Recalling a Year of Sounds That Spanned the Globe

As the holiday season approaches, it’s not too soon to survey the events and the performers of a fruitful year. So here’s a quick look at the Southland’s finest world music performances of 1996:

Best International Acts: Hungarian singer Marta Sebestyen, one of the world’s most exquisite singers, gave a performance in March at McCabe’s that fully justified her reputation as a global diva. (She can currently be heard on the soundtrack of “The English Patient.”)

Two of the most gifted post-Jobim Brazilian singer-songwriters, Ivan Lins and Gilberto Gil, appeared at the House of Blues in May and June, confirming that the Brazilian tradition of writing songs with soaring melodies, rich harmonies and thoughtful lyrics is still very much alive.

Also in June, the acclaimed Portuguese acoustic group Madredeus made its L.A. debut at the Veterans Wadsworth Theater with a set of gripping songs filled with turbulent rhythms and passionate saudade. There are reports that Madredeus will tour the United States again in late 1997, and early ticket buying for their fascinating performances is highly recommended.

Pakistani qawwali singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan--best known in this country for his duet with rock singer Eddie Vedder on the soundtrack of “Dead Man Walking”--sang his ecstatic vocals at Universal Amphitheatre in August, brilliantly demonstrating his capacity to transform a traditional Eastern religious expression into a universal musical experience.

The inimitable Cape Verdean singer Cesaria Evora--emerging in the past year as a major international performer--brought her soulful mornas to the Veterans Wadsworth Theater in August, performing with a cool passion reminiscent of Billie Holiday.

Among the many outstanding Irish music programs, the always innovative Chieftains appeared at Universal in August, and the virtuosic Irish American band Solas made its local debut at the Ash Grove in October. Best of all, “Riverdance,” the remarkable synthesis of Celtic music and dance, finally arrived at the Pantages in November.

Thinking Local: Indian violinist L. Subramaniam’s April performance at Veterans Wadsworth Theater was an object lesson in how to hear and understand the sometimes complex musical pathways of classical Indian music.

At the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre in August, tenor saxophonist Justo Almario and bandleader Rudy Regalado offered a simmering blend of Latin rhythms and heated improvisations. Active around town in a wide variety of venues, they--along with congalero Poncho Sanchez--are rewarding providers of world-class Latin jazz.

Christiane Callil’s dynamic “Girls From Ipanema” music and dance company has been the year’s most consistently entertaining local Brazilian act, regularly drawing capacity crowds to the Century Club. The show closes out 1996 with performances at the venue tonight and Dec. 20, with a new show planned for 1997. In February, Callil and her dancers will appear at the House of Blues in a reprise of last year’s highly successful Brazilian Carnival night, followed by a run at the Hollywood Roosevelt Cinegrill later in the month.

Holiday Sounds: World music is an especially attractive vehicle for seasonal music, and there is much from which to choose. On Kitaro’s “Peace on Earth” (Domo Records), the world music/New Age pioneer applies his mix of thick orchestral/synthesizer timbre and floating melodies to a program of Christmas music from around the world.

Among the abundant Irish recordings are a pair of attractive Christmas releases: “Shamrocks & Holly: An Irish Christmas Celebration” (Shanachie) showcases flute-fiddle player Frankie Gavin performing traditional carols as well as some lively seasonal jigs (and a weirdly out-of-context jazz romp through “Jingle Bells”) with the Carl Hession Chamber Orchestra. “Midwinter Night’s Dream” (Blix Street) with the Boys of the Lough takes a far more traditional path with a program of not especially familiar but gorgeously melodic Celtic music, much of it from the Shetland area.

Around Town: Salsa queen Celia Cruz is at the Galaxy Theatre on Dec. 19, the House of Blues on Dec. 20 and the Ventura Theatre on Dec. 21. . . . LunaPark has the eclectic rhythms of Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca on Saturday, Mento Buru’s ska, reggae and mambo Dec. 14 and 28, and Yoka Enzenze’s soukous and rumba Dec. 21.