world.

In addition, Zhelyazko Zhekov has included a bonus tracks – 4 instrumentals from the performed music inside the album, which are FREE FOR USE, like home performing, karaoke or even available for remix with another style or instruments. NOW you can insert a blend from this marvelous music into yours.
MUSIC QUOTES

Bulgarian music has achieved special recognition for these odd-metered melodies and the unique vocalizations and once a person develops a taste for this style … it becomes addictive. One reaches dizzying heights of pleasure when savoring this musical experience — it lasts for hours and hours. You find yourself humming the melodies or tapping your toes or fingers to the odd meters unconcsiously even when the music stops. Bulgarian music is an acquired taste but once you develop it - you definitely want to experience it more often. This CD is a delightful smorgasboard for those who have had a bite of this style of music and want to expand their musical horizons.
- AMAdea Records, BULGARIA

AVAILABLE ALSO on iTunes

Beijing has been the world’s focus of attention for international events in 2008: the Olympic Games in August, and the Paralympic Games in September. From October 3rd to 8th, Beijing will host the 2008 World Folk Song Festival, featuring performers from 25 different countries and 13 Chinese provinces.

The six-day extravaganza will be held at Beijing’s colossal National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), a 600,000 sq. ft. facility nicknamed “The Egg”. A reflective pool in front of the majestic dome gives the illusion of a gigantic egg suspended in mid air. For one week, the NCPA will echo with songs from around the world and will introduce Chinese audiences to some of the finest folk music and traditions from around the world. Sones de Mexico Ensemble will perform live in concert in the National Centre for the Performing Arts Theatre on Monday, October 6th at 2:00pm. The group will give a performance presentation in the NCPA Conference Hall on Tuesday, October 7th, at 3:00pm.

Sones de Mexico Ensemble, a Mexican independent folk group and arts organization from Chicago, whose 2007 album “Esta Tierra es Tuya (This Land Is Your Land)” garnered both GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY nominations last year, received an unsolicited invitation from the Festival selection committee in late May.

Juan Dies, a co-founder of the group, said “I was just as surprised as anyone else that we would have been selected, especially when we discovered that we were the only group attending from the United States.”

Besides their “norteno” homage to Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land”, the group is mainly known for preserving a tradition of folk songs collectively known as “son”, from Mexico’s diverse cultural regions, performing them with a preservationist’s care on a collection of over 70 acoustic instruments.

In an interview for China Radio International, Chen Ziming, an expert on folk music and also a professor in the Central Conservatory of Music, said that the festival is a good chance to broaden people’s understanding of world folk music and to change the long-time focus solely on European music.

When asked about his selection criteria, Ma Wenjie, the organizing committee’s liaison to the American continent, spoke of “Yuan Fen”, a “predestined affinity”. He explained, “We use this word to describe two people who never know each other, and once for a very coincident opportunity they meet each other, then they become very good friends and do great things together.” Mr. Ma Wenjie found Sones de Mexico Ensemble on the Internet, and he felt a connection.

In response, Juan Dies said “I think we may write a new song when we meet and call it ‘Yuan Fen’.”

ABOUT SONES DE MEXICO ENSEMBLE CHICAGO: Sones de Mexico Ensemble Chicago is a premier folk music ensemble specializing in Mexican “son”, including the regional styles of “huapango”, “gustos”, “chilenas”,”son jarocho”, and more. The group formed in 1994 to keep the tradition of Mexican “son” alive in its many regional forms. As a performer and recording artist, the ensemble has developed and popularized many original arrangements of Mexican traditional songs. Some of its original work has experimented cross-culturally with symphonic, Irish, folk, C&W, jazz, and rock music, though never abandoning its roots in Mexican “son”. The ensemble is also committed to teaching and has a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to music education. All band members reach out to young and old with award-winning educational programs nationwide.
http://www.sonesdemexico.com

Seattle, Washington — WildLife, Gary Paul Bryant’s 10th CD, is quickly climbing jazz and world music charts, airing on more than 100 radio stations from Australia to Europe to the U.S. and topping 120,000 streams and downloads in recent weeks on Soundclick.com alone. Yet, you’ve probably never heard of him.

Gary Paul Bryant’s WildLife - musicdish

Recording from his home studio north of Seattle, Washington, Bryant reflects an evolving reality of today’s music industry, where artists who take advantage of new technology can build dynamic careers outside the mainstream.

“People are surprised to find that you can have a strong international fan base and a satisfying career operating in your own niche, a bit below the pop culture radar,” said Bryant.

After an early experience with the traditional corporate recording industry, Bryant began marketing and publishing his own material in the 1980s, a time when producing an album on your own could cost as much as buying a house and marketing meant hauling hundreds of vinyl albums to radio stations and retail outlets.

Then came the 1990s with new recording technology and, of course, the Internet. Music web sites like iTunes, Rhapsody and Napster gave musicians access to worldwide audiences and gave fans an unprecedented selection of genres and styles. Tech-savvy songwriters willing to adapt to the new medium found that making a living through music was no longer an unlikely dream. Bryant’s affinity for technology soon moved him from acoustic pianos and guitars to music workstations, sampling software and digital distribution.

“What really made it interesting for artists is that, in addition to all of the recording and performance gear going digital, support services like CD production, digital distribution and promotion were adapting to the technology in a big way,” said Bryant. One such company, CDBaby.com, founded in 1997 by musician Derek Sivers, has paid more than $80 million directly to artists.

Bryant’s first album, Just a Word, was digitally remastered and released as an anniversary edition in 2004. Seattle Times music critic Patrick MacDonald summed it up: “Exceptional piano work!”

In May 2005 came Imaginary Piano, a high-energy collection of jazz motifs, followed by a collection of original and classic Christmas piano solos, Midnight Clear.

Melding power rock with jazz and classical music, his 2007 project, Big World, reached the No. 1 Jazz spot at SoundClick.com, was featured Jazz selection at Garageband.com and made the Top 10 Jazz playlist at Broadjam.com.

Wildlife, released in August 2008, includes 13 upbeat instrumentals that combine classical, rock and jazz elements. It’s available from iTunes.com, CDBaby and other digital outlets. For information, visit http://www.GaryPaulBryant.com

Gary Paul Bryant’s piano stylings add the perfect amount of snazzy class on “One Cool Squirrel.” Complete with the steady, pulsating beat of the high hat and stunningly swift sax melodies, the track sends listeners on a trip to New Orleans at night, mesmerizing both their eyes and ears with the classy tone of the city as they visualize street musicians and shining lights.
http://www.wildlifethecd.com

Asiana Airlines - who started direct flights from Paris to Seoul - supports the international world music meeting between Korean, African and European artists “La Sauce Inattendue”.

This dynamic Korean airline did the necessary efforts to help our Korean artists to be present and meet Franck Colman & Black Yovo en leader of Ghanaian band Nii Tettey.

This partnership is the 1st step of a collaboration that will lead us to more projects in the future, as the P.A.X project in 2009, for instance.

Please note that “La sauce Inattendue” (”The unexpected sauce”) will occur at St Antonin Nobleval (82, south_west of France), August 8th 2008, is free, and organized by non-profit organization “Kaleidoscope” and Mobilarts.

We will also listen to Mediterranean band “Ness el Hyia” and Chilean singer Andrea Cristal. Also - last minute ! - we’ll see the works of Cameroonian artist Sylvain Enyegue

For more information, go to:

International Art Meeting

http://www.mobilarts.net/

-On the outdoor stage at Place Emilie Gamelin (corner of Berri and Ste-Catherine, behind the Berri metro, Montreal)

-Friday July 18th at 2:15pm sharp! (the festival won’t be waiting for late birds!lol)

-It’s FREE!

-Bring your peoples, your kids, your friends, your brothers and sisters as it is a family affair!

I hope to see you all there

Thank you

Jahnice le Sonneur & Jahnice+
www.myspace.com/jahnice

Jahnice has already demonstrated his ease on stage during numerous concerts as a member of the Kalmunity Vibe Collective, at the Montreal International Jazz Festival in 2007, and most recently, by opening for Selasee, Nii and Odja at the Kola Note on the 12th of April 2008.

With the inestimable contribution of Productions PASA Musik, he had the idea to organize this exclusive event that primarily seeks to prove that the Montreal scene is abundant of promising talents. Together, they decided to gather artists whom they respect and immensely appreciate, who have been there for quite a while and who have made their mark on the musical scene. This show is therefore a golden occasion for everyone who wants to discover and admire these musicians and remarkable artists that Jahnice likes to call his big family. We quote NAMORI, the WES’ LI BAND and OMEGADOM.

Namori, a composer-drummer-singer native of the Ivory Coast, will offer us a memorable performance. During his musical career, he has accompanied many renowned artists such as Salif Keita, Mory Kante and Jean Leloup. Already having recorded several albums, he will draw from his compilation and will bring us into his world where sounds of Jazz and African music are mixed marvellously with the pace of reggae and soul inflections.

Wes’ Li, guitarist-singer born in Haiti, has shown his ability here and abroad and is very appreciated for his versatility. Having also made his mark as a musical director, arranger and producer, he has worked with Corneille, Gage, Senaya, Sara Renelik and several other artists from both the local and international scenes. His performance will be just as impressive as the one he gave during the Montreal Jazz Festival last year. With his group, the Wes’Li Band, he will present us his musical concept that includes afro - groove flavours, roots and reggae.

Omegadom, for his part, has been the recipient of “The Revelations Miouze 2007″ prize by the public’s choice. He is clearly one of the best in his class. Moreover, he distinguished himself as a singer-songwriter, producer, acrobat and multi-instrumentalist as part of the troop Line 1 supervised by the choreographer of international fame: Debra Brown. Now releasing his first album, Omegadom will make you discover, during this evening, his brand of soul music, funk and boogie.

Finally Jahnice, besides being the host of this event, will also offer us a performance in accordance with the concept of unity which surrounds this initiative. Accompanied by his band, Jahnice +, he will introduce us to his hybrid soul music that he elaborated with the producer Patrice Agbokou, bass player of the alternative rock band known as Islands.

PRODUCTIONS PASA MUSIK
presents the evening FANMI SE FANMI (family is family)
at Club Lambi, on Friday, June 20th
4465 Saint Laurent Blvd. Tickets : $10 in presale, $15 at the entrance
Tickets available at: 514-449-8808 / sonneurmusic@gmail.com
The show will begin at 8 pm and doors will open at 7 pm

Contact / informations:

PASA Musik
Tel: (514) 836-7802
E-mail: sonneurmusic@gmail.com

http://www.myspace.com/fanmisefanmi 

‘WAKE UP IN THE MORNING’

Abdoul Art is roots reggae originaly from Marrakesh Morocco. After his short successful appearance, and his reggae group The Herbalitz in Berlin a few years ago, Abdoul Art propelled himself to the forefront of conscious roots reggae with his Debut EP Wake up in the morning.

Released by his Independent Reggae Label Humble Sounds Records last year this album features minutes of pure conscious New Reggae Flavor, that are sure to uplift the hearts and souls of roots music lovers all over the world.

For more information please visit : www.abdoul-art.com

Irie

Humble Sounds Records

It seems that everything took an uplifting turn in 2006 when Gunnar and Amethyste started to collaborate more extensively on several projects ranging from Trance - Dance to Ambient. They finally decided to meet in February of 2006 in NYC, then shortly after their first meeting, Gunnar came to spend 3 months in the USA focusing on music composition and production. Their love for each other fueled the creation of Amethyste’s debut CD titled “Ethereal”. Gunnar’s extreme composing ability really showcases Amethyste’s soothing and dreamy ample vocal range. The beautiful music that Amethyste and Gunnar Spardel create have been heard in radio stations in Europe as well as many internet radios. Ethereal warms the heart and shines light upon their acclaimed and distinctive style of music.

MUSIC QUOTES
Delicate and sublime with a stirring of ecstasy dancing over a driving powerful intoxication is what you will find if you listen to Amethyste’s masterpiece – “Ethereal“. If you listen to the album from start to finish you will first encounter silky washes of sound with ethereal vocals. Floating on air is the feeling that Amethyste creates as soulful and ethereal voices of the mysteries above and below soar across an ocean of stars into a celestial downtempo mood. “Ethereal” goes beyond inspiration to new levels of creativity where modern technology and ancient longings collide. At times it is crystalline perfection and at others the warm sounds completely surround you enveloping you in a dreamy haze. Behind the scene of “Ethereal” is also the magnificent composer Gunnar Spardel, who lays down a set of deep ambient beats that creates a tantalizing ebb and flow of exotic sexy moods as a magical calm is unveiled by a journey within the smooth grooves. Amethyste is one of the most profound influences over mainstream Chill out artists, through a new, innovative artistic panache.
- AMAdea Records, BULGARIA

Purchase CD at CDBABY HERE

Purchase MP3 Album at iTunes HERE

Listen to free music at MySpace HERE

“Seckou Keita is a brilliant live performer with stacks of charisma, and one of the few champions of the less-known and rhythmically rocking kora repertoire from Casamance in southern Senegal where he is from”. - Lucy Duran – Radio BBC3

“They [the band] may all be from different places and traditions, but our instruments all speak the same language” - Seckou Keita

The Inimitable Seckou Keita SKQ Return With Eagerly Anticipated New Album & Exciting UK Tour!

‘The Silimbo Passage’ will be released on 2^nd June 2008

With a massively successful touring history and critically acclaimed album under their belt, the Seckou Keita SKQ are proud to announce the release of their new studio album ‘The Silimbo Passage’, alongside an eagerly anticipated extensive UK tour, kicking off in May. The tour showcases part of the ongoing evolution of their unique sound that derives from the group’s heart - Seckou Keita himself.

The Seckou Keita SKQ are one of the fastest growing, independent bands du jour, captivating audiences from Montreal to Manchester, Sweden to Senegal. Their forthcoming album is already garnering international attention as the band has received an ‘Honourable Mention’ in the Instrumental category after being nominated as one of 15 finalists worldwide at the International Songwriting Competition. The Seckou Keita SKQ possess a unique ability to touch every one who experiences their sound, making it easy to see how they are amassing fans worldwide with their captivating, contemporary music.

Hailing from Senegal, Italy, Egypt and The Gambia, this multi-national band are an exciting fusion of culture and experience. Counting Richard Bona, Bela Fleck and Bobby McFerrin amongst his influences, Seckou Keita leads the quartet with his experimental tunings and virtuoso kora playing (a West African stringed instrument likened to the harp or the lute).

His charismatic personality is portrayed through his unique improvisational playing, supported by the double bass/electric bass of Davide Mantovani, the eclectic percussions of Surahata Susso, the distinguished sound of the violin by Samy Bishai and enchanting voice of the gracious Binta Susso - the newest addition to the band, turning the quartet into a quintet!

Distinguishing Seckou Keita from other world musicians, is his very own inimitable tunings, making him one of the most innovative and creative known kora players in the world today. These new tunings are showcased on SKQ’s latest album ‘The Silimbo Passage’, which creates a fresh sound and shifts SKQ into a music category all of their own.

Championing ‘eco-friendliness’ through CO₂ Balance UK, SKQ are minimising their carbon emissions and offsetting their unavoidable CO₂ residue by produced all their material on recycled paper or paper from sustained forests. By offsetting emissions the band have been able to donate money towards East Africa Energy Efficiency and contribute to tree planting in the UK.

With continuing funding from Arts Council England, the band have added a number of key dates to their tour, including a eagerly anticipated support slot to the Grammy-award winning Miriam Makeba, favourably known as ‘Mama Africa’ at the Brighton Festival which celebrates her 75^th birthday! Other exciting dates include the Guardian Hay Festival, and London’s revered Jazz Cafe, as well as planned gigs in Italy and Japan later this year.

www.seckoukeita.com

For more information please contact Sara Boughton or Jem Bahaijoub
Zest PR
Tel.0044 (0)20 7734 0206
sara@zestpr.com/ Jem@zestpr.com

Live Dates:
19 May 2008 – Album and Tour Launch at Momo, London
21 May 2008 – Brighton Festival, Support of Miriam Makeba (www.brightonfestival.org)
22 May 2008 – Brighton Festival, Lunch Concert (www.brightonfestival.org)
23 May 2008 – Acorn Theatre, Penzance (www.acornartscentre.co.uk)
27 May 2008 – Guardian Hay Festival (www.hayfestival.com)
28 May 2008 – Queens Hall, Edinburgh (www.thequeenshall.net)
29 May 2008 – Tolbooth, Stirling (www.stirling.gov.uk/tolbooth)
3 Jun 2008 – Invention Arts Centre, Bath (www.invention.tv)
4 Jun 2008 – B-Bar, Barbican Centre, Plymouth (www.b-bar.co.uk)
5 Jun 2008 – The Brewhouse, Taunton (www.thebrewhouse.net)
6 Jun 2008 – Derby Assembly Rooms, Derbyshire (www.assemblyrooms-derby.co.uk)
11 Jun 2008 – Jazz Cafe, London (www.meanfiddler.com/displayPage_jazz.asp?PageID=387)
12 Jun 2008 – Huntingdon Hall, Worcester (www.huntingdonhall.com)
13 Jun 2008 – Royal Pavilion, Llangollen, Wales (www.royal-pavilion.co.uk)
14 Jun 2008 – Lift Global Club, Glossop (www.liftglobal.com)
19 Jun 2008 Norwich Arts Centre, East Anglia (www.norwichartscentre.co.uk)
20 Jun 2008 – Asthall Manor, Big Village Production, Oxfordshire (www.bigvillage.org)
21 June 2008 – Peel Centenary Centre, Isle Of Man (www.centenarycentre.com/whatson)

Notes to Editor:

Originally the Seckou Keita Quartet, the group are now called the Seckou Keita SKQ since the arrival of Binta Suso to the band making them a quintet! The Seckou Keita SKQ helps to stay green with www.co2balance.uk.com.

The Seckou Keita SKQ consists of-
Seckou Keita
(composition/kora/voice)
Seckou Keita was born in Ziguinchor, Senegal on 14 February 1978 in a griot family (hereditary musicians). It was under the guidance of his uncle Solo Cissokho that Keita launched his international career in 1996, with appearances at Norway’s Forde Festival in a successful collaboration with Cuban, Indian and Scandinavian musicians.

In the years that followed, Keita relocated to the UK, while touring regularly in Spain, France, Portugal, Greece and Czech Republic as well as playing at such prestigious festivals as Womad and Glastonbury, both as a solo musician, and in collaboration with acclaimed figures like Indian violinist Dr L Subrimaniam.

He became a member of the popular world music group Baka Beyond in 1998, contributing to their well-received East To West album, and in 2000 began to record his own solo debut Baiyo (retitled Mali for a later release through Arc Music), which encompassed his musical journey to that date, from Africa to Europe, via India.

With support slots to luminaries like Salif Keita and Youssou N’Dour, solo slots at London’s Jazz Café and at Ireland’s Sacred Music Festival, and a nomination in 2001 for BBC Radio 3’s prestigious World Music Award, it’s clear that Keita’s many collaborations have fed and extended rather than diluted the African mainspring of his music.

This is why Keita’s current project, the Seckou Keita SKQ seems so exciting, drawing together a group of musicians from disparate origins, who nonetheless superbly complement one another. The richly layered songs on Seckou Keita SKQ’s pasr Tama-Silo album range from the haunting African Soul of ‘Tounga’ to upbeat floor-fillers like ‘Sina Mory’ and ‘N’fa Quartet’. With over 100 live performances, their sound becomes incredibly tight and original.

A brilliant performer, Seckou also likes to share with people. His education work is less known to the public but is real. He regularly runs drumming and kora workshops in schools, arts centres, festivals working with organisations such as Music For change, Creative Partnerships and Womad.

Finally, he is also a regular guest leader for Sewabeat company who offers alternative training package for Commercial Corporations.

Binta Suso
Voice
Born in the Gambia in a griot family (hereditary musicians), Binta started singing at an early age. She toured the UK in 2003 and 2004 as part of Jalikunda Cissokho’s. Then she went on an international exchange programme to study at the Sund Folk in Norway.

She sang “Tounga” on Seckou Keita SKQ’s album. Her voice, which gives new rich colours to the band, attracted praises from press and media.

In early 2006 she returned to her native country and started working with various Gambian artists from traditional to hip hop style. She joined Seckou Keita SKQ in their 2006/07 Senegalese and Gambian’s tour.

Davide Mantovani
Double Bass/Electric bass
Born in Ferrara, Italy, Davide took up the bass in 1982, after early training on piano and guitar, and in 1991 relocated to London. He has since built a formidable reputation as both performer and composer. His own jazz quintet’s Square One album was issued in 2001, and an experimental collaboration with violinist Roberto Manes led to the release of Polaris in 2004. He has also been in demand as a composer of soundtracks and incidental music, with Drawing Horizons receiving a commercial release in 2002, and commissions from artists of the stature of Shobana Jeyasingh and George Eugene to his credit. He travelled to Senegal with Seckou Keita to study Mbalah rhythms in 2002, and his double bass has been a key component of the Quintet from the start.

Samy Bishai
Violin
Samy grew up in Alexandria, Egypt, and received a classical training on the violin. He began to play professionally at 18, working with Alexandria Chamber Orchestra while maintaining a lively interest in Arabic pop and jazz. In 2000 he moved to London, and has since forged a career as a live session player in fields as diverse as jazz, pop, electronica and hip-hop. He has recorded string arrangements for releases by artists like Terry Hall, Mushtaq, Lemar and Tyler James, and has also scored a short film, The Bridge. He joined the Seckou Keita SKQ in 2005, stepping into the shoes of Riti player Juldeh Camara, whose inspiration on his own distinctive sound within the group he is quick to acknowledge.

Surahata Susso
Percussions
Sura is a young percussionist and kora player from The Gambia, a member of the well-known Susso griot family. He has been a member of Gambia’s acclaimed Kaira Youth Band for many years, and more recently branched out with his own Fisco Band. More recently, he has started working with askewandavis, a band that combines looping and vocal experimentation.

He was invited to join the Acoustic Vibes tour in 2004, and currently divides his time between The Seckou Keita SKQ’s work, to whose sound he brings a highly distinctive blend of African and Cuban percussion styles, and his own musical projects in The Gambia.