I am also a big fan of “world” folk music. As I collect many recordings from Smithsonian Folkways Series, I prefer unplugged traditional world music. It started when I was a high-school student, I somehow got several vinyl records of middle eastern music (I think it was a traditional Iranian music). Then soon after, I got fascinated by Pakistani Sufi music such as Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
After visiting Berkeley’s City College to see their computer facilities, I stopped by Berkeley Public Library. I used to come to the library to search music CDs and scores. Well, I felt I needed some new music… then got 8 CDs. These two were really great.
Carlos Paredes
Kočani Orkestar
Carlos Paredes is a Portuguese guitarist and plays the Portuguese style instrument. I did not know much about Portuguese guitar, but I really liked it. It’s stupid to put it this way, but it’s between Spanish style and Brazilian. (Well.. Brazilian got influenced by them surely…)
I found these YouTube movies of his play with still images.
Clearly connected, I also surf to find “fado” singers. I did not know her at all, but I really liked Cristina Branco. Her voice is heartbreaking, and she is extremely beautiful.
Kočani Orkestar is a Macedonian Brass Band. Balkan brass band became popular after Emir Ksturica’s “Underground,” and I became big fan of balkan music and started searching many other different styles from the region. I am not sure if this YouTube clip is actually played by Kočani Orkestar, but the composition must be by them.
I also found a nice Macedonian traditional folk songs on YouTube. This is a funny one. I am not sure why those ladies are picking flowers… well… it does not matter. They don’t need to have a reason to pick flowers anyway.