Album reviews | World Music Central

The two musicians stand against a blue metal wall adorned with a geometric border. One holds a trumpet, the other a traditional string instrument.

Album reviews

Rabab Meets Trumpet: Sangat Intertwines Sikh & Sufi Lines

Sangat – Sangat (2025) Afghan American rabab virtuoso Qais Essar and Sikh American trumpet player-singer Sonny Singh released their joint debut album Sangat recently. The…

Phoenyx - Keepers of the Flame cover artwork. A Celtic pattern over a black background.

Album reviews

Phoenyx Rekindles the Celtic Rock Fire: Keepers of the Flame Returns

Angel Romero December 7, 2025 1 Comment Celtic music Celtic rock Phoenyx world music

Phoenyx – Keepers of the Flame (Prometheus Music, 2025) Phoenyx was a pioneering Celtic rock band that was well known in the San Francisco Bay…

A swirl of deep blue and violet surrounds a burst of orange, with scattered black marks. The lower right corner presents the artist’s name, Shane Shanahan, above the title Audacity (Live) in modern lettering.

Album reviews

Shane Shanahan’s Audacity (Live) Rallies An All-Star Ensemble

Madison Quinn December 6, 2025 No Comments Shane Shanahan world fusion world music

Shane Shanahan – Audacity (Live) (Bright Shiny Things, 2025) Percussionist Shane Shanahan released Audacity (Live), a project that highlights his cross-cultural collaboration. These stem from…

A riverside scene fills the cover, where two people travel in a long wooden canoe across still greenish water. Soft reflections ripple beneath them, and a tree-lined shore stretches in the distance. Yellow lettering announces Djékady above and Benkan below.

Album reviews

Djékady’s Innovative ‘Benkan’ Intersects Malian Heritage and American Roots

Angel Romero December 5, 2025 No Comments Djékady world fusion world music

Djékady – Benkan (Bright Shiny Things, 2025) Benkan introduces Djékady, a superb six-piece ensemble co-led by Malian balafon maestro and singer Balla Kouyaté and American…

Antonio Andrade - Here We Go cover artwork. A photo of Antonio next to a black guitar.

Album reviews

From Ballparks To “Love Shack”: Antonio Andrade Drops Here We Go!

Ryan Emmert December 4, 2025 No Comments Antonio Andrade

Antonio Andrade – Here We Go! (Life Shakes Records, 2025) Antonio Andrade’s, Here We Go!, presents a covers collection developed during the shutdown months of…

Various Artists - Brasil Calling Volume 22 cover artwork. A listing of the artistsincluded over a cream background.

Album reviews

Brazil Meets The World In Brasil Calling Volume 22

Angel Romero December 4, 2025 No Comments Abacaxepa Alessandra Leão Brazilian music Bruno Capinan Carlos Rennó Chico César Chico Lobo Da Cruz Daúde Edu Lobo Grupo Você Vai Se Quiser JØY Brandt Lia de Itamaracá Lucas Caram LuDom Mandinga Beat Maurício Tagliari MELO-T Ney Marques Nina Nicolaiewsky Orchestra Baobab Quinteto da Paraíba Siso Thiago Bispo Tiê Victoria dos Santos Walmir Gil world music Xangai Zanna

Various Artists – Brasil Calling Volume 22 (2025) Brasil Calling Volume 22 highlights 15 tracks that weave Brazil’s regional traditions with contemporary collaborations across continents.…

Andy Nevala - El Rumbón cover artwork. A photo of Nevala leaning on his piano.

Album reviews

Andy Nevala’s “El Rumbón (The Party)”—Afro-Cuban Jazz, Reimagined

Iliana Cabrera December 3, 2025 No Comments Andy Nevala Cuban music Latin jazz world music

Andy Nevala – El Rumbón (The Party) (Zoho, 2025) Virtuoso pianist, composer, and educator Andy Nevala has released El Rumbón (The Party), a tasty ten-track…

A warm, candlelit nativity scene fills the cover of Jul i gammel tid, with softly illuminated figures gathered around the newborn child.

Album reviews

Songs of the Old World

Patricia Herlevi December 2, 2025 No Comments Christmas music Early Music Rolf Lislevand

Rolf Lislevand – Jul I gammel tid (Christmas in the days of old) (Kirkelig Kulturverksted, 2005) I received many Early Music Christmas recordings this year.…

The cover of Sanctuary by the Chicago Immigrant Orchestra features an upward view of a massive tree, its twisting branches stretching toward the sky. Set against a deep purple border.

Album reviews

Charming Cross-Cultural Teamwork, Chicago Immigrant Orchestra’s ‘Sanctuary’

Angel Romero December 2, 2025 No Comments Chicago Immigrant Orchestra world fusion world music

Chicago Immigrant Orchestra – Sanctuary (Wahdude Music, 2025) Chicago Immigrant Orchestra has released Sanctuary, an eclectic, boundary-blurring album focused on preserving folk songs rooted in…

The cover presents a green background framed by ornate curling designs. Gold lettering spells “Celtic Woman,” while Nollaig appears below in red with decorative accents. The subtitle “A Christmas Journey” sits in smaller gold type. Small clusters of red berries near the corners.

Album reviews

Celtic Woman Unwrap Nollaig – A Christmas Journey For 2025

Ryan Emmert December 1, 2025 No Comments Celtic music Celtic Woman Christmas music Irish music world music

Celtic Woman Nollaig – A Christmas Journey (Celtic Collections, 2025) Celtic Woman’s Nollaig – A Christmas Journey presents a 13-track Christmas studio album that brings…