Rachid Taha Rock el Casbah: The Best Of (Wrasse Records WRASS 215, 2007) While there’s not a release by Algerian/French vocalist Rachid Taha that isn’t…
More Than One Way To Rock
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.
Variations on a Cuban Theme
Yusa Haiku (Tumi Music TUMI 143, 2008) I had to do a bit of memory jogging and digging through my collection when I received this…
In Gods We Trust
The Ipanemas Call of the Gods (Far Out Recordings FARO 127 CD, 2008) Like it or not, a band called the Ipanemas is bound to…
Going Goema
Barry Van Zyl & The Bo Kaap Collective Goema Music From Cape Town, South Africa (ARC Music EUCD 2133, 2008) Woefully uneducated as I am,…
Call It What You Will
Arvel Bird/Will Clipman/Mary Redhouse/William Eaton Ananeah (Singing Wolf Records SWF 90304-2, 2006) I’ve long been keen on Native American-based music that breaks the mold of…
I Love A Parade
Cedric “Im” Brooks and the Divine Light – From Mento to Reggae to Third World Music (17 North Parade VP 4118, 2008) Cocoa Tea –…
Six Degrees Times Three
Jef Stott – Saracen (Six Degrees Records 657036 1146-2, 2008) Sonantes – Sonantes (Six Degrees Records 657036 1148-2, 2008) Niyaz – Nine Heavens (Six Degrees…
Not-So-Distant Drums
Adzido – Africa: A Musical Journey (ARC Music EUCD 2125, 2008) Barry Van Zyl – African Heartbeat: Drums and Percussion from Southern Africa (ARC Music…
Required Reggae Reading
Roger Steffens and Peter Simon – Reggae Scrapbook (Insight Editions, 2007) I don’t get hooked on many books, but two that caught my attention and…
Yer Desert Blues
Toumast – Ishumar (Real World/Ryko USCDRW148, 2008) Etran Finatawa – Desert Crossroads (Riverboat Records/World Music Network TUGCD 1048, 2008) Justin Adams & Juldeh Camara –…