Trio Nuevo shares with the jazz audience a special musical magic that perfectly blends jazz, world music, and South American motifs into an intoxicating brew that is enj…
According to the liner notes, Jhaptal refers to "a frequently used 10 beat rhythmatic cycle, or "tal" in northern India." Guitarist Jaime Stewardson applies thi…
24 May
The Turning: Percussion Expansions by Jerry Leake
Wednesday, 24 May 2006
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
In this solo album, internationally recognized percussionist Jerry Leake sought to create entirely new sounds with traditional Indian and African instruments and rhythms…
13 May
Explorations in Afrobeat by Eufórquestra
Saturday, 13 May 2006
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Yoruba is the main ethno-linguistic group in Nigeria and the second one widely spread in Africa. Iowa’s Euforquestra delivers us a second gem, Explorations in Afrobea…
12 May
Dark Triumph: The Life of Victoria Lancaster Smith by Cecilia Smith
Friday, 12 May 2006
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Dark Triumph: The Life of Victoria Lancaster Smith celebrates the extraordinary life of Victoria L. Smith, an Afro-American nurse born in the thirties, who in the…
The spirits are awakened upon hearing the first track, "Touch The Spirit," with ominous chanting in the back ground and melodic guitar in the foreground Levit introduces…
28 Mar
Changing Into Me by Roger Smith Lemon
Tuesday, 28 March 2006
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
The beguiling blend of cool jazz, R&B/Soul, and pop feathering are the elements which New York City based duo Lemon uses to make their exquisite arias elevate with repos…
World Beat is Charles Williams and Tom Teasley's second record to date. The Soul Dances reverberates each muscle to move and act, to embrace a natural happiness within o…
11 Mar
Live in Detroit, Global Jazz Trio at Bakers Keyboard Lounge by The Global Jazz Trio
Saturday, 11 March 2006
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Sometimes where the music is played is just as important as the music being played. The walls at Bakers Keyboard Lounge in Detroit, the world’s oldest jazz club in the w…
As any good movie buff knows the soundtrack makes the movie. Composers know that music is one of the most powerful ways to play on a person’s emotions. Take a moment to …
It will be music that saves us from spiritual destruction. Hopefully, our salvation will happen before a drastic demarcation of classes occurs.... a demarcation institut…
Russian saxophonist Oleg Kireyev and his guest artists bring yet another unique collection of jazz music to the listeners! With nine songs, this powerhouse collection of…
26 Feb
FM Tribe vol. 1 by Francis Mbappe
Sunday, 26 February 2006
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
FM Tribe vol. 1 is a perfect representation of Cameroonian bassist Francis Mbappe’s significant discography. The arrangements and choices of musicians brighten …
24 Feb
Dances, Prayers & Meditations For Peace by Nestor Torres
Friday, 24 February 2006
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
The terrorist attack on America of September 11, 2001. The resulting wars in Afghanistan and Iran. The devastating tsunami in Indonesia. Hurricane Katrina's wrath unleas…
Though Ms. Lila Downs was born Tlaxiaco, Oaxaca, Mexico and grew up there and in Minneapolis, Minnesota, she has fully embraced the music of her Mexican heritage. Howeve…
31 Jan
Songs and Dances by Tilmar Junius Trio
Tuesday, 31 January 2006
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Holland has always exerted a fascination for me: a little land in Western Europe full of ingeniousness. The architecture, the art, the culture, the clever way to tear of…
16 Jan
Dances, Prayers & Meditations For Peace by Nestor Torres
Monday, 16 January 2006
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Nestor Torres is at his peak as composer and performer in this remarkable CD collection. There is so much life in these songs! Every song sparkles with joy and verve.
15 Jan
Long Hidden: The Olmec Series by William Parker
Sunday, 15 January 2006
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
The unusual nature of Long Hidden: The Olmec Series arises from the way in which Parker participates in the music. Somehow his connection is paternal. It is as if…
02 Jan
Long Walk To Freedom by Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Monday, 02 January 2006
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Fascinated by sound, intrigued by style, and pleasured by effect is the only way to script the magic I felt on the first spin of Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s upcoming relea…
23 Oct
Spirit - The Seventh Fire by Peter Buffett
Sunday, 23 October 2005
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Spirit-The Seventh Fire is a DVD/album featuring the music of a mega-film production involving Native American dance. This DVD and album recording represents th…
15 Oct
Gambit by Matt Darriau Paradox Trio with Theodossi Spassov
Saturday, 15 October 2005
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Gambit has superbly atmospheric art-work. On the front cover is a nice shade of a black & white photo of Matt Darriau playing his clarinet and on the back a mov…
13 Oct
Rhythm Through The Unobstructed View by Panoramic
Thursday, 13 October 2005
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Led by steelpan virtuoso Liam Teague and multi-instrumentalist Robert Chappell, Panoramic playfully merges calypso, Afro-Cuban, and jazz music. Panoramic’s debut CD, …
I definitely love the business of reviewing CDs. It’s such an indescribably satisfying and rewarding experience. We reviewers get acquainted with some of the most remark…
05 Oct
Voices Of Africa – Live at BGSU by Voices Of Africa
Wednesday, 05 October 2005
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Voices of Africa is a Choral and Percussion Ensemble that produces a mix of traditional African percussion rhythms and acappella vocalizing within a gospel, R&B…
There are some recordings that really defy you to place them in one sort of category or another and this is definitely one of them. Toukouleur, the new recordin…
26 Sep
La Espada de la Noche by Ted Nash and Odeon
Monday, 26 September 2005
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
One of the dangers a critic faces is becoming jaded. Over exposure to recordings and concerts can make even high quality recordings--and there are many of them--seem mundan…
24 Sep
A Tribute to Mother Earth by Sacred Ground
Saturday, 24 September 2005
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Nominated as the Best Native American Music Album category at the Grammys, Sacred Ground blends wordlessly, and elegantly clutches many tribal songs with a spirit of tri…
Brent Gunter’s "next generation guitar style" is a fusion of the sounds of Southern Spain, the Middle East, Africa and America producing a rich and dramatic effect. The …
Virtuoso saxophonist David Borgo has released Ubuntu, a breathtaking album inspired by eight songs of Abdullah Ibrahim. Ubuntu is a lyrical, educational a…
25 Aug
Solo Settings by Charles Lazarus
Thursday, 25 August 2005
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Don’t buy Solo Settings if you’re looking for straight-ahead jazz. It doesn’t claim to be such, instead asking to be rated as "world music." Fair enough.Th…
Equal parts joyous and melancholy combined with sophistication and melody, Aidan Mason experiments with a musical movement called ‘Azania’ a mix of classical ny…
A re-issue of a 1983 recording, Tibet is essentially a soft suite of flute and guitar duets by guitarist Gregory James and friend Barry Shulman on the flute and…
The CD presents itself as the ultimate African urban music. So, I was ready for some joyous beats that would get my feet up and down the floor. As expected the fi…
Bassist Henri Francis Mbappe Mabole Elessa is from Cameroon. His charismatic persona has shared the stage with musicians such as Herbie Hancock, Manu Dibango, Fela Kuti,…
18 Jun
Jump for George by Imaginary Homeland
Saturday, 18 June 2005
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Proof that Music is a Universal LanguageMany jazz saxophonists have incorporated elements of African music, with widely varied success. David Rogers, howev…
17 Jun
Papa Mojos Roadhouse by Mel Melton & The Wicked Mojos
Friday, 17 June 2005
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Here's a fine new offering from a man who cooks equally well on the stage or in the kitchen. Mel Melton's CD is possibly one of the last record sessions to come out of New …
There is something to cherish when international music is done with the character and charm of its birthplace. A seemingly haunting and tender feel lifts from the sounds…
13 Jun
No Boundaries by Ladysmith Black Mambazo with the English Chamber O
Monday, 13 June 2005
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Ladysmith Black Mambazo Creates Classics for every Continent Yes, you've heard of them (even if you don’t own any of their 40+ albums). Remember Paul Simon's
05 Jun
Journey of the Sledge Dog and the Camel by Martin Lutz Group
Sunday, 05 June 2005
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
"Afro Nordic Soul Jazz" Not As Foreign As You'd ThinkJourney of the Sledge Dog and the Camel is a witty title for a Danish sextet performing African…
Master piper Eric Rigler and his virtuosic bandmates probably get a kick out of folks who can’t put a label on their music. Call it rock, jazz, Latin, pop, Celtic? How a…
29 May
Tantra Lounge vol. 3 by Tantra Lounge compilation series
Sunday, 29 May 2005
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
The most progressive volume to date from Water Music’s Tantra Lounge series - the compilation is filled with dubby-jazz and prog electro styles paired with Bali’esque South…
20 May
NYC Subway : Songs from the Underground by Various Artists
Friday, 20 May 2005
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
The greatest thing about this release is that a percentage of its profits will be donated to "New York Cares," the non-profit organization of NYC and this "toujours evei…
18 May
Circle of Drums by Babatunde Olatunji
Wednesday, 18 May 2005
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Babatunde Olatunji never dies. His music is vibrantly alive as his spirit! The sounds of his drumming still echo and haunt the nights of his original Nigeria. This is de…
New England guitarist extraordinaire Ron Murray dazzles your ears with his new album Romanza. Picking up his first classical guitar at 14, Murra…
03 Apr
Tropicana Steel Pan – Bermuda Volume 3 by Robert Symons
Sunday, 03 April 2005
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Are you looking for some music to melt away the stress of the day, the kind that will have you singing just like that morning dove outside your window? I have just the t…
Anders Holst, a Swedish singer, makes this a standout collection of world music with jazz motifs that will linger in the jazz listener's mind. Tenor saxophonist Gerald A…
Bass and lead never had so much exuberance and excitement associated with each other as in Telarc Records’ 2005 release of Ernest Ranglin’s "Surfin,’" a Jamaican gem ent…
06 Mar
Music From The Heart of the Masters by Jack DeJohnette & Foday Musa Suso
Sunday, 06 March 2005
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Jack DeJohnette joins the league of artist-run labels & starts out releasing a couple of discs most "major labels" would likely deem a tad "risky." [Their loss, I say.] …
Acclaimed Isreali saxophonist, clarinetist and composer Anat Cohen showcases a versatile interpretation of musical cultures in the debut album, "Place & Time."The…
Oliver Mtukudzi represents all that is right in Zimbabwe. In all honestly I had no idea what he and his group, The Black Spirits were saying as I do not understand the …