‘Escalay’s’ Appeal Doesn’t Fade With Time

When Hamza El Din, the Nubian singer and oud player, released his album “Escalay (The Water Wheel)” in 1971, it was the first exposure many American listeners had to world music.

His combining of traditional Nubian themes with the complex structures of Arabic classical music--expressed on an appealing-sounding, lute-like instrument--opened doors of receptivity in the West.

Nonesuch Records, as part of reissuing material from its Explorer series, has now remastered and repackaged “Escalay (The Water Wheel)” for the first time on CD. Nearly 30 years later, the music still sounds entrancing--its seeming simplicity rich with meditative qualities.

As part of the same release, Nonesuch has also issued two other classic collections. “Caribbean Island Music,” first available in 1972, is an assemblage of urban music, carnival performances, text improvisations and four-part choral harmony, reflecting the Caribbean’s three primary traditions--Afro-Hispanic, Afro-British and Afro-French.

“The Real Bahamas, Vols. I and II,” originally released in 1966 and 1978, are also now available in a single CD package. The numerous tracks include religious vocal music, anthems and songs, as well as the singing of Frederick McQueen and Bruce Green and the guitar playing of Joseph Spence.

It’s not exactly a reissue, but “The Healing Tree: The Best of Stella Chiweshe” (Shanachie) is a collection of the tracks from the Zimbabwe mbira (or thumb piano) virtuoso. Despite her widespread international acclaim, it also is Chiweshe’s first American album release. Chiweshe, one of the first women to achieve recognition in the traditionally male preserve of mbira playing, will tour North America later this month with Peru’s Susana Baca and Mexican American Tish Hinojosa as part of “Global Divas,” a 30-city series of concerts.

Label News: Miles Copeland, whose management credits include the Police and Sting, has launched a new world music label, Mondo Melodia, which will reportedly showcase “world music centered on infectious melodies rather than rhythm and beat.” The three initial releases feature performers who have had great success in their home markets.

English-Indian singer Najma Akhtar, who contemporized the classic Indian ghazal song form, sounds characteristically compelling on “Pukar (Calling You).” Singer Haris Alexiou, described as the Greek Barbra Streisand, and her country’s most commercially successful artist, appears on “Di Efchon,” her first album release in this country. And I Muvrini, a Corsican ensemble who have sold over 80,000 albums in a country with a population of 240,000, perform in their unique, polyphonic style on “A Bercy.” . . . .

Rykodisc, after the great success of its “Cubanismo” albums, has formed RykoLatino, specializing in music from the entire Spanish-speaking world. “We are set,” says label co-founder Aaron Luis Levinson, “upon being the most amazing, groovy and informative outlet for Latin music in the entire universe.” RykoLatino’s initial releases are reissues of classic dance music: Son de la Loma’s “Blindman’s Gift,” Bongo-Logic’s “Tipiqueros” and Tambo’s “Al Santiago Presents Tambo.”

Carnival’s Coming: Carnival, in Brazil, is celebrated for much of the month before the Mardi Gras--or Fat Tuesday--festivities (which take place this year on Feb. 24) kick off the sober days of Lent. Revelries in the Southland are not quite as extensive, but carnival month is starting early this year with a Mardi Gras celebration tonight at “Blues at the Top” in the Hollywood Holiday Inn’s Windows Restaurant. Singer Jennell Hawkins is featured, along with the colorfully costumed “7th Ward Secondline Dancers.” Info: (310) 281-8413.

On Feb. 15, the House of Blues in West Hollywood continues the prelude to carnival festivities with a full night of Brazilian carnival featuring the Brazilian music and dance revue Christiane and the Girls From Ipanema, in their third consecutive carnival performance at the venue, with singer-guitarist Kleber Jorge and the dance music of the Tropics band.

World Music Valentine: Here’s an intriguing alternative to the traditional Valentine’s Day gifts of chocolates and flowers. Chitravina Ravikiran, who plays a 21-string instrument related to the sitar and the vina, has released an album titled “Silver Dagger & Other Vehement Valentines” (FGE Records), which “thematically interprets varied aspects of love, from the tragic to the joyful.”

Ravikiran is accompanied by two Bengali and two American singer-musicians in a program that ranges from a 12th century Indian view of the relationship between Krishna and Radha to Bo Diddley’s passion for Mona. The music is a fascinating combination. It may not register completely well as a replacement for a golden Godiva box with a lover who’s a chocoholic, but there’s no denying the appeal of its eclectic blend of South Indian jivalis and tillanas with American folk songs.