Thione Seck Orientation (Stern’s Africa STCD 1100, 2005) Senegalese vocalist Thione Seck has always been a versatile guy, a hereditary griot whose skills include singing…
Seck Gets his Bearings
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.
Amadou and Mariam’s Best out of Three
Amadou and Mariam The Best of Amadou and Mariam: Je Pense a Toi (Circular Moves/Universal CIM 7019, 2005) Their current album, a brilliant patchwork collaboration…
Live and Burning Oh So Hotly
Ozomatli Live at the Fillmore (Concord Records CCD2-2298-2, 2005) Call Ozomatli a fusion band only if you’ve really got a thing for understatement. Even calling…
Addis Odyssey
Ethiopiques 20 Either/Orchestra Live in Addis (Buda Musique 860121, 2005) The impact of Buda Musique’s Ethiopiques series cannot be overstated. Since the initial volumes appeared…
With a Bang
Zarbang Persian and Middle Eastern Percussion (ARC Music EUCD 1969, 2005) I first heard of the percussion-oriented group called Zarbang some months ago and became…
Weinstein Digs Ever Deeper
Mark Weinstein Algo Más (Jazzheads JH 1148, 2005) Mark Weinstein isn’t likely to be the first name on anyone’s list of Latin jazz legends. Still,…
Reggae Set in Stone
JohnStone Eyes Open (JohnStone Reggae LLC JSEO, 2005) JohnStone Eyes Open Dub (JohnStone Reggae LLC, 2005) The already-strong USA reggae scene gets another big boost…
Nothing Motley About This Krewe
Toubab Krewe Toubab Krewe (Upstream Records UP252, 2005) The word “toubab” reportedly means something along the lines of “white guy” in much of West Africa,…
His World is Your World
Various Artists Sound of the World (Wrasse Records WRASS 169, 2005) BBC London DJ Charlie Gillett has, as they say, done it again. The latest…
Benin’s Big Brass Blow
Gangbe Brass Band Whendo (World Village 468050, 2005) The colonization of many an African nation in the 19th century brought European music to those countries…