Samba Mapangala & Orchestra Virunga at the San Juan Capistrano Library, July 21st, 2007 The fountain-adorned courtyard of the San Juan Capistrano Regional Library in…
Small Scale Summer Night Samba
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.
Dropping in on a Legend
A Visit to Ali Farka Toure (Digital Classics DVD DC 10006, 2006) The time spent with Ali Farka Touré as seen here took place after…
Say You Want a Revolucion
Jose Conde y Ola Fresca Revolucion (Pipiki Records/Mr Bongo MRBCD054, 2007) Like any genre, Latin music has fallen into its share of formulaic ruts. But…
Resistance Was Not Futile
Rhythm of Resistance – Black South African Music (Digital Classics DVD DC 10022, 2007) First seen in 1979 and now re-released by UK-based Digital Classics,…
The Boy’s Still Doin’ It
Hugh Masekela Live at the Market Theatre (Times Square Records/Four Quarters FQT-CD-1805, 2007) My task here is made immeasurably easier by the fact that Hugh…
Kenyan Continuum
Kenge Kenge – Introducing Kenge Kenge (World Music Network INTRO107CD, 2007) Spotlight on Kenyan Music (ARC Music EUCD 2030, 2006) My appetite for Kenyan music…
Outside Assistance
Baka Beyond and Baka Gbine Baka Live (March Hare Music MAHACD 26, 2007) Beginning in the early ’90s as a melding of acoustic U.K. melodies…
Roma Road Shows and Royalty
Gypsy Caravan – When the Road Bends… Music in and Inspired by the Film (World Village 468070, 2007) Fanfare Ciocarlia – Queens and Kings (Asphalt…
Not Just Maur of the Same
Malouma – Nour (Marabi 46819.2, 2007) Mauritania lies at the western edge of the Sahara Desert and the Islamic world. It was a French colony…
Heavenly Hep Harmonies, Delectably Deep Dubs
The Heptones – Sweet Talking (Heartbeat 11661-7828-2, 2007) Roots Man Dub (Heartbeat 11661-7832-2, 2007) Massachusetts-based Heartbeat Records releases plenty of contemporary reggae music, but it’s…