The Tuvan throat singers Alash are flying to the U.S. from reindeer country to perform “Jingle Bells” and other Yuletide favorites with the legendary American group Béla Fleck & the Flecktones, to promote the Flecktones' Grammy-winning CD Jingle All the Way. This lively and innovative album presents holiday tunes like you’ve never heard them before. The buzzy sounds of throat singing provide a surprise element in several songs, including the traditional Tuvan song “Dyngyldai” ingeniously interwoven with the English Christmas carol “What Child Is This?” (See it on YouTube). By the way, in case you’re wondering, "dyngyldai" is a Tuvan nonsense word that has no translation.
Alash recorded with the Flecktones while touring the United States in 2007, and last December they joined the Flecktones in several American cities to publicize the album's release. The Flecktones are long-time fans of Tuvan throat singing. Two of their earlier albums, Outbound and Live at the Quick, feature the celebrated xöömeizhi (throat singer) Kongar-ool Ondar, the original mentor and artistic director of Alash.
Alash and the Flecktones will appear together in 14 cities from December 2 through December 19. The joint tour schedule is posted on Alash’s website. The Flecktones’ complete tour schedule is on their website.