Welcome back to The Rum And Drum Music Podcast: In Episode 3 we're going to delve a bit into what may be uncharted territory for some of you.
Music is as widespread and varied as the people who create it. There are influences around the globe that conspire through their creativity to transform a genre into something that has never existed before. Some of my favorite artists are those who defy convention and branch out onto their own, for better or worse.
We'll start things off with a pair of brothers from Jamaica, Queens NYC. Damien and Tourie Escobar are Juilliard educated violinists who blend classical, hip-hop, jazz, and R+B influences together on their album 'Struggle From The Subway To The Charts'.
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From NYC we skip over to Finland where Apocalyptica was created by four cello players who play what has been dubbed 'Symphonic Metal'. The track '2010' lends the talents of heavy metal drummer Dave Lombardo to an awesome selection from the album '&th Symphony Deluxe'.
From Texas we have Cowboy Troy whose country-western blend with hip-hop has crafted a self-proclaimed style he calls 'Hick-Hop'. The track 'I Play Chicken With A Train' is on the album 'Black In The Saddle'.
The Yoshida Brothers, Ryoichiro and Kenichi, play the shamisen guitars in the Tsugaru-jamisen style. Backed with a pop-rock band, the song 'Rising' from their 'Best of Yoshida Brothers' delivers a classic feel mixed with a modern rock anthem.
Sepultura started in 1984 in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Originally a hardcore deth metal band, their lyrics shifted toward a more social-activist theme beginning with the album 'Chaos A.D.' and even more so on the album this track was taken from, 'Roots'. 'Ratamahatta' is easily one of the most tribal forms of metal music that exists today.
The Vitamin String Quartet has released more than fifty albums making the Los Angelos based musicians some of the most prolific I've ever heard of. Their genres are widespread and cover nearly every notable performer in the modern age. The album 'The Evil You Dread: The String Quartet Tribute To Slayer' showcases only a fraction of their immense talents.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra is known widely for its Christmas-themed music and concert performances. With more than eight million records sold its no doubt that they are a world phenomenon. What most people don't know is that they also have two non-Christmas studio releases. 'Beethoven's Last Night' was released in 2000, and in 2009, 'Night Castle'. These albums blend rock, symphony, blues, and jazz in ways unimagined before Paul O'Neal created TSO in 1993. The Instrumental track 'Requiem: the 5th' is a prime example of classic-meets-metal .
I first heard of Gogol Bordello shortly before the first Podcast was created and was blown away by their eccentricity, style, and energy. After hearing the heavily european influence I was surprised yet again by learning that their origins were from the Lower East Side of Manhattan NYC in 1999. Going back through their work has also revealed a trove of hidden gems. 'American Wedding' from the album 'Super Taranta' is a perfect example of their gypsy-punk sound.
Sonny John Moore, also known as Skrillex, released his first album in 2010 and at the 54th Grammy Awards he took home three honors: Best Dance/Electronica Album, Best Dance Recording, and Best Remixed Recording (Non-Classical). The Song 'Rock And Roll (Will Take You To The Mountain)' from the album 'Scary Montsters And Nice Sprites' is an awesome dance mix with an explosion of electronic energy.
As always, everything presented on the Blog and Podcast is available through online retailers like http://www.amazon.com/ and through http://www.itunes.com/. If there's something you'd like to hear or have any questions or comments feel free to leave soem feedback or email us here at RumAndDrumMusic@Gmail.Com
Rock On,
J \m/
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