#20

https://tidal.com/playlist/b3dd1cf4-e198-4462-946d-b49b698be5dd

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0bLtptwEjRAwR2Mg3QJ0OV


Gardun - Abdurahim Hamidov

Oh Kim - Dilnura Qodirjonova

I enjoy the opportunity to listen to music in its place of origin. The experience can provide new perspective or insight into the music. One particularly potent example for me was listening to Country music in Texas. Other personal examples include listening to Peruvian Cumbia in Lima and Reggae in Jamaica. When I was living in Los Angeles, I would make road trips back to Seattle and I would love to listen to grunge while driving up I-5 coming in to Washington. I could feel that this is where the music was from. 

I just returned from a trip to Uzbekistan, where my wife and I visited our friend, Graham, in Fergana and checked out the ancient cities of Bukhara and Samarkand along the Silk Road route. Before the trip I found some Uzbek traditional music on Tidal to listen to on the train en route to Bukhara. The city of Bukhara is over 1,000 years old. The written musical tradition of the region is based on court music dating back to the 16th century. The central location of these cities on the Silk Road as well as the historical Persian, Russian, and Mongol political and cultural influences come through in the music. I did not do any research ahead of time, but I heard melodies and vocal stylings that reminded me of music I have heard from Egypt, Turkey, China, India, and Ukraine. Abdurahim Hamidov was a famed Uzbek musician who played modern interpretations of Uzbek traditional music. After listening to this music on the train, I recalled it as we walked through the ancient trading center of Bukhara. 

To me this traditional music is nice and calming. I brought it up with an Uzbek friend that we met in Fergana, Donyor. He said that for him this music was a downer because they play it at the end of dramatic or tragic movies about love. It was cool to hear about that particular modern use, an example of how context can effect one's personal relationship to music. 

Further information about Uzbek music: 

Shashmaqam music tradition

Abdurahim Hamidov

Uzbek history

playlist: 

1. Chubby & Tubby - The Black Tones

2. Kinky Reggae - Bob Marley

3. Material Man - Gregory Isaacs

4. Gardun - Abdurahim Hamidov

5. Diaraby Nene - Oumou Sangaré

6. Salam Nubia - Alsarah, The Nubatones

7. Oh Kim - Dilnura Qodirjonova

8. Arbacoochee - Sacred Harp Singers

9. Takashi - Flying Lotus

10. It's A Acidfall - Traxman

11. Bonfire - DJ Taye, DJ Paypal

12. FDT - YG, Nipsey Hussle

13. What's Free (feat. Rick Ross & Jay Z) - Meek Mill

14. AND 1 / Hurricane G - Gifted Gab

15. Without A Face - Rage Against The Machine