Thursday, November 25, 2010

Little Windows Light Up Page-Walker

"Cary, NC – Mark Weems and Julee Glaub of Little Windows performed at the Page-Walker Cultural Arts Center this past Sunday (Nov 21).
The duo perform a blend of traditional Irish and Appalachian songs. They tour together nationally and abroad with a focus on the art of the pure voice and traditional songs. Instrumentation includes guitar, fiddle, banjo, flute, piano and bodhran.
Weems has been playing music of the old time tradition for years while Glaub’s specialty is in the traditional Irish genre. Together they bring a beautiful blend of both traditions with a unique harmonic sound that is rare and often beckons the response from audience members, “I’ve never heard anything like it!”"

Rwandan Passion

Dorothee Munyaneza (Luminary Records LUM001, 2010)

The name may not sound familiar, but fans of Afro Celt Sound System will recognize her passionate voice from the album “Volume 5 – Anatomic“. Dorothee Munyaneza’s debut album is a collection of 14 pieces sung in her native Rwandan language as well as a DVD. Afro Celt’s Martin Russell is heavily involved as a musician and producer and this is the first release on the new Luminary Records label.

The music is a mix of laid back soul, pop and some world music elements. The lyrics reflect Dorothee Munyaneza’s social conscience, focusing on themes sucvh as Rwandan reconciliation, oppression, and AIDs.

The musicians who participated in the recordings include Tim Stone (acoustic and electric guitars), Richard Marcangelo (drums and percussion), Kaz Kasozi (bass guitar), Andrew Cronshaw (zither, marovantele, ba-wu and jawharps), Nasher (additional guitars), Faith Tatou (backing vocals), Philip Achille (chromatic harmonica on “Godeliva” and “Iteka”), Simon Fielder (didjeridu on “Akaririmbo”), Martin O’Neill (bodhran on “One Minute”) and Antonia Russell (backing vocal on “Njyenyine”).

Dorothee Munyaneza participated on the soundtrack of the 2004 feature film “Hotel Rwanda“. Her ensuing collaboration with Afro Celt Sound System as a guest singer on their 2005 Real World Records release, “Volume 5 – Anatomic” gave her worldwide exposure.

The innovative two-disc set features 5.1 surround versions in MLP high-resolution, dts 96/24 and Dolby Digital, Stereo LPCM and a dvd-rom folder containing every song as a 320kbps mp3, each with artwork derived from the DVD’s trackslides. All images are included as desktop wallpaper. The DVD-A offers a bonus track and a credits movie which is presented over a specially-commissioned remix of the opening song. The DVD artwork and photography is by Dorothee Munyaneza’s sister, Faith Tatou.

Dorothee Munyaneza’s debut album is a mesmerizing performance by a beautiful and passionate young Rwandan voice.

Rwandan Passion « World Music Central.org

Bodhran And Accordion

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