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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

linda p says ...
very nice beat combine with a latin and african beat. i listin to latin beat all the time i even have my teenagers hooked. cool!!
09/09/2011 12:09:24 AM CDT
lisa knouse says ...
Sounds awesome. Excited to give it a listen on my new Bowes.
09/09/2011 5:33:21 AM CDT
Adriana says ...
Great music!!
09/09/2011 5:40:07 AM CDT
david dyson says ...
I love the Putumayo catalogue
09/09/2011 7:09:09 AM CDT
michele says ...
I always enjoy Putumayo's compilations! Looking forward to hearing the new ones. Love Whole Foods too!!!!
09/09/2011 7:20:26 AM CDT
Linda MacDonald says ...
Love sharing the heart and soul of sounds from around the globe. How fortunate we are in the 21st. c. to be able to experience these musical gifts.
09/09/2011 7:23:11 AM CDT
Umberto Amante says ...
I have found the Putumayo CDs to be of the highest quality in both the choice of music and the audio quality. You can't go wrong getting a Putumayo CD.
09/09/2011 8:09:15 AM CDT
Erica says ...
I think these CDs would an excellent way to get exposure to some great world music
09/09/2011 8:54:06 AM CDT
Amy says ...
Love the putumayo CDs. excited to hear this one.
09/09/2011 9:45:17 AM CDT
wendy melo says ...
This is great stuff to feed my two and one year old, Love culture and world music!
09/09/2011 10:20:59 AM CDT
Ashley says ...
Wow! I am psyched! I enjoy listening to most of Putmayo, in particular the latin ones especially after spending a few summers in Mexico and Chile.
09/09/2011 11:22:38 AM CDT
Tania says ...
Haven't really listened to much in this vein but it really sounds exciting and would love to open myself up to it!
09/09/2011 4:00:58 PM CDT
Susan Reimers says ...
Two of my favorite beats! Count me IN!!! Thanks!
09/09/2011 4:02:35 PM CDT
rob says ...
ladysmith was the gateway drug for me, but putamayo got my kids into world music. can't wait to hear these.
09/09/2011 4:04:28 PM CDT
renee w says ...
Would love the chance to hear Putumayo's New Beat!
09/09/2011 4:06:41 PM CDT
Jennifer says ...
I'm a big fan of guitarist Jesse Cook's rumba/Middle Eastern crossover sounds. It might not be appeal to purists, but it sure is easy to move to.
09/09/2011 4:09:31 PM CDT
LoveToBeFit says ...
Eliane Elias and Jobim are excellent and embody these rich beats.
09/09/2011 4:12:58 PM CDT
Natalie says ...
I absolutely love the South African band the BLK JKS...modern band with an amazing mix of African tribal beats, reggae, rock, psychedelic. Beautiful world sound with an indie rock twist. P.S. LOVE LOVE LOVE Putumayo!!! Awesome music for entertaining or unwinding!
09/09/2011 4:18:19 PM CDT
Jacki says ...
I am a teacher and I listen to Putomayo in my classroom all the time! There is nothing better to spice up a worksheet and keep them focused... plus it exposes kids to a kind of music they may not have heard before! Keep it up! :)
09/09/2011 5:22:48 PM CDT
Tina says ...
Love the Putmayo Cd's!!I would love to add to my Putmayo collection. @WholeFoods is my store for my whole mind and body!!!I hope I get picked to win the cd's..it would mean alot:)
09/10/2011 6:38:50 AM CDT
adel daghmouri says ...
Africa, the craddle of Jazz, I love you.
09/10/2011 7:48:38 AM CDT
Sandi C. says ...
I don't have any previous CDs or a favorite, but I've liked earlier songs I've heard in stores from Putamayo. Oh, and I still do have a CD player, so I must be dating myself :)
09/11/2011 12:27:44 AM CDT
Dana says ...
This would be interesting to hear and probably to work out wi9th. I listen to Christian music on ksbj 89.3 so its interesting to hear the distinct style of rap or rock with a Chrisian theme.
09/12/2011 12:59:09 PM CDT
Elssy Zapata says ...
Have loved Putumayo's music for a long time. In Latin Beat, I truly enjoy the modern versions of Cumbia, the Cuban son and the Gypsy flamenco. It is wonderful to see young Latins enjoying the music of older generations with a new beat. The legacy continues...
09/13/2011 3:34:27 PM CDT
Connie says ...
All I know is that Putumayo has always been my favorites! Credit to Whole Foods for having the best selection - Love it!
09/13/2011 10:39:30 PM CDT

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