Soname Plateau (World Village, 2009) Soname Yangchen’s journey would be considered remarkable with having been born in Chinese-controlled Tibet, separated from her family and surviving…
View More Remarkable JourneyCategory: Album reviews
The Mughams of Sari Gelin Ensemble
Sari Gelin Ensemble Music from Azerbaijan (ARC Music, 2009) Elegantly intricate as the most extravagantly patterned embroidery, the CD Music from Azerbaijan by the Sari…
View More The Mughams of Sari Gelin EnsembleBanna’s Blossoms
Rim Banna April Blossoms (Kirkelig Kulturverksted, 2009) Palestinian poet, singer and songwriter Rim Banna is back with a new CD entitled April Blossoms. Admired for…
View More Banna’s BlossomsLondon Undersound
Nitin Sawhney London Undersound (E1 entertainment, 2009) The grand master of world music atmospheres, multi-instrumentalist, club DJ and producer Nitin Sawhney, is back with London…
View More London UndersoundInfectious Café
Various Artists Putumayo Presents: Brazilian Cafe (Putumayo, 2009) Just in time for the dog days of summer is the sultry Putumayo Presents Brazilian Café. Ripe…
View More Infectious CaféOn the Beat in Iran
Ramin Rahimi and Tapesh Iranian Percussion (ARC Music EUCD 2218, 2009) Iran’s been in the news a lot lately, though everyone knows there’s more to…
View More On the Beat in IranThe Legacy of Muddy Waters
Muddy Waters and Various Artists Steppin’ Stone (Proper Records, 2009) Omitting Muddy Waters from any discussion of the blues is a little like making lemonade…
View More The Legacy of Muddy WatersNo Such Place?
Tribecastan Strange Cousin (Evergreene Music 002, 2009) Tribecastan, according to this disc’s liner notes (a good read, by the way), is located just a few…
View More No Such Place?Having a Baul
Bapi Das Baul/Baul Bishwa Sufi Baul-Madness & Happiness (ARC Music EUCD 2208, 2009) The word Baul is taken from the Sanskrit word for “mad,” yet…
View More Having a BaulCaptivating Iranian Percussion
Ramin Rahimi & Tapesh Iranian Percussion (ARC Music, 2009) Take a deep breath because you’re going to need it before listening to Iranian Percussion by…
View More Captivating Iranian Percussion