“Pudesse Eu Voltar,” by Portuguese band Esfinge, delightfully combines the melancholy tones of fado music with a waltz-like tempo, Mediterranean overtones and perfectly entwined acoustic…
The Enchanting Longing Sounds of Esfinge
Author: Tom Orr
Tom Orr is a California-based writer whose talent and mental stability are of an equally questionable nature. His hobbies include ignoring trends, striking dramatic poses in front of his ever-tolerant wife and watching helplessly as his kids surpass him in all desirable traits.
Kattimoni’s Enduring Reggae
Australian singer Kattimoni is new to me, but the message of her tune “Planet United,” in which she teams up with chanter Buggy Nhakente, is…
Maxton Hunter’s Stirring Sitar Fusion
I’m not familiar with many sitar masters from the United States (which is no one’s fault but my own), but Maxton Hunter certainly comes across…
Sujatha Maheshwari’s Charming Cross-Genre Flute
Mixing Middle Eastern sounds with the relaxed feel of classical chamber music, “In the Initial Arising” by American flutist Sujatha Maheshwari is intricately beautiful and…
Boldy Inventive Combination of West African and Andalusian Roots Music
Combining centuries-rooted West African sounds with those of likewise vintage Andalusia, a duo with the bulky name La Chica del Bosque Abarika World Music have…
Joyful Brazilian Baião by Cirio
Amidst the flood of samba and bossa nova that’s been released over the decades, Brazilian baião music is sometimes overlooked. Whether or not a singer…
Laid Back Reggae with a French Caribbean Essence
I’m not sure why French singer Justin DEUMIL has his surname upper-cased in each mention of him I’ve received, but I do know that his…
Zaÿ Sivadas & Saraswati’s Vigorous Mix of Kirtan Music with Reggae
Combining Sanskrit-rooted kirtan music with Jamaican reggae and making you wonder why nobody thought of doing so before, French duo Zaÿ Sivadas & Saraswati create…
Accra Quartet Delivers Spectacular Mix of Afro-Rooted Jazz and Rock
A guitarist, a trombonist and two percussionists comprise Ghana’s Accra Quartet. Their track entitled “Batobe (They are right)” is a breakneck-paced jam that combines jazz,…
Francis Ndoumbe’s Irresistible Afro-Latin Sound
Born in Cameroon and based in the U.S., Francis Ndoumbe achieves a top-notch Afro/Latin sound throughout “Tremendo Lio,” a track that feels tailor-made for the…