Si Para Usted: The Funky Beats of Revolutionary Cuba, Vol. 2 (Waxing Deep Records WAX003, 2009) When Castro’s Cuban regime was at its most repressive,…
Cuba in a Funk and Funky
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.
A Passage From India
Kailash Kher and Kailasa Yatra (Nomadic Souls) (Cumbancha CMB-CD-14, 2009) My office mate, who was born and raised in India and revisits there yearly, smiled…
Still the Sweetest
Sugar Minott New Day (Stop, Look and Listen Records SLLROO2, 2008) Singer, songwriter, producer and promoter of young talent, Jamaica’s Lincoln “Sugar” Minott has been…
Unassisted CeU
CeU Vagarosa (Six Degrees, 2009) Much has been made of CeU’s sex appeal, an asset the Brazilian singer doesn’t flaunt in the few hazy photos…
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…
No 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…
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…
Sounds 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…
Maximum 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…
Last 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…