Mixing Middle Eastern sounds with the relaxed feel of classical chamber music, “In the Initial Arising” by American flutist Sujatha Maheshwari is intricately beautiful and…
Sujatha Maheshwari’s Charming Cross-Genre Flute
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.
Boldy Inventive Combination of West African and Andalusian Roots Music
Combining centuries-rooted West African sounds with those of likewise vintage Andalusia, a duo with the bulky name La Chica del Bosque Abarika World Music have…
Joyful Brazilian Baião by Cirio
Amidst the flood of samba and bossa nova that’s been released over the decades, Brazilian baião music is sometimes overlooked. Whether or not a singer…
Laid Back Reggae with a French Caribbean Essence
I’m not sure why French singer Justin DEUMIL has his surname upper-cased in each mention of him I’ve received, but I do know that his…
Zaÿ Sivadas & Saraswati’s Vigorous Mix of Kirtan Music with Reggae
Combining Sanskrit-rooted kirtan music with Jamaican reggae and making you wonder why nobody thought of doing so before, French duo Zaÿ Sivadas & Saraswati create…
Accra Quartet Delivers Spectacular Mix of Afro-Rooted Jazz and Rock
A guitarist, a trombonist and two percussionists comprise Ghana’s Accra Quartet. Their track entitled “Batobe (They are right)” is a breakneck-paced jam that combines jazz,…
Francis Ndoumbe’s Irresistible Afro-Latin Sound
Born in Cameroon and based in the U.S., Francis Ndoumbe achieves a top-notch Afro/Latin sound throughout “Tremendo Lio,” a track that feels tailor-made for the…
Lyam Akram’s Spirited Moroccan Alchemy
Sometimes all an artist needs is the right meetup of traditional and contemporary sounds. Moroccan / French singer Lyam Akram achieves as much with “Nassibi,”…
Delightful Harmonica with a Latin Music Twist
It’s not often that you hear a harmonica solo on a Latin-flavored track, but it’s just one of several ingredients that makes “Chico Tímido” by…
Shapeshifting Ancient Ballad Celebrates the Lady of Aragon
Inventive U.K. artist Periscopi Invertit scores again with “La dama d’aragó.” It’s a Catalan ballad from centuries ago, with similarities to a Greek folk song…