She has also appeared as a performer on stage and in songs and videos of other international famous singers/songwriters, such as the MTV “No Quarter/Unledded” performance with Robert Plant and Jimmy Page on the Led Zeppelin classic Battle of Evermore, jazz vocalist Nina Simone, recording with Basement Jax, guitarist Andy Summers (Police), Jah Wobble, and jazz and rock saxophonist Stan Harrison. Najma has also worked with saxophonist/flautist Michael J. Parlett

When Jimmy Page and Robert Plant picked Najma Akhtar to sing their Unledded 1994 re-recording of The Battle of Evermore it reflected the rise of one of the UK’s most distinctive vocal talents.

The original 1971 Led Zeppelin recording had featured the late Sandy Denny, a singer whose remarkable voice brought folk and jazz together into a highly soulful combination. While Najma Akhtar’s unique vocal style is strongly rooted in her family’s South Asian culture, it’s equally schooled by the Western rock and jazz of her UK upbringing, an individual fusion that stands out in whatever she sings.

Style apart, however, she’s blessed with a fabulous voice – powerful and sweet at the same time – that first turned heads with her Eighties recordings. Her latest recording Rishti reflects her duo project with US rock/blues guitarist Gary Lucas. The album’s slinky pairing of table beats and swirling acoustic blues guitar finds a common groove that lifts the vocals into a trance-like Indo-boogie.

It’s just the latest step Najma Akhtar has taken on her very personal musical journey and, once again, proves she knows exactly where she’s going.

…
…
…

Line-up / Musicians (my favorite Tull configuration)
- Ian Anderson / flute, acoustic guitar, bamboo flute, bouzouki, vocals
- Martin Barre / electric guitar, acoustic guitar
- Andy Giddings / Hammond organ, piano, accordion, chromatic and qwerty keyboards
- Jonathan Noyce / bass
- Doane Perry / drums

Guest musician:
- Najma Akhtar back vocals

Dot Com

It’s a wide world out there
So much wider than imagined
I can’t quite put my finger on the pulse
Of your heart softly beating
Just beneath the raw silk sheets
That reflects the tints of autumn from the hills.
So punch my name.
And in case you wonder -
I’ll be yours – yours, dot com.

Executive accommodation
Bland but nonetheless appealing
Waiters discretely at your beck and call
Place the tall sun-down potion
Lightly by your velvet elbow
While you compose a message on the wall.

So punch my name.
And in case you wonder -
I’ll be yours – yours, dot com.

With your handmade leather valise
Packed and ready, ready waiting
Showered and dressed down lightly for the heat
Give a clue; leave a kind word
Hint as to a destination
A domain where our cyber-souls might meet.

So punch my name.
And in case you wonder -
I’ll be yours – yours, dot com.

The World At One (NME035). Fall 1987.

1. Salif Keita – Sina
2. Najma Akhtar – Dil Laga Ya Tha
3. Yanka Rupkina with Trakiistra Troika & Kostadim Varimezov – Ot Kak Se Mara Rodila
4. Kass Kass – Mister Oh!
5. Yiorgos Mangas – Choreptse Tsifteleli
6. Sidiki Diabete & Ensemble – Ba Togoma
7. Ketama – No Se Si Vivo O Sueno
8. Zouk Time – Guetho A Liso
9. Abdul Aziz Mubarak – Ah’Laa Jarah
10. Ofra Haza – Galbi
11. Hukwe Zawose/Dickson Mkwana/Lubeleje Chiute – Nhongolo
12. Shirati Jazz – Dr. Binol
13. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan – Ya Mohammed Bula Lo
14. The Real Sounds Of Africa – Murume Wangu
15. Jali Musa Jawara – Fote Mogoban
16. Dilika – Amazimuzimu
17. Sadik Diko & Reshit Shehu – Valle e Gajdes
18. Jorge Cabera – A Fuego Lento
19. Sasono Mulyo – Gamelan Gon Kebya

We have a nifty little banner to share the dates or they are in old (boring) text below!

15^th July 2010

Jazz Cafe Box Office:

http://www.jazzcafe.co.uk/now_booking.asp?currentDate=7%2F1%2F2010

http://www.jazzcafe.co.uk/

16^th July 2010

Tin Angel, Coventry: Box Office:

http://www.thetinangel.co.uk/events.html

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/81073

31st July 2010

Sfinks Festival – Belgium http://www.sfinks.be

24th Sept 2010 – Madame Guitar Festival - Trecesimo – Italy

25th Sept  - Sunset Sunside Jazz Club - Paris

www.sunset-sunside.com

60 Rue des Lombards

75001 Paris, France

01 40 26 46 60

26th Sept 2010 – Paradiso – Amsterdam – Holland.

http://www.paradiso.nl/web/show

Idealistically, cross-cultural collaborations show that the people can work peacefully together to create something striking and harmoniously unique. It may be naive to think so, but music is an art form based on expression and emotion and surely it couldn’t seem more adequate than when two entirely different genres, traditions and societies are brought together to express a particular similar feeling of that time?

Nevertheless, this isn’t always as easy as it seems, Simon Broughton – Editor in Chief of Songlines Magazine makes a fair point, that the problem with most fusions is that they are in fact “extremely uninteresting, people somehow think that ethnic musicians plus beats will make something attractive.. That’s rubbish.” Broughton goes onto explain that “what makes it work is not the styles of music that are meeting, but the musicians themselves and how responsive they are to each other. It’s the fact that this is so difficult, yet so inspiring that made us devote an award to it.”

Yes, we may be reading too much into these collaborations and fusions; they will have, in some cases, only been created for the sake of making “nice sounding music” but I think we all want to believe that these partnerships are more than that. Apart from anything else, they bring people and audiences together and if this works well, then surely it’s been a success?

Furthermore, it seems bittersweet that we regard cross-collaborations and musical fusions so highly, although some pairings aren’t going to work, it should be more of an everyday occurrence and less of a big deal. The fact that it isn’t however, is perhaps what makes these collaborations just so special.

Following this is a collection of the top ten best cross-cultural collaborations and fusion groups of all time. You may disagree with the order, with who is or isn’t in there but give it a read, give the artists a listen and let it help to make up your own mind.

The Imagined Village: The Imagined Village is a musical project created by Simon Emmerson, comprising of several artists of various cultures, ethnicities and faiths. Formed in 2007 to highlight the advantages of multiculturalism in the UK, The Imagined Village stands for bringing people together to create something truly diverse and spectacular. The first self-titled album released in 2007 is a must have for any fan of World Music.

2. Transglobal Underground: Transglobal Underground is a London-based World Music fusion group. Created in 1990 and featuring members of many nationalities, they have released 7 albums to date, not including any of their remix albums. Many of their albums have also featured collaborations with other World Music artists; ‘Yes Boss Food Corner’ starred Zulu vocalist Thobekile Doreen Webster and the 2004 album ‘Impossible Broadcasting’ featured the Egyptian vocalist Hakim.

3. Afro Celt Sound System: Also formed by Grammy-nominated guitarist Simon Emmerson in 1992, Afro Celt Sound System is a wonderful exploration of Celtic music and African/World beats. Intrigued by the theory that nomadic Celts lived in Africa or India before moving to Europe, Emmerson brought members of Baaba Maal’s band together with Irish musicians to see what the outcome would be. Clearly, the experiment worked and since being signed to Peter Gabriel’s Real World Records label in 1996 they have sold over 1.2 million from their 5 albums.

4. Tinariwen and Tunng: You couldn’t get two more different bands if you tried; Tinariwen a desert blues band from the Sahara and Tunng an experimental folk band from the UK , broke all musical boundaries earlier this year to create a remarkable piece of collaborative music. Joined together for BBC Radio 3’s Late Junction show and resulting in a 10 date UK tour; both bands successfully demonstrated that language and cultural barriers weren’t enough to prevent a coalition of musical forces from making an awe-inspiring debut together. Make sure to check out ‘Tamatant Tilay’ on YouTube.

5. Najma Akhtar and Gary Lucas: When in July, the infamous songwriter and guitarist Gary Lucas collaborated with the inspiring and traditional ghazal style singer Najma Akhtar to create ‘Rishte’, we were taken aback. The result was a deeply sensual and compelling compilation of blues, jazz and raga. Make sure that you have a listen to ‘Special Rider Blues’ the 6^th track on the album.

6. Salsa Celtica: As the name suggests, Salsa Celtica are an infused hybrid of traditional Scottish and Irish artists and talented jazz, salsa and world musicians from both the UK and Latin America. Creating their own infectious style of salsa and folk, Salsa Celtica have gone onto play hundreds of festivals including Glastonbury, WOMAD and Edinburgh Hogmanay Festival. Since 1995, they have released four albums, their 3^rd album ‘El Agua de la Vida’ reached number 5 on the World Music Chart of Europe. They are the ultimate success story of a fusion band bringing together two completely different genres of music.

7. Damon Albarn & Friends ‘Mali Music’: Damon Albarn, a musical legend known for his part in Blur and Gorillaz has, for the last few years, taken an interest in World Music. Beginning in 2002 during a trip for Oxfam, Albarn recorded and released the album ‘Mali Music’ featuring the likes of Toumani Diabaté and Afel Bocoum. ‘Mali Music’ is a fantastic collaboration album highlighting the success of an African/English fusion and enforcing the talents of not only Albarn but of his Malian counterparts, particularly with the song ‘Sunset Coming On’.

8. Jah Wobble & the Chinese Dub Orchestra: The album, released in 2008, is a project created by legendary musician, songwriter and poet Jah Wobble and his wife – the Chinese born guzheng player Zi Lan Liao. The collaboration entitled ‘Chinese Dub’ consists of Wobble’s regular band plus Chinese vocalists Gu Yinji, Wang Jinqi and the Pogoda Chinese Youth Orchestra from Liverpool. The fusion of different genres of music have created a tremendous composition that is both rich in heritage and culture and wonderfully diverse.

9. Nitin Sawhney – ‘Beyond Skin’: The critically acclaimed composer and producer from Kent has won many awards for his contribution to World Music. With 7 albums to date, Sawhney has collaborated with several different World Music artists including Natacha Atlas and Anoushka Shankar and Ojos De Brujo. His greatest album so far is his 1999 breakthrough album ‘Beyond Skin’ exploring the issues behind Nuclear Weaponry and Identity as an Indian male in Britain. The album features the likes of Hussain Yoosuf, Sanchita Farruque and the nephews of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

10. Jayme Stone and Mansa Sissoko: When Jayme Stone decided to travel to Mali in 2007, he expected to gain an understanding of the banjos roots and history. What he actually came home with however, was an in-depth insight into African music and friendships that would ultimately lead to the release of Stone’s first folk-griot fusion album. His collaborations with the “walking encyclopaedia of Malian songs” Mansa Sissoko, a griot player from Bayela resulted in the 2007 ‘Africa to Appalachia’. The album also features guest appearances from Casey Driesson, the legendary ngoni master Bassekou Koyate and Katenen Dioubate. Simplistic in nature ‘Africa to Appalachia’ is a sublime understanding of two separate cultures where Stone became more “attuned to the communal aspect of making music”.

Najma and Gary perform three tracks from their album Rishte at last year’s WOMAD Festival in Las Palmas 11/14/09

Watch ‘em here:

You can listen again to the programme (limited time only) by clicking on the link below:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p005tz67/DJ_Ritu_09_01_2010/

DJ Ritu @ BBC London

A WORLD IN LONDON

Saturdays 8pm – 10pm BBC London 94.9 FM

Saturday January 9th  2010 - GUESTS OF 2009

OMARA PORTUONDO  gracias  WORLD VILLAGE  479021

NAJMA AKHTAR + GARY LUCAS  special rider blues  WORLD VILLAGE  450008

YASMIN LEVY  el amor contigo  WORLD VILLAGE  450010