#4705, Jazz Meets Traditional Music

Hear what happens when traditional roots and folk music meets jazz in music by bassist and bandleader Mali Obomsawin, composer David Cieri, and Irish bassist Neil Ó Lochlainn.

Listen to music by the Native American bassist, singer and bandleader Mali Obomsawin. They're from a Wabanaki family in New England, and have played with the folk-rock trio called Lulu Wiles, but their current project is a band that aims to shine a light on the heritage and experience of Indigenous jazz. Obomsawin’s album, Sweet Tooth, features field recordings and vocals in both English and Abenaki; some of their works are based on traditional Wabanaki songs and there are some instrumentals too (John Schaefer.) 

Also, hear other music that comes from the jazz world with roots based on Ireland, Sardinia, West Africa, and South Asia. Irish bassist and composer Neil Ó Lochlainn is from Clare and leads the big band Ensemble Eriu as well as the smaller traditional/improvisatory chamber ensemble Cuar. Listen to some music by Cuar, a jazz band rooted in Irish traditional folk music which features fiddle, along with sax, trombone, upright bass, and pipes. Then, listen to music by composer David Cieri for the 1928 Carl Dreyer silent film, The Passion of Joan of Arc, which uses the striking Sardinian traditional music of polyphonic male vocal groups.

There’s also music by London-based clarinetist Arun Ghosh inspired by the Roma people, who have roots in Rajasthan, along with Swedish jazz drummer/composer Bengt Berger inspired by Ghanaian funeral drumming. And more. - Caryn Havlik

Program #4705, Jazz Meets Traditional Music (First aired 1/19/23)

ARTIST: Jim Pepper           
WORK: Witchi-Tai-To (Song) [1:00]
RECORDING: Pepper's Powwow    
SOURCE: Embryo #SD-731. LP
INFO: Out of print, but try auction sites

ARTIST: Neil O Lochlainn & Cuar    
WORK: Gob a' Choire [6:00]
RECORDING: Umhaill  
SOURCE/INFO: neilolochlainn.bandcamp.com

ARTIST: Mali Obomsawin          
WORK: Odana [4:15]
RECORDING: Sweeth Tooth
SOURCE: Out Of Your Head Records
INFO: mali-obomsawin.bandcamp.com

ARTIST:  David Cieri          
WORK: Bellisumu Unu (from Orune) [5:44]
RECORDING: Passion of Joan of Arc
SOURCE: Ropeadope Records
INFO: davidcieri.bandcamp.com

ARTIST:  Arun Ghosh      
WORK: The Gypsies of Rajasthan [6:46]
RECORDING: A South Asian Suite
SOURCE: Camoci Records
INFO: arunghosh.bandcamp.com

ARTIST:  Arun Ghosh      
WORK: The Gypsies of Rajasthan [6:46]
RECORDING: A South Asian Suite
SOURCE: Camoci Records
INFO: arunghosh.bandcamp.com

ARTIST: Neil O Lochlainn & Cuar    
WORK: Johnny Seoighe [4:48]
RECORDING: Umhaill  
SOURCE/INFO: neilolochlainn.bandcamp.com

ARTIST: Bengt Berger
WORK: Tongsi [4:57]
RECORDING: Bitter Funeral Beer
SOURCE: ECM #1179
INFO: ecmrecords.com

ARTIST: Mali Obomsawim           
WORK: Pedegwajois [5:41]
RECORDING: Sweeth Tooth
SOURCE: Out Of Your Head Records
INFO: mali-obomsawin.bandcamp.com

ARTIST: Girls in Airports x Aarhus Jazz Orchestra          
WORK: Myanmar [6:06]
RECORDING: Leap
SOURCE:  Kaja Records
INFO: girlsinairports.bandcamp.com/album/leap