After decades of international success as a jazz musician, Hugh Masekela found that he could go home again to South Africa. Leaving his homeland after the South Afri…
17 Feb
Suite Unseen: Summoner of the Ghost by Babatunde Lea
Thursday, 17 February 2005
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
One of the best new releases I have heard in a long time! Babatunde's Suite Unseen is a masterful expression of talent and passion. Not only is Babatunde a brilliant drumme…
03 Feb
The New World Reveal-A-Solution by Shannon Harris
Thursday, 03 February 2005
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Shannon Harris' debut CD aspires to marry Urban, Afrikan, Gospel and World music in a very 'live' presentation with The New World Reveal-A-Solution Melding vocals…
31 Jan
Size of the Earth for Comparison by Roland Chadwick
Monday, 31 January 2005
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Experimental World Music can’t really be defined as a "style", but that is exactly what Roland Chadwick appears to be excelling at these days. His compositions usually have…
30 Jan
Reveal-A-Solution by Shannon Kelly
Sunday, 30 January 2005
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Shannon Harris' debut CD aspires to marry Urban, Afrikan, Gospel and World music in a very 'live' presentation with The New World Reveal-A-SolutionMelding vocals,…
15 Jan
The New World Reveal-A-Solution by Shannon Harris
Saturday, 15 January 2005
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Shannon Harris' debut CD aspires to marry Urban, Afrikan, Gospel and World music in a very 'live' presentation with The New World Reveal-A-SolutionMelding vocals,…
11 Jan
Out of Nowhere by Two Siberians
Tuesday, 11 January 2005
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Artyom Yakushenko (electric violin) and Yuri Matveyez (electric guitar) are literally the Two Siberians. The talented gents hail from the vast and ruggedly beautiful land o…
07 Jan
No Boundaries by Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Friday, 07 January 2005
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Grace sustains the music of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, strength undiminished in the face of oppression and belief unshaken by he continuing presence of hardship. Ladysmith Bl…
05 Jan
Out of Nowhere by Two Siberians
Wednesday, 05 January 2005
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
World music influences with jazz motifs make OUT OF NOWHERE a most unique entry in the world of contemporary jazz expression. Featuring the virtuosic electric-string duo of…
01 Jan
Moon Over The World by Akira Tana
Saturday, 01 January 2005
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Born and reared in California, Akira Tana has developed into one of the foremost drum performers in modern jazz. An active clinician and teacher, he is one of the most inve…
08 Aug
Soul of Many Moods (Jack in the Box) by Soul of Many Moods
Sunday, 08 August 2004
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
"Soul of Many Moods" or "Jack" is hitting audiences with a CD that last nearly seven minutes.The first part is interpreted by singer Linda Felder with a beautiful…
07 Aug
The Afrobeat Sudan Aid Project by Various Artists
Saturday, 07 August 2004
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
There are many layers of activism to be heard on the collection of African music entitled ASAP: The Afrobeat Sudan Aid Project. The aid project referred to in the…
07 Aug
Algo Más by Mark Weinstein - Cuban Roots
Saturday, 07 August 2004
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Veteran jazz musician Mark Weinstein, whose Latin Roots catapulted Latin jazz to new levels has struck again with his band, Cuban Roots, in Algo Más, an ex…
06 Aug
Midrash Mish Mosh by Aaron Alexander
Friday, 06 August 2004
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
A native of Seattle, Aaron Alexander is widely known all over the world as a great drummer, composer, arranger and improviser. Aaron played classical violin until he was 12…
The album is entitled Passion and the composer/violinist goes by the moniker rrrrrrRobin. What’s with all the extra R’s, you ask? Dunno. Maybe it’s a valiant attempt by the…
25 Jul
...Au Parfum De Tango by L’Art De Passage
Sunday, 25 July 2004
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Even though Helmut Lipsky presently lives in Montreal, he appears to be a resident of the world, as he is as likely to perform in Europe as he is in the Americas. And such …
I have to begin with a caveat. Most readers access jazzreview.com because they are interested in jazz. So it is my responsibility to evaluate at the outset whether a record…
Guitarist Jesse Cook's recent live album "Montréal" was recorded during the 2004 Montreal International Jazz Festival. "Montréal" features songs spanning Cook…
Tony Bray - Soprano saxophone and keyboards Originally from Tennessee, Tony has spent most of his career wandering the world and playing cover mus...
Swedish trumpet player Michael Andréasson has chosen to record an album featuring calm, unadorned, burnished interpretations of elegies from countries around the world. As …
14 Jun
Chacarera Below Zero by Carlos Michelini
Monday, 14 June 2004
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Fresh Sound Records has really been living up to its name lately by releasing some delightfully original, beautifully conceived recordings. One of the latest is saxophonist…
Best known for his infectious "Grazing In the Grass," a tune that topped the American Top 40 in 1968 (and which is included here), African trumpet/flugelhorn player and voc…
It's becoming increasingly difficult to classify and categorize music these days, and I say, "Yes!" to that. This is because many of today's musicians are refusing to be pl…
11 Jun
A Mumbai of the Mind by Katharine Oppenheim & Richard Cartwright
Friday, 11 June 2004
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
A Mumbai of the Mind is something of an experimental CD, melding the poetry of Lawrence Ferlinghetti with jazz and the music of India. The thing about experiments, t…
This is not your typical jazz CD and perhaps that is a good thing. Percussionist Claudio Scolari’s Reflex CD is an experiment in electronic music that borrows concep…
Though Omar Sosa was born in Cuba, at the age of 38 he has been exposed to a multitude of cultures, and now lives in Barcelona with his third wife. Nonetheless, the essenti…
02 Jun
Live At Montreux 1986/1993 (DVD) by Al DiMeola
Wednesday, 02 June 2004
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
With acoustic guitar in hand, amid some midi-type EFX and reverb swashes, jazz-fusion guitar god Al DiMeola struts his flamenco and world-music expertise, throughout these …
Shantano Irad Cruz, the brains behind and sole performer on Clash Of Tides, is a multi-instrumentalist, performer, producer and recording engineer who lives and work…
26 May
Spirit of the Season by Hiroshima
Wednesday, 26 May 2004
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Hiroshima is a fascinating group of highly talented musicians Asian-American blend, melded with an Afro-California twist, giving them universal appeal. Formed in 1974 by…
The variety and richness of Canada’s multi-cultural landscape proved a nurturing environment for Venezuelan singer and composer Eliana Cuevas. Arriving as a teenager she st…
This album is billed as "A refreshing new sound where Contemporary Jazz meets Celtic Rock." I am not sure what Celtic Rock is, but I am certain that there is not much jazz …
27 Apr
Gaze at Your Omphalos by Jay Vilnai's Vampire Suit
Tuesday, 27 April 2004
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Vampire Suit seemed like a good band to listen to on a rainy day two weeks shy of Halloween. Though there's nothing particularly scary about their sound, the name nonethele…
21 Apr
Spirit of the Season by Hiroshima
Wednesday, 21 April 2004
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
SPIRIT OF THE SEASON is one of the finest CD collections to date by Hiroshima. It is full of imagination, life, and vigor. This group performs great interpretations of Chri…
There’s a captivating and enduring charisma heard on Reflections, the first release in four years from legendary South African musical treasure and Grammy Award winn…
According to George Duke, what he loves about this group is its spirit of freedom creating music for music’s sake.Mundo Rides Again begins with a peppy beat infus…
04 Apr
Frank Vignolas Gypsy Jazz Jam (DVD Video) by Frank Vignola
Sunday, 04 April 2004
Published in
Gypsy Jazz - CD Reviews
Frank Vignola's Gypsy Jazz Jam will delight his many fans with its flawless straight-ahead/classic approach to the world music of gypsy jazz techniques. His performances ar…
David Sánchez tackles his largest and most complex project yet, one that brings together the resources of major-label funding, a European philharmonic orchestra, Sánchez’s …
The impressive genius of composer-pianist Omar Sosa continues to unfold and develop in remarkable forms of musical expression. Such is highly evident in his MULATOS. A clas…
Starting with a Brazilian beat, this CD continues with a throbbing beat; a poly-techno rhythm; great for dancing.Described as fresh house grooves and down-tempo, the fir…
Oliver Mtukudzi is a singer/guitarist from Zimbabwe specializing in a style of known as Chimurenga, a fusion of tradition mbira (sometimes referred to as African thumb pian…
Sondheim is definitely engraved into our lexicon of AmericanMusical Comedy. His new body of work 'Assassins' is an expansive effort, and he continues to gainfully reinvent …
For those of us who enjoy the gifted Miriam Makeba, this new release is a welcome delight! It is titled "Reflections," and it is truly that, a fine showcase CD for the grea…
29 Feb
Caliente!-Laurel Zucker & Christopher Caliendo-World Music for Flute and Guitar by The Zucker & Caliendo Duo
Sunday, 29 February 2004
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Caliente!-Laurel Zucker & Christopher Caliendo-World Music for Flute and Guitar is everything it advertises to be. Laurel Zucker is an amazing flutist that has made …
25 Feb
Reflections by Miriam Makeba
Wednesday, 25 February 2004
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Reflections allows Miriam Makeba the luxury finally to attain some inner peace and look back on a life well lived, although not easily lived. Makeba, now 72 years ol…
This is the latest in a series of Metal Moves recordings by Iceland based percussionist/metalsmith Steve Hubback. This one features his working group with percussionists La…
18 Feb
Cape Town Revisited by Abdullah Ibrahim
Wednesday, 18 February 2004
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Throughout his long career in jazz, Abdullah Ibrahim has remained consistent, allowing his early experiences in the townships of South Africa to shape his music and thus es…
10 Feb
The Enchantment by Gaia Tribe
Tuesday, 10 February 2004
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
For those jazz listeners who enjoy world music, jazz motifs, and meaningful compositions, Gaia Tribe's THE ENCHANTMENT will be a choice listening adventure. With vocals, an…
31 Jan
Shifra Tanzt by Mark Weinstein / Jewish Jazz Ensemble
Saturday, 31 January 2004
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Klezmer music is the Balkans and blues, ancient Jewish culture, prayer and history, spirit and jazz-all mixed together. Good klezmer, and the music inspired by it, demands …
19 Jan
Cositas Buenas by Paco de Lucía
Monday, 19 January 2004
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Respected among his peers as the premier living flamenco guitarist, Paco de Lucía has been rethinking his approach during the last five years since his last recording. Desp…
Andy Narell has spent the past quarter-century exploring the subtleties and complexities of the steel pan and grafting them to the jazz idiom. He’s one of only a handful of…