Global Ginga

Festa Junina, or the June Festival, is a folkloric tradition celebrated throughout Brazil at the onset of winter. The festival pays homage to three key Catholic saints - Saint Anthony, Saint John the Baptist and Saint Peter - as well as commemorating the harvest season and honoring marital union. Festa Junina festivities are typically vibrant and festive affairs, replete with traditional foods, music and a major square dance. One of the most iconic symbols of the festival is the bonfire, which keeps the cold away and serves as a gathering place for friends and family. If you find yourself in Brazil during June, be sure to check out a Festa Junina celebration - you won't be disappointed!  Today, Global Ginga presents music from Festa Junina with groups Rastapé and Ara Ketu.

Also featuring international artists who will soon be performing at: https://guildtheatre.com/ 

Where:  KZSU 90.1 FM or live airstream from http://kzsu.stanford.edu/live/

Then available most podcast platforms.

On this show, we explore people, art, culture and events around the San Francisco Bay Area by chatting with people making the area a better place to live for all.

There is always something happening in San Francisco. I had the honor of speaking with Paulo Presotto, a fixture in the Bay Area music scene for years, and an expert on all things related to concerts, multiculturalism and music movements. If you're looking for tips on upcoming shows and unordinary venues, Paulo Presotto is your guy. He's also a great resource for information on local bands, up-and-coming artists, as well as the legendary bands from our area.  Whether you are a music geek or just enjoy going to summer concerts, hit play and Paulo will point you in the right direction!

"It's all about saying things al chile!" When it comes to Latinx musicians, there are few who are as talented and versatile as Lila Downs. From street-style rancheras to harmonizing ballads, Lila exemplifies the mastery of an artist who values storytelling above all else. Her work is infused with emotion and passion, drawing inspiration from her Mixtec roots and traditional mariachi music. But her style is far from conventional; she melds multiple genres into her compositions, blending styles and sounds in a way that feels effortlessly natural. Click play and listen to songs from her latest release, Al Chile, infused with the infectious rhythms of cumbia and themes of pleasure and pain, suffering and redemption, through the metaphor of Mexico’s ubiquitous chili pepper.

Not only is Lila's music deeply personal, but she also uses it as a political tool, drawing attention to important issues such as gender equality, immigration reform, and indigenous rights. She has been recognized with numerous awards throughout her career and was recently named one of Time Magazine's top 100 Latina powerhouses of 2021. Whether you are a longtime fan of Lila's music or have yet to experience her firsthand, tune in to listen to our chat with Lila Downs on topics ranging from her view on the overturn of abortion rights to not being Mexican enough.  Global Ginga presenter, Carla Leininger, also spoke about the upcoming performance at University of California at Berkeley for Mother's Day Weekend, 2022

Don't miss out on this amazing chance to see one of the most influential figures right in our backyard! Buy your tickets at https://calperformances.org/events/2021-22/pop/lila-downs-2122/

What do you call someone who graduates from Berkley College of Music, stars in the soundtrack and in a role in a movie and wins a Latin Grammy for BEST NEW ARTIST? Nella!  This young artist hailing from the Margarita Island of Venezuela is taking Latin music by storm with major milestones early in her career!  Her tour kicks off on February 5th, 2022 at Stanford!

I got to talk to Nella today and asked her a few questions.  I did not know she speaks Portuguese so well!  Our interview quickly became trilingual - English, Portuguese and Spanish.  How fun!

Here are the topics of our conversation:

My perception is that Nella is a pioneer. She brings her unique style fueling so much simplicity, creativity, versatility and talent! She is not afraid to question the status quo as her music intertwines various styles and rhythms with clever and meaningful lyrics. From earlier, more nostalgic songs with the influence of flamenco, to the more upbeat songs featuring mega Latin stars like Juan Luis Guerra and Pedro Capó, Nella is a handful of songs that she sings with her bare heart and soul. Her captivating stage presence can only be witnessed when standing in the same performance venue with her.

Check our her tour schedule and witness Nella's beautiful voice - la de la voz quebrada (the one with the broken voice).

Guess who just made to #1 on Transglobal World Music Chart (TWMC)? Drum roll!

"Small Island Big Song" with the album: Our Island.

In this episode, Carla Leininger, of Global Ginga on KZSU 90.1 FM Stanford, spoke to Taiwanese producer BaoBao Chen and Australian music producer and filmmaker Tim Cole.  Small Island Big Song is a collaboration of islander artists for environmental and cultural justice. According to Cole, the performance will address climate issues as artists and musicians.There will be sad moments as the audience learns about the imbalances in the ecosystem, but the show will also lift, inform, comfort and get you moving! This episode is also filled with global music grooviness for you from their latest album:  Our Island

Featuring footage made during a three-year film trip across 16 island nations and guided by the artists on their homelands, "Small Island Big Song" is a stunning live collaboration reuniting the distant, yet interconnected musical traditions of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The resulting work is a contemporary and relevant musical statement of a region on the frontline of cultural and environmental challenges.

"The most important music documentary you'll see this year," Beat Magazine wrote of the film. Now, combining music, spoken word, dance and film, eight musicians and vocalists from the nations of Taiwan, Australia, Madagascar, Tahiti, Mauritius, Marshall Islands, and Papua New Guinea will perform live at Stanford's Bing Concert Hall.  A multicultural treat for the whole family!

 “One coherent jaw dropping piece” as described by Billboard Magazine.

There are three powerhouse women on the show today. Three-time Grammy Award winner, Angélique Kidjo, is one of the greatest artists in international music today, a creative force with thirteen albums to her name At home, in Paris, in her new home studio, she recorded her 15th album, Mother Nature, currently nominated for the 2022 Grammy. The album’s central focus is the global environmental crisis, and the album’s title track already has the feel of a classic.

After listening, some of you might conclude that this album is packed with socially charged messages. It’s impossible to not hear the call for action. Can socially or politically charged music sell? Angelique thinks that “it's about selling the story. Our human story. Everything is not beautiful. Nobody wakes up every day and everything is fine. You wake-up, you say, I'm OK. But you can't be OK every day. It is impossible. Then you are not a human being. I mean, look at Bob Marley. Bob Marley sold millions of albums. And all of his songs were packed with political messages.”

One of the tracks on the album is a new collaboration with Burna Boy - Do it Yourself. According to Kidjo, “you got to do yourself. This is real Africa. Don't mess up with us. Because if we Africans let things scatter, everything breaks. We have got to fix Africa. It's our home, our country, our continent, everything. We have to do it ourselves, do it yourself. Don't wait for somebody to come help you build your own house.”

“Mother Nature,” released in 2021, showcases a new generation of African talent, with contributions from the Nigerian pop giants Burna Boy and Mr. Eazi, the Zambian rapper Sampa the Great and more. some writing help from her daughter, Naima.

Time Magazine has named Angélique Kidjo to their list of 100 Most Influential People of 2021. “The grace she exudes toward her fellow creators, and to humankind, is a reflection of her vibrancy, kindness, and generosity. Angélique is as real as they come.”— ALICIA KEY

I added a Brazilian powerhouse to this episode. Elza Soares, 91, who pushed the boundaries of Brazilian music.  In 2016, her “A Mulher do Fim do Mundo” (“The Woman at the End of the World”) won a Latin Grammy for best Brazilian popular music album. She died on January 20th, 2022.

Lastly, I am featuring a couple of songs from Couleur, Dobet Gnahoré’s sixth album. Couleur has all the fearlessness and energy of a first album but in fact marks the rejuvenated spirit of a returning warrior.

Ready? Set? Hit play!

Ready to have some fun? In today's episode, I'd like to introduce you to two major Latin male artists:  Camilo and Juanes.   Both are from Medellin, Colombia. Camilo won a Latin Grammy for the BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM "Mis Manos." Juanes, a seasoned rock star, won in the BEST POP/ROCK ALBUM category with "Origen." Camilo also won for BEST URBAN FUSION/PERFORMANCE for Tattoo (Remix) with Rauw Alejandro, a Track from: Afrodisíaco from Sony Music Label.  Ready to have some fun?

It's Island Night on Global Ginga!

There is an "island" element in today's episode that I hope will leave you mesmerized.  To our local listeners, the best part is that you can watch these artists live here on our Stanford campus!  

Small Island Big Song is a music, film, live project featuring over a hundred musicians across 16 island nations of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, creating a contemporary and relevant musical statement of a region in the frontline of cultural and environmental challenges. 

The album & film were composed, recorded, shot and overdubbed in nature, on the artists' custodial land.

The 2022 tour shares their new album "Our Island!"

Drawing on a roster of respected first nation islander artists, the concert features musicians performing irresistible oceanic grooves to soulful island ballads. Combining music, spoken word and live cinema with AV projections featuring footage collected during a 3-year film trip across 16 countries guided by the artists on their homelands. They will be here on Feb 9th!

Nella is a new voice hailing from the island of Margarita in Venezuela.

She graduated from Berklee College of Music to immediately become the  winner of the 2019 Latin GRAMMY® Award for Best New Artist. That same year, her full-length debut, Voy (I Go) written and produced by Javier Limón for Casa Limón Records, received acclaim from NPR and yielded the hit “Me Llaman Nella” (They Call Me Nella) which surpassed 1.4 million Spotify streams and 1.4 million views on YouTube. In addition, the title track was named the 14th best song of 2019, in any genre, by the New York Times. Nella’s music is a meeting place for the folklore roots of her native Venezuela, contemporary influences, and the music of Andalusia, Spain.

At the beginning of 2020 Nella signed with Sony Music Records and released her new album “Doce Margaritas” on 2021 which you can hear on today's episode of Global Ginga.

You will also hear "Me Llaman Nella," her signature hit, "Volaré," her 2022 release with Pedro Capo, plus a couple of songs more from her Voce Margaritas album and the single, Mi Guitarra, a sweet bolero with Juan Luis Guerra.

I finish off with an album by World renowned BBC Radio 1 DJ Gilles Peterson, Gilles Peterson, on Far Out Recordings, released initially on vinyl in 2009.  A bit of jazz, funk, soul and electronic. World renowned BBC Radio 1 DJ Gilles Peterson compiles a spectacular collage mix tape from the vaults of Far Out Recordings for this fifteenth anniversary celebration. A close friend to Joe Davis for 25 years, Gilles Peterson has been a constant supporter of the original and best UK based Brazilian record label. The pair released the original ‘Brazilika’ compilation on Gilles’ Talking Loud label 15 years ago and now go full circle with the fourth installment in Far Out’s series following block party mixes from Kenny Dope, 4 Hero and Andy Votel. Brazilian music aficionados Peterson and Davis introduced a new generation to the cream of Brazil’s bossa and post-bossa artists and here expertly blend the timeless with the new breed from Far Out’s vast catalogue. Gilles Peterson’s ‘Brazilika’ includes five exclusive unreleased tracks and is the definitive collection of Far Out’s work, taking us on a breathless ride through a beautiful and barmy Brazil.

Stretch the circle wider!  There are many music genres and artists coming to Stanford from all corners of the world!

Let Global Ginga entertain your night and ring in the new year! We begin with the romantic classic “What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?” featuring Rod Stewart Feat. Ella Fitzgerald & Chris Botti.

We then move to Cuba with another amazing voice in “Siboney” featuring the lovely Omara Portuondo by Orquesta Aragon. Things get a bit more upbeat with Mañanita by Zazou City. At this point, couples should be twirling on the dance floor, cheek to cheek.

Now we are going to the Middle East with “Dis-Moi Pourquoi” by Amiina. This is from one of my favorite Putumayo complications - North African Grooves. Let’s get those hips moving! We continue with one from the Arabic Grooves compilation - “Moi et Toi” by Abdel Ali Slimani.

Next we bring Raul Paz singing a fun Salsa with Mua Mua Mua.

What’s a party without some R&B and Blues? Let’s sing “We are going to have a ball, and that ain’t all. I am gonna chase my blues away” with “Bringing in a Brand New Year” by Charles Brown.

Next is a Cuban Classic, Cuento Mi Vida - El Carretero, with Roberto Torres

Are you enjoying the music set thus far? Now it’s Midnight! Let’s toast! Pink Martini takes the stage with the classic “ Auld Lang Syne” from “Joy to the World.” Notice the Brazilian drumming? Let the party begin! You are now in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil! Monobloco keeps the samba party singing “Cuidado com a Cuca” a song about the super-heroes that are going to save us in the New Year! Next is Sambô shaking things up with rhythms from Brazil’s northeast in the song “Eu só quero um xodó.” Moving to the last segment, we have Gloria Estefan and Alexandre Pires in “Santo Santo” followed by fun New Year’s songs by Estefan that are a must in every party: Tres Deseos (Three Wishes) and Abriendo Puertas (Opening Doors).

Cheers for a Happy New Year and May Music Continue to Bring the World Together!

We unite what geography and politics divide. We are a KZSU radio show that features music from around the world. But we are much more than a radio show, we are a grass roots movement, an event entertainer and a community partner. Created by Carla Leininger, from Brazil, Global Ginga aims to be a multicultural agent of social change through the fusion of world music. Featuring lounge and dance jams that make clear that quality music comes in all shapes, languages, colors and sounds, guests will hear traditional and underground dance and lounge rhythms. Basically, it's a world party :)

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A celebration of Christmas around the world. This new episode brings styles of music from nations on all corners of the globe. Whatever you believe in, we all need a reason to come together and shine a light on each other! 

Sprinkle some world music on your holiday season and hit play!

This show includes music from Putumayo's "Joy to the World," "New Orleans Christmas, "World Christmas" and the newly released "Jazz Christmas" plus Brazilian Holiday music by Ivan Lins, Sambô and Negritude Junior.

We feature lounge & dance music from Brazil and world, because quality music comes in all shapes, languages, colors & sounds. We broadcast from KZSU 90.1 FM Stanford on Wednesdays at 4 pm and then on podcast platforms.

For further information, please contact [email protected] or visit www.globalginga.com