Ever since hearing him on my parents record player, I liked the little Paul Simon – Dylan without the poetics, Taylor without the attitude. That was before I heard that he was a gypsy of sorts, traveling from place-to-place for inspiration instead of paying someone like Phil Spector. After hearing that, I fell in love with him. While in what’s quickly becoming my second home, the Japanese bar Diage, I heard what had to have been the acapella band he found and brought back to NYC with him to record backup vocals for ‘Graceland’. I knew they were Africani, but had never heard any of their own stuff. I quickly jotted down what the iTunes told me – Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Perhaps it was the excitement in waiting on someone to show, perhaps it was the $1.75 Jack and Coke, but I asked them to play it again and again, such a wonderful tune:

‘The Wonder of This World’

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So, that night, I went home to embarrassing find out that they’re huge…like, massive. Grammy-winning. Appeared on Leno. Is it strange that I can discuss The Kronos Quartet with my ex (also known as she-who-taught-Aric-much), but haven’t heard of this band? Whatever – they’re good enough that I don’t feel bad…at all. Ok. A little.