The Beat Magazine Features

Departments

The items below are regularly featured columns of The Beat Magazine.
Columnist's names are linked to their own Websites, or an email address.
Order Issue #109 to get the full stories.

King of Kings

by Carol Haile Selassie

His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I Emperor of Ethiopia speaks on the importance of education, July 1946.

Reggae Update

by Chuck Foster

Chuck Foster digs deep roots and culture in new releases from Culture, Warrior King, UB40, George Nooks, Sizzla, Mike Brooks, Michael Rose, Taurus Alphonso, Winston Samuels; reissues and compilations from Eek-A-Mouse, Bob Marley and the Wailers, the Pioneers, Ethiopians, Toots and the Maytals, the Upsetters and Horace Andy; a fistful of dub albums and much more. Special report on the revival of the Wackie's label, reissuing titles unavailable since the '70s and '80s.

Technobeat

by Bob Tarte

Bob Tarte tours the dubious tourist trap of the Colonel Harland Sanders Cafe and Museum in Corbin, KY, home of the original Kentucky Fried Chicken, then blasts off to The Dub Side of the Moon, the Easy Star All-Stars' reggae-based remake of the iconographic Pink Floyd album. Ry Cooder and Manuel Galban's Mambo Sinuendo, the latest Salif Keita and Youssou N¹Dour, Bobi Cespedes, Zemog, Prince Buster and the next generation of Cuba's Buena Vista Social Club are in the mix.

Hey Mr. Music

by Dave Hucker

Mr. Music finds fertile ground in The Music in My Head 2, the follow-up compilation of wild West African classics, and Red Hot and Riot's creative interpretations of Fela Kuti's compositions. Youssou N'Dour, Bembeya Jazz, Jimmy Le M and David Alvarez take a turn on the dance floor.

Noches Calientes

by Robert Leaver

The untimely passing of the hugely popular Cuban singer Polo Montanez is lamented, and his second album, Guitarra Mia, discussed. New releases from Issac Delgado, Alfredo Rodriguez, Habana All Stars and Manolin are evaluated.

African Beat

by Robert Ambrose
and Martin Sinnock

Robert Ambrose revels in newly reissued Stern's Earthworks titles African Typic Collection, The Indestructible Beat of Soweto, Vol. One, Rai Rebels, and Kenya Dance Mania, and the Orchestra Super Mazembe collection Giants of East Africa. The Music in My Head 2, Pape and Cheikh, Kandia Kouyate, Dilon Djindji and Lasta Sound are reviewed.

Can it be possible? Congolese music's greatest proponent Martin Sinnock regretfully admits he is getting a little bored with the current state of Congolese music, and returns to classic reissues for solace: Zaiko Langa Langa des Annees 70: Live, and L'Orchestre Afrizam avec Ndombe Opetum. But wait! He opens the door for last year's Wenge Tonya-Tonye and Wenge El Paris, and salutes veteran Wendo Kolosoy's newly recorded Amba.

News

Musical Murder

by Mr. Marlon

"Musical Murder" features Yaniss Odua's Yon Pa Yon French dancehall, new albums from Elephant Man, Sizzla, Tiko and Gita, Ghost and Eek-A-Mouse, plus a trailer-load of dancehall compilations.

Moroccan Roll

Cheb Davis wanders the chilly Parisian arrondissements with a soundtrack provided by Nass Marrakech's Bouderbala and Marcus James' Nightbird.

The Other Caribbean

by Brian Dring

Brian Dring is lovin' Haiti: Interviews with Stephane Alexandre, lead singer of new Haitian ensemble Miel, and Roger "Shoubou" Eugene, longtime lead singer of Haiti's Tabou Combo are featured. Shoubou has just issued a solo acoustic project called Shou...Badou, in the traditional twoubadou style. Haitian vodou drumming is the subject of Synkretizm. Dropping in on Dominica to hear First Serenade Band and Alfred "Pato" Lewis, hopping to Trinidad for several soca compilations and 3 Canal's Trinity, and the party's just starting.

All Over The Map

Steve Heilig earnestly supports the HIV/AIDS-awareness and fundraising mission of Red Hot and Riot; takes off to West Africa to hear Youssou N'Dour, Pape and Cheikh, Kasse Mady and Nigeria 70; drops in on the reissued Marley Rastaman Vibration and Soul Rebels albums and dubs it up with Dub Syndicate's Murder Tone and Adrian Sherwood's Chainstore Massacre. Brazil's Gilberto Gil breaks new ground with Z--300 Anos de Zumbi and Bobi Cespedes returns the favor with Rezos. Afram Asmar's Race to the Bottom completes the tour de monde.

Brazil Beat

by Nego Beto and Mara Weiss

Brazil Beat posse Mara Weiss and Nego Beto welcome Banda Black Rio's Rebirth, Caetano Veloso's Live in Bahia, and note the flowering creativity of Northeastern Brazil as heard in DJ Dolores' Contraditorio. Boundary-breaching albums Free Bossa, Rio Strut and Chill Brazil are noted.

DVD Reviews

Culture, Live in Africa, Real Authentic Reggae Bash, and Lee "Scratch" Perry, The Unlimited Destruction, by Rebecca Levine

The Studio One Story, by Mark Gorney.


	Departments The items below are regularly featured columns of The Beat Magazine. Columnist's names are linked to their own Websites, or an email address. Order Issue #109 to get the full stories.

King of Kings by Carol Haile Selassie His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I Emperor of Ethiopia speaks on the importance of education, July 1946. Reggae Update by Chuck Foster Chuck Foster digs deep roots and culture in new releases from Culture, Warrior King, UB40, George Nooks, Sizzla, Mike Brooks, Michael Rose, Taurus Alphonso, Winston Samuels; reissues and compilations from Eek-A-Mouse, Bob Marley and the Wailers, the Pioneers, Ethiopians, Toots and the Maytals, the Upsetters and Horace Andy; a fistful of dub albums and much more. Special report on the revival of the Wackie's label, reissuing titles unavailable since the '70s and '80s. Technobeat by Bob Tarte Bob Tarte tours the dubious tourist trap of the Colonel Harland Sanders Cafe and Museum in Corbin, KY, home of the original Kentucky Fried Chicken, then blasts off to The Dub Side of the Moon, the Easy Star All-Stars' reggae-based remake of the iconographic Pink Floyd album. Ry Cooder and Manuel Galban's Mambo Sinuendo, the latest Salif Keita and Youssou N¹Dour, Bobi Cespedes, Zemog, Prince Buster and the next generation of Cuba's Buena Vista Social Club are in the mix. Hey Mr. Music by Dave Hucker Mr. Music finds fertile ground in The Music in My Head 2, the follow-up compilation of wild West African classics, and Red Hot and Riot's creative interpretations of Fela Kuti's compositions. Youssou N'Dour, Bembeya Jazz, Jimmy Le M and David Alvarez take a turn on the dance floor.		Noches Calientes by Robert Leaver The untimely passing of the hugely popular Cuban singer Polo Montanez is lamented, and his second album, Guitarra Mia, discussed. New releases from Issac Delgado, Alfredo Rodriguez, Habana All Stars and Manolin are evaluated. African Beat by Robert Ambrose and Martin Sinnock Robert Ambrose revels in newly reissued Stern's Earthworks titles African Typic Collection, The Indestructible Beat of Soweto, Vol. One, Rai Rebels, and Kenya Dance Mania, and the Orchestra Super Mazembe collection Giants of East Africa. The Music in My Head 2, Pape and Cheikh, Kandia Kouyate, Dilon Djindji and Lasta Sound are reviewed. Can it be possible? Congolese music's greatest proponent Martin Sinnock regretfully admits he is getting a little bored with the current state of Congolese music, and returns to classic reissues for solace: Zaiko Langa Langa des Annees 70: Live, and L'Orchestre Afrizam avec Ndombe Opetum. But wait! He opens the door for last year's Wenge Tonya-Tonye and Wenge El Paris, and salutes veteran Wendo Kolosoy's newly recorded Amba. News Musical Murder by Mr. Marlon "Musical Murder" features Yaniss Odua's Yon Pa Yon French dancehall, new albums from Elephant Man, Sizzla, Tiko and Gita, Ghost and Eek-A-Mouse, plus a trailer-load of dancehall compilations. Moroccan Roll Cheb Davis wanders the chilly Parisian arrondissements with a soundtrack provided by Nass Marrakech's Bouderbala and Marcus James' Nightbird.	The Other Caribbean by Brian Dring Brian Dring is lovin' Haiti: Interviews with Stephane Alexandre, lead singer of new Haitian ensemble Miel, and Roger "Shoubou" Eugene, longtime lead singer of Haiti's Tabou Combo are featured. Shoubou has just issued a solo acoustic project called Shou...Badou, in the traditional twoubadou style. Haitian vodou drumming is the subject of Synkretizm. Dropping in on Dominica to hear First Serenade Band and Alfred "Pato" Lewis, hopping to Trinidad for several soca compilations and 3 Canal's Trinity, and the party's just starting. All Over The Map Steve Heilig earnestly supports the HIV/AIDS-awareness and fundraising mission of Red Hot and Riot; takes off to West Africa to hear Youssou N'Dour, Pape and Cheikh, Kasse Mady and Nigeria 70; drops in on the reissued Marley Rastaman Vibration and Soul Rebels albums and dubs it up with Dub Syndicate's Murder Tone and Adrian Sherwood's Chainstore Massacre. Brazil's Gilberto Gil breaks new ground with Z--300 Anos de Zumbi and Bobi Cespedes returns the favor with Rezos. Afram Asmar's Race to the Bottom completes the tour de monde. Brazil Beat by Nego Beto and Mara Weiss Brazil Beat posse Mara Weiss and Nego Beto welcome Banda Black Rio's Rebirth, Caetano Veloso's Live in Bahia, and note the flowering creativity of Northeastern Brazil as heard in DJ Dolores' Contraditorio. Boundary-breaching albums Free Bossa, Rio Strut and Chill Brazil are noted. DVD Reviews Culture, Live in Africa, Real Authentic Reggae Bash, and Lee "Scratch" Perry, The Unlimited Destruction, by Rebecca Levine The Studio One Story, by Mark Gorney.