With music by Jacques Pellarin (France), David Orlowsky Trio (The Balkans), Van Morrison (North-Ireland), Moudou Ould Mattalla (Mauritania), Rabih Abou-Khalil (Lebanon), Ti-Coca & Toto Bissainthe (Haïti) and Gianmaria Testa ( Italy).
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Accordionist Jacques Pellarin has been transporting the sounds of French accordion music across the world for years. Born in Chambéry, he started a musical studies at the accordion academy. After that everything went very quickly, first prizes at International competitions in Paris, Geneva, Frankfurt, Bratislava, and so on. Today he comes with a new album Accordeoa do Sul, with Brazilian Bossa and Samba songs. CD. Accordeoa do Sul – Jacques Pellarin. Label: Jacques Pellarin production (2020) | VIDEO
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Paris Odessa is the fourth album by the David Orlowsky Trio. The titles in this album range from the catchy Parisian waltz to a wild taxi ride through Bucharest and range in technical requirements between easy to play and very demanding. From a musical point of view, we have processed our multiple travel impressions. Countless influences can be heard, although this time we have stayed true to our roots, Klezmer music. What would music be without the many influences and connections between cultures? Our musical journey between Paris and Odessa is therefore a plea for meeting, diversity and openness. CD. Paris Odessa – David Orlowsky Trio. Label: Sony Classical (2017), code: 88985386632 | VIDEO
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Born in 1945, Van Morrison produced instant classics such as the much-covered Gloria and Here Comes The Night with his vocal and songwriting talents. After working with New York producer Bert Berns on the Top-40 hit Brown Eyed Girl (1967), he moved to another realm. There was never any suggestion that Van, one of the most prolific recording and hardest working live performers of his time, would ever rest on his laurels. CD. Keep me Singing – Van Morrison. Label: Caroline (2016), code: 5703574 | VIDEO
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The background to this music is the historical trading city of Chinguetti, in the north of Mauritania (Sahara).
Guitarist Moudou Ould Mattalla and the singers of El Mouna, take us into Moorish music, between guitar arabesque, rhythmic improvisations and palm tree songs.
CD. Mauritanie: guitare des sables – Moudou Ould Mattalla.
Label: Buda Musique (2006), code: 3017296 | VIDEO
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Blue Camel is one of the best albums by the Lebanese former player Rabih Abou-Khalil. The album (from 1992) opens with Sahara, an enchanting melody that can be Arabic or jazz, as well as one of Abou-Khalil’s best solos, a well-defined intermezzo with wonderfully unique timbre of the oud. The album ends with Beirut, named after the Lebanese city torn apart by a civil war from which Abou-Khalil had to flee years ago. The song starts with a quiet old solo and then builds up to something more chaotic and heavy. CD. Blue Camel – Rabih Abou-Khalil, Charlie Mariano, Kenny Wheeler, Steve, Swallow, Milton Cardona, Nabil Khaiat & Ramesh Shotham. Label: Enja Records (1992), code : 70532 | VIDEO
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Haïti – Ti- Coca & Toto Bissainthe.
Ti-Coca hails from northeastern Haiti and plays the old-fashioned meringue with its accordion-led ensemble. Soft and swinging music with influences from Cuban music. The last three songs were interpreted by Toto Bissainthe and date from 1979.
CD. Haïti – Ti-Coca & Toto Bissainthe.
Label: World Network (1999), code: 32.373 | VIDEO
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Gianmaria Testa (1958 – 2016) was an Italian singer-songwriter and guitarist. Testa began performing in music in 1990 and in the early 1990s he won two consecutive top prizes at the Recanati Festival. His first album Montgolfieres was released in 1995 in collaboration with the French label Bleu and Harmonia Mundi. Throughout his music career, Testa continued to work as a stationmaster at the train station in Cuneo, Italy. He sang in Italian and French and his music shows similarities with folk, jazz and world music. CD. En Studio – Gianmaria Testa. Label: Le Chant du Monde (2017), code: 5742650.56 | VIDEO
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