I had the good fortune to have the ever sunny Brazilian singer/songwriter Jair Oliveira in the studio last September. Oliveira is the son of Jair Rodriguez, one of Brazil’s most beloved musical stars, and famous for his hit “Deixa Isso Pra La” which is arguably the first Brazilian hip hop song. For those you who follow the blog, you may remember at that time Oliveira sang a charming song he wrote for his baby daughter, called "Showertime."
He also sang a song about soccer, and suggested that I hold it in reserve for the upcoming World Cup in South Africa.  Which I did. It’s a damned good song too.
Let the games begin!

With the feast behind us, and hopefully some well targeted toasts given, the Friday after Thanksgiving becomes a day to recover, relax and gear up for the holiday barrage. This year, as the season bodes poorly for commerce, perhaps it's best to focus on those intangible things that give us great value and joy. Although I have called  your attention to our music documentary Soweto Strings before, I would like to approach its virtues from another angle today. The film, about a classical music school for South African children is noteworthy for the way it shows how music can flourish and change lives no matter where it finds itself. But it is also about a remarkable teacher, Rosemary Nalden.  I have been lucky to have had some inspiring teachers in my life, and she reminds me of them, with her fierce devotion to education, and her delight at the receptive nature of her pupils. So may I suggest, as you watch Soweto Strings this week, that you think on some of the pivotal teachers in your life, and say a private "Thanks" for their efforts.

This week we are showing Amandla! A Revolution in Four Part Harmony as part of our continuing theme of "What change looks like." The film focuses on the role that singing played in the successful struggle against apartheid, and ends with a message of hope and joy. But since those days, much has changed and along with the sweet has come the bitter. The issue of poverty has not been sufficiently addressed in South Africa and when people are poor, crime rises. The country lost one of its most significant musicians, in the senseless murder of Lucky Dube at the hands of a carjacker. When I spoke to Vusi Mahlasela (one of the artists featured in Amandla!) about contemporary music in South Africa, he did not hide his disappointment with how easily so many of the youth turn away from their roots to embrace Western pop or expect musical mastery to come easily. In his efforts to turn this trend around, he has established music schools to revitalize traditional music. So, when we watch Amandla, let's keep in mind that what change looks like keeps changing.

We've been trumpeting the arrival of several new programs, and this week we're rolling three of them out. Soweto Strings is a totally endearing documentary about violist Rosemary Nalden, the music school she founded in Soweto, and her exceptional students. Coming from the impoverished township, their lives have been difficult to say the least, yet all of them show an openness and enthusiasm for learning classical music that Ms. Nalden (and we) find irresistible. On a side note, I showed this documentary to a friend of mine, who used to be the Concert Master for the Metropolitan Opera here in New York, and he thought Ms. Nalden had put together "a damned fine orchestra!"

We are also debuting two new music blocks (and in a few weeks these will be available streamed on our website, too).

Block #106 "Mashups" is a fun-filled block with videos that are musically and visually eclectic. Here's a brief rundown: Magnifico's "House of the Rising Sun" goes Balkan, Mexican Institute of Sound visits the dinosaur room, Rahul Sharma presents a philosophical hallucination, SoCalled deconstructs his head, Ojos de Brujo create a spiritual and cultural collage, Dengue Fever pays tribute to the Road Warrior, and Antiquarks get down on the dance floor - with the hurdy gurdy.

Block #108, aka "Romance" has Ziskakan praising Gypsies in Rajasthan, Sona Mohapatra presenting different styles of Indian dance, Federico Aubele playing guitar a bordello, while Rupa and the April Fishes take us to a Paris Bistro that is not really in Paris. Then Dato brings us a mournful love song illustrated by sand art, and we finish with Kiran Ahluwalia and a contemporary setting of an ancient Urdu love poem.

Starting in mid-June we'll be rolling out five new world music blocks, and some great new music documentaries. With themes ranging from "What a World" to "Romance" to "Mashups" and plenty of exciting live performances these new music blocks will be a great way to start your summer off. Faves to watch out for: a spirited Gaucho improv with Renato Borghetti, and some truly great Balkan Brass fusion with Shantel.

Of the new documentaries, Soweto Strings is an uplifting true story of a dedicated music teacher in South Africa whose young students are an inspiration to us all. They come from poverty and troubled home lives, but somehow gravitate to classical music, bringing a whole hearted enthusiasm and discipline to their studies. This is the one to watch if you've got the blues!