Grupo Fantasma – Comes Alive (Airesol Records ASCD007, 2006) Brownout – Homenaje (Freestyle Records FSRCD033, 2007) Ocote Soul Sounds and Adrian Quesada – The Alchemist…
Austin’s Powers
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.
Don’t Wanna Leave the Congo
Mbilia Bel – Bel Canto: The Best of the Genidia Years (Stern’s Africa STCD3037/3038, 2007) Wendo Kolosoy – On the Rumba River (Marabi 46822.2, 2007)…
One With the World
Jamshied Sharifi One (Ceres Records CER001, 2008) His name is not instantly familiar, but the music of multi-instrumentalist and composer Jamshied Sharifi has graced numerous…
Wonder Women
Umalali – The Garifuna Women’s Project (Cumbancha/Stonetree Records CMB-CD-6, 2008) There is, of course, a bittersweet air to Umalali (to be released on March 18th)…
Police and Thieves
Various Artists Spirits in the Material World, A Reggae Tribute to The Police (Shanachie, 2008) Much was made of the Police’s use of reggae rhythms,…
Jamaica Farewell
My ongoing quest for reggae continues to yield results from lands beyond the music’s Jamaican origins. The quality varies but the best of the lot…
Living and Letting Loose Live
Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars at the Irvine Barclay Theatre February 13th, 2008 I was one of many who were quite taken with Living Like…
Bump Around
Massukos Bumping (Poo Productions PPLCD001, 2006) I sought out Bumping after seeing it reviewed in the ever-trusty UK magazine Songlines. Being entirely unfamiliar with the…
Out of Africa and Back Again
Steve Reid Ensemble Daxaar (Domino Recording Co. DNO 165, 2007) Steve Reid isn’t one of those musicians who just happened to come across the splendor…
Stepping Away From Tradition
Deepak Ram Steps (Golden Horn Records GHP 031-2, 2008) India’s bamboo bansuri flute is hardly a jazz instrument, but that doesn’t stop South African-born Indian…