Monday, April 30
The final Monday of every month, we present our special concert series, Global Village at the Savannah Music Festival, featuring world music artists and groups who have appeared at the prestigious annual festival in Savannah, Georgia. This time, in conjunction with our April Guitar Month feature, it’s guitarist Chico Pinheiro. One of the rising stars on the Brazilian jazz scene, Pinheiro has released several albums under his own name and as a co-leader, and worked with an impressive list of American, European, and Brazilian artists and groups. For this edition of Global Village at the Savannah Music Festival, we’ll hear Pinheiro with his own group, dueting with Brazilian guitar master Romero Lubambo, and guesting with singer and 2018 NEA Jazz Master Dianne Reeves.
Tuesday, May 1
While in many parts of the world, the first of May is a labor or workers’ holiday, in Hawaii it’s a different kind of celebration. May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii, honoring traditional Hawaiian culture and celebrated across the islands since the 1920s. Here in the Global Village we’ll celebrate with early stars of Hawaiian music, some of the great slack key guitar players, and some different and innovative takes on Hawaiian music. Among the artists featured on the show: King Bennie Nawahi (who recorded the song “May Day is Lei Day”), guitar wizard Sol Hoopii, slack key great Gabby Pahinui, his sons – the Pahinui Brothers (both with Ry Cooder), Daniel Ho with the Grasslands Ensemble from Mongolia, and Indian slide guitarist Debashish Bhattacharya with a tribute to popular Hawaiian artist Tau Moe.
Wednesday, May 2
In conjunction with the May feature celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Global Village highlights music from China with performances from internationally renowned pipa player Wu Man, U.S.-based Chinese performer and educator Gao Hong, and the oldest and largest Chinese orchestra in America – the Chinese Music Ensemble of New York.
Thursday, May 3
In advance of the Global Village New Month/New Music show featuring new world music releases, we devote this program to new reissues that have come out. Topping the list is a three-disc set chronicling the releases of legendary South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela from the mid-‘60s through the mid-‘70s. Also featured is a remastered reissue of Ali Farka Toure’s first album with a band, The Source, a rare ‘70s set from Nigeria’s Shina Williams, roots reggae artists the Gladiators, and a late ‘60s gem from Geoff and Maria Muldaur.
Friday, May 4
It’s New Month/New Music time in the Global Village. Each month, Global Village devotes an entire show to the best of recently released and forthcoming world music albums. Among the highlights this time:
A new studio release from Ghanian afrobeat star Ebo Taylor
A former member of Fela’s band, Kiala with his band the Afroblaster
Another album in the Playing for Change project that brings together over 200 musicians from around the world
The third album from award-winning Afghan-American artist Qais Essar
And a new trio album from Iraqi-American oud player and NEA Heritage Fellow, Rahim AlHaj.
