Tabu Ley Rochereau The Voice of Lightness (Stern’s Africa STCD3027-28, 2007) To call Congolese vocalist Tabu Ley Rochereau a legend doesn’t begin to cover it.…
Heavyweight Lightness
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.
Swahili Coast Update
Zanzibara, Vol. 3 – Ujamaa: The 1960s Sound of Tanzania (Buda Musique 860142, 2007) Zanzibara, Vol. 4 – Bi Kidude: The Diva of Zanzibari Music…
Absence Makes the Groove Grow Hotter
¡Cubanismo! Greetings from Havana (AIM Records AIM 1091 CD, 2007) Being one of the best Cuban bands on the planet does not, sadly, mean exemption…
Cast the Second Stone
JohnStone Innocent Children (JohnStone Reggae LLC JSIC, 2007) I raved about the debut album by Washington DC-based reggae band JohnStone, and for good reason. Eyes…
Israel Minus Analysis
Various Artists Israel Putumayo PUT 268-2, 2007) Viewed as a constantly troubled, dangerous country, an idyllic land as depicted in recent TV commercials promoting tourism…
Musical Ruminations On Rumi
Gulizar Turkish Music Ensemble – Music of the Whirling Dervishes (ARC Music EUCD 2086, 2007) Shahram Nazeri and Hafez Nazeri – The Passion of Rumi…
Skatalites Lost and Found Plus a Taste of Pie
The Skatalites – On the Right Track (Aim AIM1092 CD, 2007) The Skatalites – Rolling Steady: The 1983 Music Mountain Sessions (Motion Records FAST CD019,…
Illuminating Sounds
Various Artists Caravan of Light (Quango Music/Lua Productions LUA 110, 2007) Nothing too pretentious here, just a selection of global music (subtitled Incantation) mixing the…
Ticklah Your Dub Fancy
Ticklah Ticklah vs. Axelrod (Easy Star Records ES-1015, 2007) News flash: Ticklah and Axelrod are one and the same. Yup, that’s right. Don’t be too…
Koite Makes it Worth the Wait
Habib Koite and Bamada Afriki (Cumbancha CMB CD-5, 2007) It’s been half a dozen years since Malian guitar ace Habib Koité made some new music.…