“Cobalt Sea” by multinational singer Eunice Keitan is deeply engaging global fusion of the best kind, and its blend of marimba and gamelan is only…
Deeply Satisfying World Fusion by Eunice Keitan
Author: Tom Orr
Tom Orr is a California-based writer whose talent and mental stability are of an equally questionable nature. His hobbies include ignoring trends, striking dramatic poses in front of his ever-tolerant wife and watching helplessly as his kids surpass him in all desirable traits.
KC + The Sunshine Band = World Music?
Okay, the answer to the title question is no. But even if KC and his crew don’t fit the admittedly subjective “world music” label, they…
Amelia Rivera Revisits Beloved “Los Aretes de la Luna” Bolero
Guatemalan vocalist Amelia Rivera does a jazzy cover of the much-loved Cuban bolero “Los Aretes de la Luna” that lacks nothing in authenticity or style.…
Trickster Is Still Kicking
A big, funky, layered sound makes “Still Kicking” by the U.K.’s Juergen Pichler (a.k.a. Trickster) a song to both dance to and give some serious…
Colorful Canadian-Estonian Reggae Vibes
Canadian/Estonian artist François Marius has another reggae winner with “Rasta Dance (Starry Night).” The Van Gogh-inspired color scheme of the video is likewise something to…
A rich Shout Out to the Orisha Ochún
Blessed with Afro-Cuban roots and based in Canada, a female duo called OKAN gives a melodically and rhythmically rich shout out to Oshun (an Orisha…
Ingenious Afrobeat Encounter with Reggae
America’s Well Grounded harnesses a minimal Afrobeat-meets-reggae groove to propel “Humble Me,” a tune of self-examination that’s dance worthy and lyrically wise.
Pan-Lusophone sounds by Cacha Mundinho
Netherlands-based band Cacha Mundinho mixes layers of Lusophone influence and jazz rhythms on the delightful “Flor de Cereja.”
Latvian Cross-cultural Mix by DJ Bestixxx
You likely wouldn’t expect music from Latvia to be an intriguingly chill mix of hip hop with acoustic textures and sounds borrowed from Celtic and…
Cool Latin jazz vibes by Hank Hensley
“Hips and Brown Eyes” (from the album Straight No Cover) are clearly important attributes to American artist Hank Hensley, whose thusly named Latin jazz instrumental…