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 CaféCategory: Album reviews
On 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 PercussionSounds of Brazilian Blackness
Black Rio, Vol. 2: Original Samba Soul 1968-1981 (Strut Records STRUTO45CD, 2009) Wah-wah guitars, synthesized string swells, funky bass lines, James Brown-styled grooves and lyrics…
View More Sounds of Brazilian BlacknessMaximum Makasound
Winston McAnuff – Nostradamus (Makafresh/Makasound, 2008) Merger – Exiles in a Babylon (Makasound, 2009) Takana Zion – Rappel a l’Ordre (Makafresh/Makasound, 2009) Niominka Bi and…
View More Maximum MakasoundLast Train to Bamako
Rail Band Belle Epoque, Vol. 3: Dioba (Sterns Africa STCD 3043-44) This third and final double CD spotlighting the 1970-1983 output of Mali’s legendary Rail…
View More Last Train to BamakoCuban and Parisian Musical Café
Mario Grigorov and Various Artists Paris To Cuba (Warm & Genuine Records, 2009) Spicing up summer with a little Latin jazz is as easy as…
View More Cuban and Parisian Musical Café