Monday, May 23
Throughout May, Global Village is featuring music of India and this time, the entire program is devoted to music of the subcontinent. Among the highlights, music from the legendary Ravi Shankar (in a piece he composed with Phillip Glass), daughter AnoushkaShankar, and nephew (and raga-rock pioneer) AnandaShankar, the Indian blues of Michael Messer’s Mitra, Iranian sitarist Abbas Mehrpouya, the contemporary sounds of Tabla Beat Science, acclaimed sarodist Ali Akbar Khan, and the classic Call of the Valley album.
Tuesday, May 24
Global Village celebrates Bob Dylan’s 75th birthday with music from him, and with world music-inspired covers of his songs from Peter Ostroushko, Sounds of Blackness, Purna Das Baul & Bapi Das Baul, Sizzla, and Herbie Hancock. Plus music from Anoushka Shankar’s new album, Land of Gold, for the May Music of India feature, and from the new album from Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble.
Wednesday, May 25
On this date in 1963, independent nations of Africa formed the Organization of African Unity. This has since been celebrated across Africa and around the world as Africa Day. It is a public holiday in several African countries and Global Village highlights music from them in this special edition of the show. Among the artists featured: Zimbabwe’s Thomas Mapfumo, Zambia’s Brian Chilala, Guinea’s Balla et ses Balladins, Ghana’s Ebo Taylor and C.K. Mann, and from Mali, Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba.
Thursday, May 26
Global Village highlights world music covers of songs from Dylan, the Beatles, James Bond films, the Staple Singers, and more. Plus some nova bossa nova from Bossacucanova, and music from Asia courtesy of Nguyen Le, Shanren, and Burma Orchestra Saing Waing.
Friday, May 27
Global Village marks birthdays of Cuban pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Canadian singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn, and singer Dee Dee Bridgewater. Plus more music from India for the May feature (from Anoushka Shankar’s Indian-flamenco project, Traveller) and new music from Spain’s La Banda Morisca and Snarky Puppy’s new studio project.