The Night: World Music

1/ Martirio.
On Mucho Corazon, Martirio collects a few of her favourite tracks from Bolivia, Brazil, Cuba and Portugal. Her voice has a ‘jazzy touch’ as well as a couple of beautiful flamenco accents.
CD: Mucho Corazón by Martirio.
Label: SunnySide Records (SSC) 2003, code: 52PM04. Video.
2/ Jacqueline Taïeb.
These tracks were originally released in 1967. That was when Jacqueline Taïeb started her career as a singer-songwriter. That same year she was declared best newcomer with her ‘garage rock’ hit 7 Heures du Soir at the Midem in Cannes. She wrote and composed a lot for French artists like Yves Montand and Michel Fugain, Maurane and Dave since then. In 2007, 40 years later, she recorded and released the new version with the Amsterdam Beatclub. 
CD: 7 Heures du Soir by Jacqueline Taïeb & Amsterdam Beatclub.
Label: Hippo Records (2007), code: L-M-70101. Video.
3/ Patricia Beysens.
She is a Dutch singer who sings Berlin songs of the twenties and thirties. The era in which the ‘Kabarets’ were very successful despite, or thanks to, the economic depression and political uncertainty. These songs were the perfect reflection of satire and humour, melancholic poetry and decadence of those days. In addition to this repertoire, Patricia also sang the socially engaged songs of the former GDR.
CD: Spötterdämmerung by the Patricia Beysens Ensemble.
Label: HKM (2012), code : CNR/hkm 42222. Video.

4/ Antonio Placer (with guest singer Elena Ledda).
The reunion of two powerful voices: Elena Ledda, renowned female singer from Sardinia and Galician singer and poet Antonio Placer. Even though they speak two different languages they still meet each other via poetry and feelings. In Sardinian, Spanish and Galician languages poet forms have emotional powerful poetry. The power of poetry originates from the mix of Sardinian, Spanish and Galician languages. 
CD: Pan de Harapo Banda by Antonio Placer. Label: Harmonia Mundi (2003), code: 274 1265. Video.
5/ Lola Lafon & Leva.
She is singer-songwriter, performer and writer. Lola Lafon released her first album with her band Leva. Grandir à l’envers de rien is a collection of Balkan influenced ‘electro folklore’ songs, poetic and explosive, sung in French, Romanian, English and Bulgarian. 
CD: Grandir à l ‘envers de rien by Lola Lafon & Leva.
Label: Blue Electric (2006), code : LB 4010. Video.
6/ Ana Alcaide.
Sephardic music is the source of inspiration to this Spanish female singer. This age-old Jewish music gets a colourful and intense character by using old instruments.
CD: La Cantiga Del Fuego by Ana Alcaide.
Label: Arc Music (2012), code: EUCD 2417. Video.

7/ Mounira Mitchala.
The songs of Mounira are especially about the difficulties by which women in Chad and in the whole of Africa are confronted with but also about the problems of her country like the drought, access to water, undernourishment and corruption. The melodies of Mounira are inspired by the rhythms and colours of traditional music but are frankly contemporary.
CD: Chili Houritki by Mounira Mitchala.
Label: Lusafrica (2011), code: 562662. Video.
8/ Elena Ledda.
This is a re-release of one of the most beautiful albums made by this Sardinian female singer Elena Ledda. She manages to give the traditional music of her island a contemporary twist in a subtle way by which her beautiful voice sounds even better.
CD: Incanti by Elena Ledda.
Label: Dunya Records (2003) code: FY 8061. Video.
 
9/ Catherine Delasalle.
Catherine was born in Paris. She travelled a lot, lived in Ireland before she landed as ambassador for French music in Flemish-speaking Belgium. Her voice sometimes reminds of Edith Piaf or Juliette Gréco and she is obviously inspired by jazz.
CD: L ‘Etrangère by Catherine Delasalle.
Label: Zoku / EMI (2000), code: 07243 529 321 2 2. Video.