S q u e e z y t u n e s

Accordion Kuduro

2008-09-29T15:05:00+01:00

Kuduro is a pretty new genre of music emanting from the Portugese speaking world, mainly Angola. It's similar to the Funk Carioca movement from Brazil, but even more ear-splitting.

Naturally the Cape Verdeans are getting in one the act melding their own upbeat accordion music 'Funana'. The result has been called 'Kufuna', and it's probably the most brutal music that the accordion has ever been involved with.

Ballad of Ronnie Drew

2008-09-27T14:25:41+01:00

I was saddened to hear of the recent passing of Ronnie Drew, a true giant of Irish folk music. I think I've written before that the performance of 'Irish Rover' by The Pogues & The Dubliners was a pivotal moment in my musical career; for the first time I knew what kind of instrument and music I wanted to play.

Here's a wonderfully ragged but touching tribute to Ronnie by various luminaries of Irish music. Here's to you Ronnie Drew.

More Funana from Cape Verde

2008-09-22T09:42:00+01:00

As promised here's some more of the modern style of funana which adds modern beats to the mix.

This track is Fornadja Nhu Txiku by an artist called Kidy.

I think this one is by Som di Terra and the song is called Min Nca Burro Nau.

Accordions from Cape Verde

2008-09-21T09:34:03+01:00

After bemoaning the lack of accordion in morna I discovered that Cape Verde has its own genre of accordion based music called funaná. I won't try to explain it as there is quite superb article about it on Wikipedia. I prefer to let the music do the talking, other than to say that it is terrific and has opened up a whole new world of great music for me.

Here's one of the biggest names in funaná Ferro Gaita with a live version of one of their hits - É si prôpi.

And I love that way this track from Belo Freira (I think) melds soukous stye guitar with the accordion.

Coming up we'll have some examples of the modern style of funaná that mixes in modern beats, and eventually we'll get to some quite extrordinary fusion of kuduro and funaná.

Link: Funana on Wikipedia

Celina da Piedade

2008-09-17T20:58:35+01:00

This piece was going to be a review the Mayra Andrade gig I attended last month; but instead I discovered Celina da Piedade.

The gig was fine, verging on dull. I was a bit disappointed too that there was no accordion player in the backing band. You see, Mayra plays morna music from Cape Verde, and I think this is a style of music that the accordion lends itself too rather well.

I did a bit of research and I think that Mayra's CD does indeed feature accordion - from Regis Gizavo no less. Also, when touring Portugal an accordion player called Celina da Piedade has been playing with her.

Now, investigation of Celina da Piedade tells us that she has been involved in a number of interesting projects, both her own bands and playing in other people's bands. In fact, Celina has a squeezebox attached to her heart!

Check out this piece from Rodrigo Leão.

Link: Celina's Myspace