Saturday, February 9, 2008

A free Gigi download

It’s been a while since I popped over to Calabash... the hot spot for world-music downloads. Happy to report they’re still giving away two free MP3s every weekday!

Glad I visited yesterday, because I found a track by Ethiopian singer Ejigayehu Shibabaw, who performs as “Gigi.”

I hadn’t heard of Gigi, but was intrigued by the fact that she is signed to Chris Blackwell’s record label. Chris Blackwell has magic ears. He introduced reggae music to the white world.

Anyway, the FREE MP3 is called “Anten.” It’s off Gigi’s 2006 CD, “Gold & Wax.”

I am enchanted by Gigi’s voice. And the groove is hap’nin’. Click here to stream “Anten” on my Vox blog.

I was really intrigued to learn that Gigi is married to Bill Laswell, her producer. Laswell has put forth some of the most progressive groove music of the past quarter-century, working with such artists as Herbie Hancock, Nona Hendryx, Sonny Sharrock, the Last Poets, Bootsy Collins, Bernie Worrell and Buckethead. (Bernie and Bucket contribute some licks to “Gold & Wax.”)

So if you’re registered at Calabash, go grab that free track by following this link. And don’t stop there. I highly recommend the entire album. (“Gold & Wax” is also available at iTunes.)
at

10 comments:

  1. Michael FisherFebruary 9, 2008 at 11:37 AM

    Don't forget Laswell's work with Whodini.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Undercover Black ManFebruary 9, 2008 at 11:41 AM

    ^ Can't forget what I never knew, Michael. He worked with Whodini??

    ReplyDelete
  3. bklyn6February 9, 2008 at 1:22 PM

    I hardly recognize her in that pic.

    I always see her picture posted on calabash, and I've even listened to a sample or two, but never felt too compelled to download anything.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Michael FisherFebruary 9, 2008 at 2:39 PM

    You know what? My bad. That was Larry Smith not Laswell. I don't know how that slipped into my consciousness.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Undercover Black ManFebruary 9, 2008 at 5:30 PM

    ^ Laswell did work with Bambaataa on that 1984 joint "World Destruction."

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousFebruary 9, 2008 at 8:18 PM

    So David, I just read that you apparently won a WGA award. Congrats. Do you actually get to keep anything when there's no ceremony?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Undercover Black ManFebruary 9, 2008 at 8:42 PM

    ^ Word? "The Wire" writers beat the "Sopranos" writers?

    That's news to me. Let me check...

    ReplyDelete
  8. Undercover Black ManFebruary 9, 2008 at 8:47 PM

    Dang... it's true.

    Thanks for letting me know, Andrew. And thanks for the congrats.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Dollar BillFebruary 12, 2008 at 10:00 AM

    Saw one of her first live performances with her and Laswell doing a guest spot at a Woo Warriors show in NYC years ago.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Undercover Black ManFebruary 12, 2008 at 10:33 AM

    ... with her and Laswell doing a guest spot at a Woo Warriors show in NYC years ago.

    Goodness gracious! I'd travel back in time for that. I expect Bernie sat in for some of it.

    ReplyDelete