Indian Classicist to Receive Folk Honors

Ali Akbar Khan, one of the great masters of Indian classical music, will receive 1997’s National Heritage Fellowship, a National Endowment for the Arts award honoring folk and traditional arts.

Khan, who is a master of the sarod, a 25-string, fretless instrument somewhat like the lute, will receive a grant of $10,000 in September, when the award is bestowed.

There is a certain irony to the fact that the recognition comes in the area of “folk and traditional,” since Khan and his supporters have been working to have his music recognized for the Grammy Awards in a new category acknowledging classical musics from other parts of the world, and separating them from the traditional folk and world music groupings.

But there is no denying that Khan--called “Khansahib” by his devotees--deserves the recognition.

His Ali Akbar College of Music in the Northern California city of San Anselmo is now celebrating its 30th year, with more than 7,000 graduates, and has received justified praise for its work in presenting Indian music to students from many nations. In addition to the NEA award, Khan will be featured this fall in concerts celebrating 50 years of Indian independence at the United Nations and the Kennedy Center in Washington.

At 75, he continues to be a powerful and influential musical figure.

Cyber World Music: The world music sites on the World Wide Web keep proliferating. One of the most intriguing is RootsWorld, self-described as: “An online magazine of world music, roots, folk, the music made by people for people.” The current issue includes a look at the career of Cesaria Evora, a conversation about the Irish famine of the 1840s with the Chieftains’ Paddy Moloney and composer Patrick Cassidy, and a broad selection of reviews of recordings and concerts. RootsWorld is at https://www.rootsworld.com/rw/.

Ceolas, which calls itself “the home of Celtic music on the Internet,” is another useful site. In addition to its own substantial information about Celtic music, including reviews, sound samples and performance schedules, it also includes a huge array of links to related sites. Ceolas is at https://celtic.stanford.edu/ceolas.html.

An even broader source of world music information is International Music Archives. Starting with a set of choices that includes music, instruments, profiles and what’s new, it provides sound samples, photographs, etc. for a wide variety of countries, regions and musics. International Music Archives can be reached at https://www.eyeneer.com/World/index.html.

World Music on Stage: The annual outdoor series Summer Nights at the Ford continues at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre with an attractive array of world music events. On Saturday, the Caribbean Festival features Raymond Myers, former frontman for the Nicaraguan reggae band Soul Vibrations, and Conjunto Jardin, a group specializing in son jarocho, music from the Mexican state of Veracruz. Caribbean food and arts and crafts booths will be available at the program, which begins at 6 p.m.

On July 19, Asian American singer Nobuku Miyamoto and percussionist Francis Awe and the Nigerian Talking Drum Ensemble, both of whom have new albums out on Bindu Records, appear. And on July 20, an attractive African bill features Nigerian highlife artist Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe, as well as Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca, whose album, released on a local label, has been hitting the world music charts.

The California World Music Festival, July 18-20 at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley, features an unusual lineup of performers working in idioms ranging from bluegrass to Afro/Celtic, and from flamenco and Latin to Cajun and Gypsy. Among the artists in attendance: Strunz & Farah, the David Grisman Quintet, Ricky Skaggs, Ancient Future and the Pachamama Dance Troupe. Information: (916) 891-4081.

The Hollywood Bowl takes a brisk, two-day look at Brazil on July 25 and 26 with “Flying Down to Rio.” The program features Sergio Mendes & Brasil 99 performing with John Mauceri and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, with a featured tribute to Antonio Carlos Jobim. Information: (213) 468-2332.

Free Music: World music highlights in the Celebrations Series at the California Plaza Watercourt downtown this month include the World Julintang Institute, performing gong and drum music of the Southern Philippines, on Wednesday; Esma and Ansambl Teodosievki with their Romany Gypsy music next Friday; San Jose Taiko’s powerful drum sounds, July 16; and the street-wise rap of the Watts Prophets, July 23. Shows are at noon. Information: (213) 687-2159.