Omara Portuondo – Gracias (World Village/Montuno WVF 479021, 2008) Buena Vista Social Club – At Carnegie Hall (World Circuit WLWCD080, 2008) Ah, the Buena Vista…
Enduring Cuban Legacy
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.
Amereggae
Rockamovya – Rockamovya (Young Tree Records YTR-0206, 2008) Scholars Word – Make Way (Scholars Word, 2008) John Brown’s Body – Amplify (Easy Star Records ES-1017,…
Haitian References
BelO Reference (Sacem, 2008) Blending Haitian tradition with modern production and an easygoing flow that goes down like smooth jazz at times, the music of…
Buika Undressed
Buika Niña de Fuego (Warner Music Latina 513004, 2008) It was the flamenco feel that I first caught upon listening to Spain’s Concha Buika, but…
Brazil Gone Batty
Bat Makumba Boteco (Bat Makumba Records 665744 10052-4) San Francisco-based Bat Makumba (named after a Caetano Veloso song) here follow up their debut with another…
Kora Master in the Spirit
Youssoupha Sidibe Xelcom (Self-released, 2008) Senegal’s Youssoupha Sidibe has played his kora (21-stringed West African harp) alongside artists as varied as Matisyahu, Bela Fleck, India…
Chicha Rebound Continues
Juaneco y su Combo Masters of Chicha Vol. 1 (Barbes Records BROO20, 2008) The 2007 compilation Roots of Chicha brought long-overdue wider recognition to a…
Found Horizon
Various Artists Sound of the World Presents Beyond the Horizon (Warner Classics and Jazz 5144288632, 2008) It’s always a pleasure to see and hear what…
War of the World
War – Greatest Hits Live (Avenue Records R2512351, 2008) War- a world music band? I’d testify to it in a court of law. Their mixture…
Afrobite
Chopteeth Chopteeth (Grigri Discs GRIGRI001, 2008) An “Afrofunk Big Band” is how this Washington D.C.-based collective refer to themselves and that label alone was enough…