We present the 10 Best World Music albums of 2010 lists. This year we have the lists of contributors to World Music Central, our Spanish language site Músicas del Mundo and our special guest, freelance writer Evangeline Kim, who writes for National Geographic Music, TRACE Magazine, Afropop, Giant Step, and Songlines Magazine.
Evangeline Kim (National Geographic Music, Afropop, Songlines, etc.) Top 10 World Music Recordings for 2010
1. AfroCubism (World Circuit/Nonesuch)
2. Tabu Ley Rochereau – The Voice of Lightness Volume 2: Congo Classics 1977-1993 (Sterns Africa)
3. King Sunny Ade – Baba mo Tunde (Mesa Blue/IndigeDisc)
4. Angelique Kidjo – Oyo (Razor & Tie)
5. Khaira Arby – Timbuktu Tarab
(Clermont Music)
6. The Rough Guide to Afghanistan (World Music Network)
7. Karl Seglem – Ossicles (Ozella Music)
8. Sigrid Moldestad – Sandkorn (Grappa)
9. The Rough Guide to Bollywood
– Second Edition – CD + DVD (World Music Network)
10.
Listen To The Banned
(Freemuse)
Evangeline also recommends Timbila – Remembering The Future (Timbila), Nigeria Special: Modern Highlife, Afro-Sounds, & Nigerian Blues 1970-76 (Soundway), Angola Soundtrack – The Unique Sound of Luanda (1968-1976) (Analog Africa), Tony Allen – Secret Agent (World Circuit/Nonesuch), Ali Farka Toure & Toumani Diabate (World Circuit/Nonesuch), Caetano Veloso – Zii e Zie (Nonesuch), Palenque Palenque: Champeta Criolla & Afro Roots in Colombia 1975-1991 (Soundway), Sierra Leone’s Refugee Allstars – Rise and Shine (Cumbancha), World Christmas Party (Putumayo).
—
Angel Romero (World Music Central) Top 10 World Music Recordings for 2010 in order of preference
1. Dave Holland & Pepe Habichuela –
(Dare2 Records DR2-006, 2010)
2. SonAires de la Frontera – Moroneando (Bujio BJ-206, 2010)
3. Jorge Strunz –
(Selva Records, 2010)
4. Altan –
Altan: 25th Anniversary Celebration
(Compass Records, 2010)
5. Hassan Erraji –
(World Village, 2010)
6.
(World Circuit, 2010)
7. Sierra Maestra –
(World Village, 2010)
8. Various Artists – Cantigas do Camiño (Boa Music/Do Fol, 2010)
9. Alpha Yaya Diallo –
(Jericho Beach Music, 2010)
10. King Sunny Ade –
Baba Mo Tunde
(IndigeDisc)
Angel also recommends Palenque Palenque: Champeta Criolla & Afro Roots in Colombia 1975-1991 (Soundway), Spanish Harlem Orchestra – Viva La Tradicion (Concord Picante), Ranjit Barot – Bada Boom (King Records/Abstract Logix Records), Various Artists – Mujeres de Agua (Universal Music Spain), Mixtolobo – Frontera (Bujio Producciones), Fat Freddy’s Drop – Fat Freddy’s Drop Live at Roundhouse London (The Drop), Contradanza – Tentenelaire (Galileo Music/Nufolk), Solas – The Turning Tide (Compass Records) [Note Los Chicharrons – Roots of Life (Tummy Touch Records, 2010) was removed from top 10 list because it is a 2011 release]
Best DVD: Raga: A Film Journey to the Soul of India – Ravi Shankar
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Tom Orr (World Music Central) Top 10 World Music Recordings for 2010
1. Rocky Dawuni –
(Aquarian Records)
2. Carlo D –
(World Village)
3. Peña – Peña (Secret Stash)
4. Chris Burton Jacome –
(CBJ Music)
5. Mulatu Astatke –
(Strut Records)
6. Razia –
(Cumbancha)
7. Cheikh Lo –
(World Circuit)
8. Nour Eddine –
Morocco: Traditional Songs and Music
(ARC Music)
9. King Sunny Ade –
(IndigeDisc)
10. Luciano –
United States of Africa
(VP)
Tom also Also recommends: Carmen Souza – Protegid (Galileo Music); Toto La Momposina – La Bodega (Astar); 10 Ft. Ganja Plant – 10 Deadly Shots Vol. 1 (ROIR); Various Artists – Jammys From the Roots (Greensleeves) and the Next Stop… Soweto series Next Stop Soweto 1-3 (Strut Records).
Best DVD of the year was Rocksteady: The Roots of Reggae, though the documentary accompanying the Pena CD gets high marks as well. One more thing: The Nour Eddine album listed above is an excellent sampling of Gnawa trance tunes, but the generic title does it a considerable disservice (ARC Music, take
note).
—
Patricia Herlevi ( Whole Music Experience & World Music Central) Top 10 World Music Recordings for 2010
1. Salif Keita –
(Universal Music)
2. V.M. Bhatt and Matt Maley –
(World Village)
3. Rahim Alhaj –
(UR Music)
4. Michèle Choinière –
(independent)
5. Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni Ba –
(Next Ambiance)
6. Liliana Barrios –
(World Village)
7. Huun Huur Tu –
(World Village)
8. Chris Burton Jàcome –
(independent)
9. Lokua Kanza –
(World Village)
10. Septeto Nacional Ignacio Piñeiro –
¡Sin Rumba no hay Son!
(World Village)
Best DVD: Marina Rossell – “classics Catalans…” (World Village)
—
Rafael Mieses (Músicas del Mundo) Top 10 World Music Recordings for 2010
1. Xiomara Laugart – “
” (Chesky Records)
2. Juan Luis Guerra – “
” (Capitol Latin)
3. Esperanza Spalding – “
” (Heads Up)
4. Toumani Diabaté and Ali Farka Toure – “
” (Nonesuch)
5. Roberto Fonseca – “
(Enja)
6. David Becker Tribune – “
” (Acoustic Music Record)
7. Adalberto Alvarez y su Son “El son de altura” (BIS)
8.
(Nonesuch)
9. Angelique Kidjo – “
” (Razor & Tie Entertainment)
10. John Scofield & Vince Mendoza – “54”(ECM)
—
Angel Manuel Hernandez Montes (Músicas del Mundo) Top 10 World Music Recordings for 2010
1. O’Carolan – “El Reloj Secreto”
2. Boys of the Hills – “Boys of the Hills”
3. Javier Limón – ”
”
4. Luar Na Lubre – ”
”
5. Jose Luis Encinas – “Guitarras y Lobos”
6. John Fairhurst – “Band”
7. Mailla – “Mailla”
8. Chano Domínguez – “Piano Ibérico”
9. La Bruja Gata – “Baile de Libélulas”
10. Chico Ocaña – “Canciones De Mesa Camilla”
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central
