The Night: World Music

I– Carel Kraayenhof. (01:07:04 min)
In 2021, Carel Kraayenhof toured with a program commemorating the centenary of the famous composer and bandoneonist Astor Piazzolla. The album “Piazzolla 100 Years” can be considered one of the Argentinian composer’s “greatest hits,” performed by a quartet that has mastered these pieces for decades and has performed them countless times. With their performances, the foursome does this repertoire all the justice it deserves. According to Astor Piazzolla himself, creating his music was a battle between devils and angels: tango and classical music.
CD. Piazzolla 100 years – Carel Kraayenhof.
LABEL: Bando Dreams (2022) code: BD2022022.
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/2qzIaT9rOCw

II– Sergio Mendes. (01:01:03 min)
Brazilian Sergio Mendes achieved worldwide fame in the mid-1960s with the song Mas Que Nada, which was given a second life in 1998 when it was used in the advertising campaign of a major sports brand. Outside of Brazil, almost no one knows that the song was actually written by Jorge Ben. Sergio Mendes’ musical mix of samba, bossa nova and soft pop was slightly more accessible to the Western audience than that of his Brazilian colleagues. One of Mendes’ biggest fans is rapper/producer Will.i.am. He suggested to the Brazilian that they record an CD together, so that a younger audience would also get to know his music.
CD: Timeless – Sergio Mendes.
LABEL: Universal Records (2006) code: 3123152.
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/oUnAhhV8rgg

III– Omara Portuondo & Chucho Valdés. (55:54 min)
After having his eye on Cuban Omara Portuondo, the singer of Bueno Vista Social Club, for fifty years, pianist Chucho Valdés has finally succeeded in seducing Omara to collaborate, both personally and professionally. Valdés and his father, bandleader Bebe Valdés, were both charmed by Omara Portuondo when the singer was part of the choir during one of Bebe’s shows. Omara & Chucho is a light, romantic album. This is not the first time that Omara and Chucho have recorded an album together: between 1999 and 2008 they shared the studio several times.
CD: Omara & Chucho – Omara Portuondo & Chucho Valdés.
LABEL: World Village (2011) code: WVF479062.
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/_OnHhaiZLHo

IV– Djavan. (01:07:04 min)
Brazilian singer Djavan (with Dutch roots) celebrates his 50th anniversary in 2026 with his twenty-sixth album, Improviso (released in late 2025), and an extensive world tour. The singer-songwriter is known for his elegant blend of samba, jazz, and pop, and debuted in 1976.
Djavan’s music quickly spread across borders, having been recorded by artists including Al Jarreau and The Manhattan Transfer.
> Djavan will perform in Tivoli-Vredenburg/Utrecht on September 27th <
CD: Aria ao vivo – Djavan.
LABEL: Discmedi Blau (2014) code: DM 4947-02.
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/hXq2fsYjneI

V– Kassav. (01:15:52 min)
The group was founded in 1979 by Pierre-Edouard Décimus (former musician with Les Vikings de Guadeloupe) and Parisian studio musician Jacob F. Desvarieux. Together they decided to record Guadeloupean carnival music in a more fully orchestrated, but at the same time modern and refined style. Kassav’ is the creator of the fast-paced “carnival zouk style”, and the band from the French Antilles was the first to apply MIDI technology to cadence, combining the genre with funk and makossa.
CD: Best of Kassav’ : 20ème anniversaire – Kassav.
LABEL: Columbia Records (2014) code: 5099749431829.
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/I4On7vHE09o

VI– Buffy Sainte Marie. (30:11 min)
By anyone’s standards or criteria, Buffy Sainte-Marie produced an unparalleled oeuvre during her time on the Vanguard label. Some songs from that time became world-famous, and thanks to covers by Neil Diamond, Donovan, and other artists of their commercial stature and standing, several are so ingrained in the collective memory that they’re practically considered authorless. Buffy Sainte-Marie’s voice made her unique; whether you look at her from a writer’s or vocal perspective, the vibrato effects and tremors in her voice are truly unique.
CD: Soldier blue : The best of the Vanguard years – Buffy Sainte Marie.
LABEL: Vanguard (2010) code: VMD 74004.
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/GDBbIXqQkao

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