World Music Central’s contributors have released the editor’s top world music picks of 2008:
Angel Romero, World Music Central/Músicas del Mundo (USA)
- Various Artists – Big Blue Ball (Real World, 2008)
- Buena Vista Social Club – Buena Vista Social Club At Carnegie Hall (World Circuit/Nonesuch, 2008)
- Plena Libre – Plena Al Salsero (GM Musica, 2008)
- Dub Colossus – A Town Called Addis (Real World, 2008)
- El Lebrijano – Cuando Lebrijano Canta Se Moja El Agua (Rosevil, 2008)
- Issa Bagayogo – Mali Koura (Six Degrees, 2008)
- Sa Dingding – Alive (Wrasse Records WRASS 213, 2007)
- Crooked Still – Still Crooked (Signature Sounds, 2008)
- Unni Løvlid – Rite (Grappa GRCD4223, 2008)
- Etran Finatawa – Desert Crossroads (Riverboat Records/World Music Network TUGCD 1048, 2008)
- Jamshied Sharifi – One (Ceres Records CER001, 2008)
- Mamak Khadem – Jostojoo (Forever Seeking) (Banyan Tree Production, 2008)
Conchi (Kontxi) Diez of Músicas del Mundo/World Music Central (Spain):
- Capercaillie – Roses and Tears
- Devotchka – A Mad and Faithful Telling
- John McCusker – Yella Hoose/Goodnight Ginger
- Lau – Liv
- Loreena McKennitt – A Midwinter Night’s Dream
- Martha Wainwright – I Know You’re Married But I’ve Got Feelings Too
- Noa – Genes & Jeans
- Ruper Ordorika – Hamar t’erdietan
- Sharon Shannon – Galway Girl: The Best of Sharon Shannon
- Shooglenifty – Troots
- Spiers & Boden – Vagabond
- Teddy Thompson – A Piece of What You Need
Patricia Herlevi, host of The Whole Music Experience blog and regular contributor of World Music Central (USA):
- Natacha Atlas, Ana Hina, World Village
- Julie Fowlis, Cuilidh, Shoeshine Records
- Gabriel Ayala, Portraits: Music for Classical Guitar, Canyon Records
- Kevin Locke, Earth Gift, Ixtlan Recording Consortium
- Mayra Andrade, Navega, Stern’s Music
- Shastriya Syndicate, Syndicated, Sense World Music
- Sasha, Tappa Journey, Sense World Music
- Conjunto Jardin, Yerba Buena, independent
- The Tiptons Sax Quartet, Laws of Motion, independent-Seattle
- Jayme Stone & Mansa Sissoko, Africa to Appalachia, independent-Canada
Jill Turner of Gondwana Sound and World Music Central (UK):
- African Scream Contest – compiled by Samy Ben Redjeb – Analog Africa
- Dub colossus In a Town Called Addis– Real World
- Warsaw Village Band – Infinity (Jaro)
- Aly Keita – Akwabe Inisene (Contre Jour)
- Experience Morocco – compiled by DJ Umb (Nascente)
- Princes Amongst Men: Journeys with Gypsy Musicians – compiled by Garth Cartwright (Asphalt Tango)
- Inka Mbing – Ga-Ga (Trees Music)
- The Rail Band – Belle Epoque, Vol. 2: Mansa (Sterns)
- Broadcaster – Primary Transmission (Red Grape)
- 10. Toumani Diabate – The Mande Variations (World Circuit)
Read more at www.gondwanasound.co.uk/node/288
Rafael Mieses, Músicas del Mundo (USA)
- Plena Libre “ Plena al salsero” (Ritmo Artists/GN Music)
- Concha Buika “Niña de Fuego” (Wea Internacional)
- Papo Vázquez -The Mighty Pirates “Marooned” (Picaro Records)
- Esperanza Spalding “Esperanza” (Heads Up)
- McCoy Tyner “Guitars” (Half Note)
- Taj Mahal “Maestro” (Heads Up)
- Lila Downs “Shake away”(Manhattan Records)
- David Sánchez “Cultural Survival” (Concord Picante)
- Lionel Loueke “Karabu”( Blue Note)
- Raya Yarbrough (Telarc)
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central
