Tag Archives: Kirk Whalum

Levitt artists 2013 Holiday playlist album coversWhat better way to start this week than with a very merry Levitt artists playlist!

We’ve included new spins on classics (Mariachi Divas‘ “Santa Baby” en español, Pentatonix’s doo-wop “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)” and Los Straitjackets‘ funky “Soul’d Lang Syne”), contemplative, acoustic takes on peace and hope (Vieux Farka Toure’s “Peace,” and Klezmer Juice’s cover of Matisyahu’s “Late Night in Zion”), a beloved spiritual (Kirk Whalum’s interpretation of “Rise Up Shepard and Follow”) and plain-old dance fests (Fishtank Ensemble’s “Papirosen” and Big Sam’s Funky Nation’s “Ain’t Nothing But a Party”).

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Nelson Mandela

Yesterday, the world lost one of its greatest inspirations for peace, justice and freedom. Nelson Mandela’s leadership in the struggle against apartheid influenced musicians in South Africa and around the world.

Tom Schnabel of Los Angeles’ public radio station KCRW featured a handful of the songs inspired by Mandela in a Rhythm Planet episode this past summer. Likewise, music played a huge role in Mandela’s life, as an NPR piece from this morning highlighted—listening to Bob Marley’s Exodus on cassette for Mandela and his fellow prisoners was almost like “prayer time.”
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