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Putumayo’s New “Beat”

By Dan Storper, September 7, 2011  |  Meet the Blogger  |  More Posts by Dan Storper
Read on for a chance to win a 4-CD set from Putumayo’s Beat series and Groove series. Dan Storper is the CEO and Founder of Putumayo World Music. Putumayo continues its exploration of contemporary world music with the launch of a new "Beat" series, which follows in the footsteps of the successful “Groove” series. New releases African Beat and Latin Beat highlight the exciting blends of world music and electronica, R&B and more coming out of studios in Europe, America, Africa and Latin America. These releases are available at most Whole Foods Market stores. On Latin Beat, we explore funky new blends of Latin music, in which electronic beats, hip-hop flavors, DJ remixes and cutting-edge grooves are fused effortlessly with Colombian cumbia, Cuban son, Mexican banda, Spanish flamenco, Afro-Peruvian roots music and more. Cuban band Moneda Dura adds the voice of Buena Vista Social Club legend Ibrahim Ferrer to a catchy breakbeat sound. Colombians Jontre and Mariposa Solar demonstrate how effortlessly groundbreaking Latin musicians are using traditional rhythms in a contemporary pop context. Spain's Digitano takes Gypsy flamenco instrumentation and layers on electronic effects. These collaborations between modern Cuban groups and Cuban legends provide insight into how Latin music has managed to stay as popular and relevant today as it was 50 years ago. On African Beat, Putumayo features artists who are as likely to have traditional African drumming, soukous and mbaqanga on their IPods as they are the latest European dubstep and R&B. These tracks reveal that even in this globalized, hi-tech world, the divide between the past and the future is not as great as it may seem. Songs by musicians with deep connections to their roots, including Vieux Farka Touré and Les Barons, are remixed and reworked by Western DJs. The music of South Africa's Busi Mhlongo, Senegal's Lëk Sèn and Malian/French group Donso reveals how hip-hop, electronica and other urban musical styles have been incorporated into traditional African music, taking it in surprising new directions. We hope you give these new sounds a listen. Do you have a favorite song or group that showcases collaboration between two distinct music styles? Let us know what it is in the comments below for a chance to win a 4-CD set from Putumayo’s Beat series (African Beat and Latin Beat) and Groove series. (Arabic Groove and Turkish Groove). Comment by September 21st for a chance to win. We’ll choose one comment at random to receive the CDs.
Category: Music

 

1,011 Comments

Comments

Mary says ...
Thank you Whole Foods for introducing me to Putamayo music CDs. I own just about every one and love each for their unique sound and song selections.
09/21/2011 7:47:12 PM CDT
Renee Krebs says ...
Group - Equation Great folk/pop/contemporary mixture of music that can appeal to any age!
09/21/2011 8:46:32 PM CDT
Char says ...
THX
09/21/2011 8:54:43 PM CDT
Robin Newton says ...
I love Putamayo--choose me, please!!!
09/22/2011 9:38:22 AM CDT
Susanne says ...
Renaud Garcia-Fons - Classical, Jazz and World Music - Love it!
09/22/2011 3:54:31 PM CDT
Marcee Foltz says ...
I love the sounds of Africa! Last year I spent time in Togo with Mercy Ships and was able to spend time in African churches. The beat and driving tempo of that music just surges from the heart!
09/27/2011 10:23:59 PM CDT
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Well thanks for sharing wonderful information. Its a good information. Keep posting.
12/22/2011 10:27:16 PM CST
Jerry Nash says ...
Putumayo exposes a person to music they might never hear. The beats of the world are instrumental in the global world coming closer together
02/16/2012 11:57:48 AM CST
oursarn says ...
I am for sure a new fan of this blog! I enjoy blogs and am glad to find this place where i can gush about all things!
08/13/2012 12:41:55 AM CDT
wurson says ...
I used to read your blog all the time, seriously i love and i still do.
08/13/2012 1:41:14 PM CDT
wfeson says ...
I just found your blog on Ask Jeeves, a really good read.
08/13/2012 8:39:18 PM CDT

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