Covering African, world & roots music
Photos, events, news & comment from in and around Toronto
Website & photos by John Leeson.  email:
info@to-music.ca

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Inside the t.o. music pix website...

The most recent website updates are now on the following pages:

www.events.to-music.ca - for event listings.

www.blog.to-music.cafor recent news, comment and other information.
These blog updates will replace the old newsletter format.

www.video.to-music.ca - recent video posts
(Older videos are posted at www.youtube.to-music.ca)

www.twitter.to-music.ca - or follow @tomusicpix

Update (Nov 19)
Because of expected time constraints, most of the above pages have not been updated recently. I am now beginning to add new items. Please stay tuned over the next few days.

 


About Libya

Newsletter readers know that over the past few months, I have largely been focused on the crisis in Libya. I have some background and updates posted here: www.libyatoronto.com. My video record of many of this year's Libyan events in support of the people of Libya is posted here

 

T.O. MUSIC PIX NEWSLETTER

If you like the kind of music covered in this website, click the link above for more information about this email newsletter, to subscribe, or to see past issues.
See www.blog.to-music.ca for recent postings.
Some recent items:

Most recent newsletters have linked to blog posts.Check there for updates

133: Jul. 21, 2011
1. On  Twitter
2. Music events this weekend
3. Music Notes:
   Video from Bombino & Thomas Mapfumo shows at the Lula
   RIP Jerry Ragovoy, songwriter & producer. Audio tribute.
   Congotronics vs Rockers & Peyton CD tribute to Patton
4.Afrofest Replay: video of Dizu Plaatjies at Afrofest & CIUT audio of festival performance

132: Jul. 11, 2011
Some post-Afrofest notes:
1. Most Afrofest concerts to be available online on CIUT's website & Where will Afrofest live next year?
2. Two excellent post-Afrofest shows tonight & tomorrow at the Lula: Thomas Mapfumo again, and a hot new Tuareg guitarist, Omara "Bambino" Moktar.

131: Jun. 29, 2011

1. "Summer kicks off" musical highlights

130: Jun 13, 2011

1. Event & other musical notes
2. Desandann (Creole Choir of Cuba: finally getting real recognition,

129: May 20, 2011 tems posted on blog page

  1. Event notes:

  2. Harbourfront Centre summer music lineup announced.

  3. "An evening (and afternoon) for Bazou": The second annual fundraising night organized by Njacko Backo & Valery Woloshyn for the school Njacko attended in Bazou 

  4. Sony Centre 2011-12 lineup announced and ticket sales start.

  5. "The Field Recordings of Hugh Tracey". about the musicologist and collector who made hundreds of African field recordings from the 1920's through the 70's.

  6. Happy 100th birthday to "The Boss of the Blues", Joe Turner

128: May 6, 2011 - items posted on blog page

  1. Event notes:  

  2. Afrofest will be back in Queen's Park at least this year.

  3. CKLN -- Toronto's oldest community radio station -- is off the air,

  4. Trane Studio fighting to regain its liquor license 

  5. Muammar Gaddafi: rap star 

  6. 1966 documentary on Bo Diddley

127: April 11, 2011 - See updates on blog page

1. Event updates
2. New T.O. Music Pix web pages
3. Toronto Radio: the importance of CIUT & CKLN
4. Muslim World Music Day: April 12
5. Toronto Rock & Roll Stories: great documentary on Toronto's rock & roll scene in the 50's & 60's

126: March 18, 2011

1. Save Afrofest in Queen's Park
2. Event notes: Ethio T.O, Okavango Orchestra, Johnny Clegg, Femi Kuti & Tony Allen!
3. Libya: latest news, rally in Toronto, Libyan music

125 January 27, 2011

1. Website notes
2. Events: Aster Aweke in town this Saturday; other upcoming shows
3. Other
   - Full Afrocubism concert video available
   - History for Music Lovers
   - Music Planet: new BBC radio show from around the world
   - Kiran Ahluwalia & Tinariwen.

124: January 10, 2011

1. T.O. Music Pix update
2. Grupo Vocal Desandann: success on its way? A roadblock.
3. Other notes: Calle 54 on TV tonight; Afrofest video; Franco on radio; Oxford American music issue 


Basssekou Kouyaté, Luminato, Jun. 12, 2010

PHOTOS (updated Dec. 28/09)

NOTE: Time has prevented me from posting photos of most events over the past couple of years.

2010:
Afrocubism, Nov. 9 (New York City)
Angelique Kidjo, Toronto Jazz Festival, July 1
Bassekou Kouyaté & Ngoni Ba with Béla Fleck, Luminato Festival, June 12

Various videos posted at www.youtube.to-music.ca

For older photos, see PHOTOS link above.

Some 2009 photos include:
Mahmoud Ahmed, Choclo y la Orgia Cosmica (David West) - "Africa Meets First Nations", Oliver Mtukudzi, Iris DeMent, Madagascar Slim, Getatchew Mekuria & The Ex, Brazilian Day (with Carlinhos Brown), some Afrofest highlights, Femi Kuti, Anacona, Masaisai, "The World of Slide Guitar" (Luminato); Grupo Vocal Desandann, Habib Koité and Béla Fleck's Africa Project with Toumani Diabaté, D'Gary, Vusi Mahlasela and Anania Ngoglia.

Hundreds more, including Salif Keita, Baaba Maal, Youssou n'Dour, Seun Kuti, Hugh Masakela, Orchestra Baobab, Billy Joe Shaver, Mighty Sparrow, Bettye LaVette, Jamaica to Toronto, Amadou & Mariam, Tinariwen, African Guitar Summit, Bembeya Jazz, Ba Cissoko, Wanda Jackson, K'Naan, Los Munequitos de Matanzas,  and ...

Click here for a full list of all artists' photos
 

VIDEOS (updated May 11/10)

So far in 2010, I haven't had the chance to post any performance photos, but do have some videos of recent concerts posted on above page including:

Carolina Chocolate Drops, Eliades Ochoa, Tilahun Gessesse tribute, Tarig Abubakar tribute,  Habib Koité, Oliver Mtukudzi (with his late son, Sam), Tinariwen, Huun Huur Tu, Mahmoud Ahmed.

See  www.youtube.to-music.ca

 


Photo: Adam Solomon, Bloor-Yonge subway, 2005

ARTICLES, ARTISTS & LIVE REVIEWS (updated Nov. 16/09)
Click the link above for some articles, comment, artist profiles, and a few live music reviews.

  • The Healing Power of Music: A reminder of the power and spirit of music -- from the Bloor-Yonge Subway Station (Sep. 23/09)
  • Buddy Miller: Gradual recognition for the country/Americana singer, guitarist, producer. (June 2/09)
  • Award Congratulations: Kiran Ahluwalia, Jayme Stone/Mansa Sissoko, Jane Bunnett (and Grupo Vocal Desandann)
  • Béla Fleck's Africa Project: an article on the CD, documentary and tour by the American banjo master with African musicians. Includes photos from an amazing concert in Nashville's Ryman Auditorium.
  • RIP, Tlahun Gessese: The great Ethiopian singer dies at the age of 68
  • Music and Social change: events, performers, recording helping to push for social and political change
  • The "history" of world music. The birth of a sometimes-controversial term.
  • Music Reads: noting interesting books, magazines and other sources.

A few older articles:

  • Kemer Yousef Toronto singer returns to Ethiopia for the first time in 24 years. He's now a star in the country he fled. Watch a video from his triumphant Addis Ababa concert.
  • Solomon Linda, Wimoweh & The Lion Sleeps at Night: the sad story of the most popular song in African History
  • K'Naan: Sending a different message? (Dec. 06/Jan. 07). Does K'Naan's video send a new, disturbing message about violence?
  • Chuck Berry: The Brown Eyed Handsome Man turns 80 (Oct. 06)
  • Solomon Burke: (July/06): A great story from his Massey Hall concert
  • Tarig Abubakar: A memorial night for the late Sudanese-Canadian musician, Jan. 20, 2006
  • Bettye LaVette: "The Greatest Unknown Soul Singer in the World". A review of her Nov. 28/05 show at Lee's Palace.
  • Billy Joe Shaver:  "A Life in Music" (Jul. 21/05). An appreciation of the music and life of the great American Honky Tonk Hero poet
  • Wanda Jackson: "Rock On, Wanda!" (Oct. 18/05) The Queen of Rockabilly rocked The Cadillac Lounge on Oct. 14/05. A report on the first of her two nights, some background on her, and why we should help get her into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Mansa Sissoko, Jayme Stone, Hugh's Room, June 2008

2008 REVIEWED (Updated May 7)
A three-part section:

My picks from 2008: My favourite CD's & live shows of the year.

CD's of the year:
Picks from numerous other websites & music critics from around the world. Updated with Songlines Award winners, plus Grammy and Juno winners. Congratulations to Jayme Stone and Mansa Sissoko for their well-deserved World Music Album of the Year Award for Africa to Appalachia which is gaining notice around the world.

Also to Kiran Ahulawalia who won the Songlines (U.K.) world music award for "Newcomer of the Year". Of course, she's no newcomer to those of us here.

RIP 2008: Notes & videos on some of the great musical figures who passed away in 2008.

 

LINKS (updated Dec. 11/08)

NOTE: As of December, 2008, this page is being updated for the first time in quite a while. Please bear with me as links get added, updated and removed.

Music links in Toronto, around the world, plus Internet radio and other music sources on the Net. Includes audio links to virtually all of the 2004 and 2005 U.K. Womad concerts!

 

 

VIDEOS (Updated Mar. 19/09)

This page contains a collection of some of the best video (and some audio) clips I've come across recently.

New: Taraf de Haidkouks, Buddy Miller, Emmylou Harris, Mandékalou, Franco, Fela Kuti (1971), Wanda Jackson, Ronnie Hawkins, Beatles, Ned Sublette, Big Joe Williams, early Salif Keita, Tinariwen documentary, Madagascar guitar, Muddy Waters, Miriam Makeba, Odetta & lots more.

 


Eclipse photo, March 26, 2006 by Brendan Seaton

REPORT FROM LIBYA

The photo-journal of my March/April 2006 trip to Libya and the solar eclipse -- including a midnight Sahara concert -- is posted on a separate website.

Coming: report & photos from my return visit in 2007.

 

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