I was talking music with a Texan musician recently. He told me about a few fusion music genres from the U.S. I’d never heard of and sounded great.
When I later checked them out I remembered again that the very long and ever-growing list of music genres in our world, is pretty damn cool.
Don’t you think so?
If you do then you might be into this here series my new Texan friend has inspired me to start. It’s an A – Z of Worldwide (Mostly) Fusion Music Genres…with sample tracks where possible.
Here goes…
A
Afrobeat
is a combination of traditional Yoruba music, highlife, jazz and funk with chanted vocals styles and conscious lyrics.
Afrobeat made it into my A list cause it’s one of my all-time favorites.
Afrobeat’s main pioneer was the legendary Nigerian artist Fela Kuti (you knew that already).
Fela Kuti
Fela Kuti was of course succeeded by Femi Kuti and Seun Kuti (amongst others).
Femi Kuti
Seun Kuti
Many Things (2008)
African Problems (Many Things-2008) – Seun Kuti
Remember please people…it’s just an mp3. Kuti (Fela, Femi & Seun) albums are easy to buy and touch, and amazing to hear.
Afrobeat Hip Hop
I haven’t found this one in any official-type music genre lists. It’s on my A list cause in Melbourne recently I heard The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra playing a combination of Afrobeat and hip hop at their AWME gig.
The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra
Do Anything Go Anywhere (2010)
How Long It Go Take (Do Anything Go Anywhere – 2010) – The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra
Afro-Cuban Jazz
is the earliest form of Latin jazz. It mixes Afro-Cuban clave-based rhythms with jazz harmonies and improvisation techniques.
Another one of my favourite music genres. Sadly for the world and for Cuban artists, people don’t get to hear most Afro Cuban jazz or other incredible Cuban music without physically going to its soils and looking.
Here are a couple of sample tracks from the Afro-Cuban Jazz Project album Descarga Uno…
Afro Cuban Jazz Project – Descarga Uno
Campina (Descarga Uno) – Afro Cuban Jazz Project
La Fiesta Esta Comenzando (Descarga Uno) – Afro Cuban Jazz Project
Aleatoric
Music the composition of which is partially left to chance and/or some primary element of a composed work’s realisation is left to the determination of its performer.
Aleatoric could be fusion, or not, but it sounds interesting anyways.
Anyone have some Aleatoric music to share?
Or some other weird and wonderful ‘A’ genre?
