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Tropicology

This Year's Case of the Holiday Spirit

12:00pm, 12-23-2018
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It's the show before Christmas. Every year I try to serve up something special... or at least off the beaten path. 

The holidays are a time when embrace (or at least tolerate) a well-known rotation of seasonal songs. We turn a blind eye to cute and indulgent tropes... we even allow occasional cheesiness, and of course big tugs on our heartstrings. In that spirit I offer today's mix.

I try each year to pick a batch of songs from the international playbook that conjure the emotions we associate with the holiday season and holiday music. Jolly, sentimental, and holy sounds are welcome today.

I start off today's set with some rootsy island fare; it somehow adds up to a jolly winter vibe, not unlike the Jamaican bobsled team. I'll play a suite of festive themes from the classic Dom Salvador LP "Som, Sangue e Raça" before we end the first hour with a set of holiday slow jams.

The second hour today starts to call up the holy... we'll hear some spiritual chants as we build to a 3-song set from the stunning 1992 debut LP of South African jazzman Bheki Mseleku, "Celebration," issued on vinyl for the first time ever this year. We wrap up today's set with some joyful jazzy serenity.

Happy holidays, see you next week with my annual New Year's Jazz show.


  • 12:03pm Relela by Damily on Valimbilo (Bongo Joe)
  • 12:06pm Aomby Mazavaloha by Damily on Valimbilo (Bongo Joe)
  • 12:10pm Carimbozao by Pio Lobato on Pio Lobato (Discos Ao Leo)
  • 12:14pm Feuilles by Les Fantaisistes d'Haiti on Les Fantaisistes d'Haiti (Aux Ondes)
  • 12:17pm Ti Coeu a Vous by Henri Debs et son Combo on Henri Debs et son Combo (Disques Debs)
  • 12:22pm Som, Sangue e Raca by Dom Salvador e Abolicao on Som, Sangue e Raca (Mad About Records)
  • 12:25pm Number One by Dom Salvador e Abolicao on Som, Sangue e Raca (Mad About Records)
  • 12:28pm Hei! Voce by Dom Salvador e Abolicao on Som, Sangue e Raca (Mad About Records)
  • 12:31pm Tema Pro Gaguinho by Dom Salvador e Abolicao on Som, Sangue e Raca (Mad About Records)
  • 12:34pm Folia de Reis by Dom Salvador e Abolicao on Som, Sangue e Raca (Mad About Records)
  • 12:37pm Trio Macro by Dom Salvador e Abolicao on Som, Sangue e Raca (Mad About Records)
  • 12:40pm Oracion Lucumi by Orlando "Cachaíto" López on Cachaito (World Circuit)
  • 12:44pm Na Sombra de Uma Arvore by Hyldon on Na Rua, Na Chuva, Na Fazenda (Polydor)
  • 12:48pm O Adeus, Segundo Maria by Marku on Marku (Underground)
  • 12:52pm N'Biri N'Biri by Marku on Marku (Underground)
  • 12:56pm Neja by Luiz Melodia on Personalidade (Philips)
  • 1:01pm Kalitaky by Damily on Valimbilo (Bongo Joe)
  • 1:03pm Shana by Jon Lucien on Rashida (RCA)
  • 1:06pm Soul Chant by Jon Lucien on Mind's Eye (RCA)
  • 1:08pm Rest'la Moya by Alain Peters on Rest'la Moya (Bongo Joe)
  • 1:12pm Evo by Dom Salvador e Abolicao on Som, Sangue e Raca (Mad About Records)
  • 1:15pm 5,30 Schoelcher by Marku on Marku (Underground)
  • 1:19pm Imam by Dollar Brand on Africa Tears and Laughter (Inner City)
  • 1:24pm Supreme Love by Bheki Mseleku on Celebration (Matsuli Music)
  • 1:32pm Angola by Bheki Mseleku on Celebration (Matsuli Music)
  • 1:40pm Joy by Bheki Mseleku on Celebration (Matsuli Music)
  • 1:47pm Zenzile by Jon Lucien on Rashida (RCA)
  • 1:50pm Orange Lady by Marku on Marku (Underground)
  • 1:55pm Tema da Jorane by Pio Lobato on Pio Lobato (Discos Ao Leo)
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