The story of El Gusto – an interview with Safinez Bousbia

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It all started with a mirror… The reunion of the Algerian Jewish and Muslim musicians has been made possible by Safinez Bousbia, a woman who got interested in the stories of the musicians torn apart after the Algerian Revolution (1954 – 1962). Without any experience she made a beautiful documentary (2011) and these days the Orchestra El Gusto is touring successfully around the world. Unfortunately not with all the original musicians, some had to be replaced by younger musicians, but some of them appeared in the film. Music journalist Bas Springer interviewed Safinez Bousbia, and asked her how it all began, the difficulties she encountered, and the emotions they all felt.

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Improvisation in Pyongyang?

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Some years ago, by the end of 2010, Dutch Radio 6 – the national radio station for Jazz & Soul music – aired a program about an amazing visit three horn players and a journalist paid to North Korea, in the spring of 2009.
They went there to partake in the 26th April Spring Arts Friendship Festival in Pyongyang, which was – this year it is off schedule because of the country’s war rhetoric –  annually organized in honor of the late Kim Il Sung, the Great Leader of North Korea.

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Cuba trip has become a trending topic

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The trip of Jay-Z and Beyoncé has been a trending topic this week. To celebrate their 5th wedding anniversary, they decided to go to Havana to have a meal at La Guarida, where lots of celebrities have been. The Cubans were thrilled to get a closer look at these world-famous artists. In a 21 minute lasting home video you can see an enthusiastic mob screaming and following the two pop stars. For the Mexican TV, this visit has caused a revolution in Cuba. But in the USA the trip seems to be provocative for various reasons.

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Fazil Say got sentenced for insulting Islam in a tweet

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This morning the Turkish pianist, composer and writer, Fazil Say, got sentenced by a Turkish court to imprisonment of ten months suspended for insulting the Islam in a tweet.

The tweet has been sent April last year with a verse from the Persian poet Omar Khayyam from the eleventh century, that questioned whether heaven was a tavern or a brothel, because of the promises that wine will flow and each believer will be greeted by virgins.

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Will “Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead” be censored?

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The song Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead from the movie The Wizard of Oz (1939) sung by the Munchkins, is propelled to the top of the charts in the wake of former PM Margaret Thatcher’s death. There has been a campaign of Facebook that already started six years ago, to ‘make this song number 1 in the week Thatcher dies’. It kind of worked, but will the BBC play the song in the coverage of the Top 40 charts or not.

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