Bitter Funeral Beer cover

Bitter Funeral Beer

Released

Swedish percussionist Bengt Berger’s masterful Bitter Funeral Beer is a buried diamond, and all you need to unearth it is press PLAY. Unlike many fusion projects, this evocation of Ghanaian folk music betrays not a single fiber of pretension. Among his fellow sojourners is Don Cherry, whose pocket trumpet tells story after story against a backdrop of strings, reeds, and electric guitar. Vocalist Anita Livstrand adds a primal touch. The Fela Kuti-like drive of “Tongsi” and the funeral dance of “Darafo” yield some of the most ecstatic moments of the session, each a step across the border of expectation.

Tyran Grillo

Recommended by

Suggestions
A World Out of Time cover

A World Out of Time

Various Artists, David Lindley, Henry Kaiser
Sart cover

Sart

Jan Garbarek, Terje Rypdal, Jon Christensen, Bobo Stenson, Arild Andersen
Idiot Fish cover

Idiot Fish

Wally Schnalle
Characters On A Wall cover

Characters On A Wall

Benjamin Moussay, Christophe Lavergne, Sarah Murcia, Louis Sclavis
The  Eleventh Hour cover

The Eleventh Hour

Evan Parker Electro-Acoustic Ensemble
Good News From Africa cover

Good News From Africa

Dollar Brand Duo
Dansere cover

Dansere

Jan Garbarek, Bobo Stenson Quartet
Arvo Pärt: Tabula Rasa cover

Arvo Pärt: Tabula Rasa

Gidon Kremer, Keith Jarrett