Beauty Saloon Music: Support the Music

Guidan Haya is the first recording of Nigerien gurumi master Malam Maman Barka to be released outside of Niger. It includes a number of the songs that have made Malam Barka a much beloved songwriter and performer in Niger as well as his newest compositions. These intimate field recordings were made on location in Niamey, Niger and feature the powerful percussion of Oumarou Adamou on the douma and kalongu accompanying the inimitable voice and gurumi of Malam Barka.

Iveroni is an ensemble of talented young singers and musicians from various regions of the Caucasus Mountain nation of Georgia. Organized by Romanoz Lashkhia, Iveroni consists of the soaring lead vocals of Giorgi Chikovani and Davit Gogitishvili, Lashkhia and Beka Tcertcvadze in the middle, and Davit Batiashvili providing the bass. They perform with a tremendous force and energy the traditional polyphonic songs of Georgia. The music is of love and heroism and is played and sung with a strong spirit of brotherhood. In addition to the forceful group interplay of vocals, the instrumental accompaniment includes Chikovani playing the panduri, Gogitishvili on the salamuri, Tcertcvadze on changuri, and Lashkhia playing bass panduri. The recordings were made on location in the Old City of Tbilisi.