Various Artists Far out: Strictly Samba (Far Out Recordings FAR0137, 2009) Samba is truly Brazil’s signature sound, but even a collection like this, with a…
View More Samba, Strictly SpeakingCategory: Album reviews
Tailor Made
Victor Deme Victor Deme (Chapa Blues/Makasound, 2008) Growing up in Burkina Faso, Victor Deme dabbled in his father’s tailoring business and more seriously pursued his…
View More Tailor MadeThunderous Mantras
Jai Uttal Thunder Love (Nutone Records, 2009) American musician Jai Uttal released several landmark world beat albums that combined traditional Indian music with western elements.…
View More Thunderous MantrasIrresistible Confetti
Jamie Laval and Ashley Broder Zephyr in the Confetti Factory (independent, 2007) Sparkling with all the bright flash and the dizzying giddiness of a giggle…
View More Irresistible ConfettiNagore’s Luminous Delights
Various Artists Nagore Sessions (Earth Sync, 2009) Richly worked productions and deliciously exotic compositions are the hallmarks of recordings by arranger and producer Patrick Sebag…
View More Nagore’s Luminous DelightsFania Fire
Fania All Stars San Juan 73 (Fania/Emusica, 2009) From the Fania vaults comes this small treasure. San Juan 73 is a previously unreleased live recording…
View More Fania FireHoodio Hopping
Hip Hop Hoodios Carne Masada: Quite Possibly the Best of Hip Hop (Jazzhead, 2009) The name of this collective, Hip Hop Hoodios, is…
View More Hoodio HoppingNomadic Chalaparta
Oreka TX Nomadak Tx (World Village, 2009) In 2006, two musicians from San Sebastian in Spain’s Basque country, Harkaitz Martínez and Igor Otxoa (who use…
View More Nomadic ChalapartaNigeria’s Definitive Golden Age Revisited
Nigeria 70 – The Definitive Story of 1970s Funky Lagos (Strut Records STRUTO35CD/LP, 2009) Strut Records is one of those labels that have a knack…
View More Nigeria’s Definitive Golden Age RevisitedA Welcome Introduction
Dozan Introducing Dozan (World Music Network INTRO112CD, 2008) Music from Jordan is something I don’t have a lot of. In fact, I’m almost certain I…
View More A Welcome Introduction