Jamaica All Stars – Right Tracks (Passage Productions/Nighthawk CD 29006, 2004) Version City Rockers – Darker Roots (Antifaz ATFZ-01CD, 2004) These releases both offer a…
Stars That Shine, Darkness So Fine
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.
Oh, Suzzana
Suzzana Owiyo Mama Africa (ARC Music EUCD 1875, 2004) My first taste of Suzzana Owiyo came via the song “Kisumu 100” on World Music Network’s…
Greek to Me
Various Artists Putumayo Presents Greece, a Musical Odyssey (PUTU 225-2 CD, 2004) Probably timed to coincide with the current Olympic games, this disc isn’t likely…
Count ’em
Various Artists Many Blessings (Silver Wave Records SD 940, 2004) Native American fusion music can be a dicey thing. Some of it winds up so…
Turkish Delights
Mercan Dede – Sufi Traveler (Doublemoon/Mi5/Caroline Dist., 2004) Burhan Ocal and the Trakya All Stars Featuring Smadj – Kirklareli Il Siniri (Doublemoon DM20, 2003) Born…
Key Chapters From the Reggae History Book
Third World – 96 Degrees in the Shade (Hip-O Select/Island B0002400-02, 2004) The Upsetters – Super Ape (Hip-O Select/Island B0002430-02, 2004) Max Romeo & the…
Brazil at Home and Abroad
Various Artists – Brizzi Do Brazil (Amiata Records ARNR 0304, 2004) Various Artists – The Rough Guide to Brazil: Bahia (World Music Network RGNET 1135…
Bloody Good
Lila Downs Una Sangre [One Blood] (Narada 72435-76757-2-7, 2004) The U.K. magazine Songlines recently included Lila Downs‘ 2000 release Tree of Life as one of…
Diamond Fingers Mines a Gem
Sekou Bembeya Diabate Guitar Fo (Discorama WVF 497016 [distributed in the U.S. by World Village/Harmonia Mundi]) As lead guitarist and point man for longtime Guinean…
Mama Africa Still Radiates
Miriam Makeba Reflections (Heads Up International HUCD3087, 2004) Miriam Makeba is a global music legend who certainly doesn’t need the endorsement of a hack like…