Charlie Gillett, father of world music, dies

You may not know this name. But the only reason you do know names like Youssou N'Dour and Salif Keita and Mariza (the Portuguese fado singer) is because of him.

BBC broadcaster and forefather of global music, Charlie Gillett, died yesterday after an extended illness. Gillett is widely credited with coining the term, "world music". His show, The Sound of the World, was a joy to listen to. It had a playfulness that belied Gillett's love for the music he listened to. I discovered many bands through his show, including one of my favorites, Fat Freddys Drop.

Today, "world music" has exploded far beyond the boundaries of its name. I kind of bristle at the phrase now, when South Africans are making music that sounds like NYC indy-rock, and New Yorkers are making music that sounds like South Africans.

But Gillett laid the groundwork. He heard incredible music in far away places and decided the world needed to hear it, too. The Beat Authority and countless other music shows, bands, and entire genres would exist without him.

Free mp3: Gaudi

The last time we heard from London-based producer Gaudi was a couple years ago when he remixed tracks by legendary Qawwali vocalist, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, one of the early giants of the "world music" genre.

Gaudi's back with a new record out next week. If you like reggae, dub, and deep bass with a global twinge, this one's for you. You can download a single for free here.

And let's make today's beat of the day from Gaudi's previous album...

Beat of the Day

First off, listening to the Latin Alternative and a reggaeton edition of Afropop Worldwide Friday night on NCPR was awesome. The new Friday night lineup rocks - check it out.

Anyway, I was just listening to the Latin Alternative podcast, and this version of Manu Chao's song Politics Kills came up. A monster reggae/dub beat...

Dreaming about SxSW

It's a routine, coolish Monday in the North Country. Meanwhile, hundreds (thousands?) of bands are playing all day all night in Austin at South by Southwest.

So let's pretend. Should I go see a cool new singer-songwriter (hint-hint: download here)? Maybe hang out with Ozomatli, Bomba Estereo, and Choc Quib Town at La Condesa? Or just follow the All Songs Considered folks wherever they go?

I've never been, probably never will go, but SxSW sounds like a music lover's dream come true.

Beat Authority playlist: 3/12/10

Rise and shine.

Free mp3s: SxSW preview

Austin, Texas' monster music festival, South By Southwest (SxSW) starts on Friday. I'll be honest, a lot of it is deep indy rock that really isn't my bag. But there are always new finds in all genres and it's worth paying attention to.

NPR's All Songs Considered goes whole hog into it, sending multiple correspondents down there. They've posted a sampler of the bands on their must-see list. And you can download the music for free. Click here.

Everybody's abuzz about the Danger Mouse/Shins frontman collab, Broken Bells. Everything Danger Mouse touches turns to gold...

Beat for a Monday Morning

Jonathan Brown, host of Cutaway on NCPR, recommends Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears. Channeling The Godfather, Wilson Pickett, etc. Can't go wrong!

Check a cool video and hear a live version below...



PS - Make sure you chastise Mr. Brown for not posting a playlist since February 12th...

Free mp3: Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings

Man, do they look bad-ass (will the FCC fine me for writing that?).

Here's where to go to download for free the new single from this neo-soul powerhouse.

And here's today's playlist.

Climbing the Banda ladder, rung by rung

Last month, my wife and I were visiting Oaxaca, Mexico. We were strolling down the main pedestrian street early one evening and saw a poster advertising Banda la Flor (from Michoacan, I think) at 10 in a nearby bar.

Live Banda! This is what I'd been dreaming of. Banda is the Mexican version of the New Orleans Brass Band, a roving group of about a dozen musicians, brass, winds, and percussion. We had to go.

We return around 9:30 that evening and sit in the dusk on the steps of a nearby church and watch people go by until it's time to go to the bar. Suddenly, we hear Banda wafting from up the street. Down they come, marching along. A guy with them (presumably with the bar) stops in front of us with a tequila bottle in one hand, a shot glass in the other.

"Quieres un trago? Gratis!" (Want a shot? It's free!)

Free tequila imbibed, we follow the Banda parade into the bar, with high hopes of a big crowd and a great night.

Well, Banda la Flor was sensational. But the bar was dead. To make matters worse, the singer's mic wasn't working, so he had to stretch a cord that only went to the stairs, high above the band - he sang his heart out in the dark.

Later, that night, I asked a bar owner what the deal was. He said all the real Banda places are up in the northern suburbs. And anyway, this is a young band just trying to break into the Banda scene. Like with garage bands in the U.S., you gotta start gigging every night, no matter who shows up, no matter how good you are.

So tip a glass and enjoy Banda la Flor. Sorry, though, no free tequila shots.