Irish band The Unwanted has released a new recording titled Music from the Atlantic Fringe. The songs and tunes of the Atlantic Fringe—the combined traditions from Ireland to Appalachia and beyond—are the result of generations of movement and migration, of leave-taking and homecoming, back and forth across the ocean in an endless tide of cultural exchange. Lyrics and melodies borrowed from one land wash ashore on another, only to return again later transformed, peopled with new characters and set in different modes.

The Unwanted are Dervish’s Cathy Jordan, American musician Rick Epping and Sligo native Seamus O’Dowd. Between them, they encompass a vast range of the music of Ireland, the United States of America, and other places geographically and culturally linked to these lands that encircle the Atlantic Ocean. From the rich traditions of both sides of the Atlantic have come the source and inspiration of the music of The Unwanted—three Sligo-based musicians, each with exceptional talent and a lifetime dedication to their music.

Savannah Music Festival's 2010 season is comprised of original productions, unique pairings, and a focus on instrumental virtuosity, including world-class artists in jazz, classical, bluegrass, blues, gospel, and a wide variety of other American and international musical traditions. Set in the idyllic atmosphere of Savannah in the early spring, these unique programs combine to create a musical arts event with worldwide resonance. Savannah Music Festival (SMF) runs from March 18 through April 3.
 
 “With the ever widening gap between commercial music and the performing arts,” remarks SMF Executive & Artistic Director Rob Gibson, “we want to serve as a bridge that connects audiences with a wide range of first-class artistry, while also illuminating musical traditions from all over the world.”

One of Spain's rising stars, Buika, is back with her 4th studio album entitled “El Ultimo Trago” (The Last Sip). Buika, who was born in the island of Mallorca of Equatorial Guinean ancestors, poses one of the most influential musical voices of our time and in this album she has teamed up with jazz music legend Chucho Valdes to pay homage to Chavela Vargas on her 90th anniversary. Originally from Costa Rica, Chavela Vargas settled in Mexico, where she became famous for her passionate rancheras.
 
 El Ultimo Trago features twelve songs recorded at the beginning of 2009 in Cuba under the direction of Spanish producer Javier Limón. “El Ultimo Trago” includes some of the repertoire that helped build Chavela’s musical career with hits such as “Las ciudades”, “Las simples Cosas”, “Sombras”, “Luz de Luna; among other songs. These were some of the songs that Chavela delivered across the world at some of the most prestigious venue like New York’s Carnegie Hall, Buenos Aires’ Luna Park, Paris’ Olympia, Pedro Almodovar and Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu’s films. Now Buika revives these hits with her incredible vocal cords, and by adding fresh new sounds to songs like “Sombras”, a tune that was reborn with a jazz swing, thanks to the talented hands of Chucho Valdes.

Tea

Dreams (Teajuana Music, 2009)

Tea is a Los Angeles-based group formed by French guitarist Franck Balloffet and American drummer and keyboardist Phil Bunch. Their first release was titled "Voyages du Jour," and now they have  second recording titled "Dreams," which features original songs sung in French and various African languages. Balloffet and Bunch were involved in various afrobeat projects in the past and that has affected their overall sound. Tea's African singers come various countries, including the Democratic republic of Congo and Senegal.

The best material on Dreams are the pieces with deep African influences, which go in unanticipated directions, blending Congolese and West African beats with American funk and soul. One of the most unexpected surprises, and a highlight of the album, is the participation of legendary British keyboardist Brian Auger. He was a member of Steampacket, Brian Auger's Trinity and Oblivion Express and is still in fabulous shape, playing excellent Hammond B3 and Fender-Rhodes solos.

Les Triaboliques

rivermudtwilight (World Village 468088, 2009)

Justin Adams, Lu Edmonds and Ben Mandelson could have all been content in their careers as successful UK rock guitarists, but like any musicians worth their salt, they came to realize that there’s a world of music out there. There’s also plenty of stringed instruments which a guitar player in search of something different could love, and it just so happens these three blokes went out searching and came back musically richer for it.

Adams (guitarist in Robert Plant’s band and African moonlighter extraordinaire through his work with Tinariwen and Juldeh Camara) describes Les Triaboliques as a “meeting of the ancient guild of post-punk, Anglo, globetrotting string players reveling in idiosyncrasy,” and by gum, that’s loads better than any description I could muster.

A new release by Alekos Vretos is scheduled for release on 10th November 2009 in Athens. The new CD is called Mergin',  and it refers to a merging of East and West. It took Alekos almost 3 years to complete his new Mergin'. The music is a clever mix of Arabic, Jazz, Latin and Greek elements, a form of world jazz. Traditional instruments like the oud, the violin and the nay combined with the piano, drums and the saxophone bring out all of the flavors.

Alekos was determined to record the album on his own terms. He started his own record company called Jadeo Music and he features 3 different labels: Just Adjust Records, Jadeo Music Records and Zymbel Records. Mergin' will be released on the 10th November 2009 by Just Adjust Records worldwide. It will be distributed through the e-store of the company (www.jadeomusic.com) and the MP3 format will be distributed through CDBaby.com. Alekos did not want to take his album to the majors. That was the first thought as the project evolved. He did not want accounting and marketing messing with his music. The music had to be as pure as snow. He succeeded.

Ramata Diakite, regarded as one of the most talented singers from the Wassulu region of Mali, died October 30 in Burkina Faso. She was 35. "During the past year, she had been battling a chronic illness, and although she appeared to be getting better, she passed in Burkina Faso on Friday, October 30th,' said her manager Erich Ludwig. "She had recently traveled to Burkina [Faso]. Her body is being brought back to Mali under the direction of the Malian Prime Minister."

Ramata Diakite Ramata Diakite was born in 1976 in Madina Diansa, in the Wassulu region of southern Mali. She became a star in Mali at a young age. In 1999, kora master Toumani Diabate invited her to participate in Taj Mahal's Kulanjan project. That opportunity opened the doors to other collaborations with American musicians. She recorded Maba in 2006 with Malian and American musicians in New York.