Raymond Antrobus & Evelyn Glennie – Aloud (Toy Gun Murder Records, 2025) Poet Raymond Antrobus and percussionist Evelyn Glennie reunite for the album Aloud. The…
View More A Duo That Speaks VolumesAuthor: Angel Romero
Pianist Harold López-Nussa Dazzles with ‘New Timba’
Harold López-Nussa – Nueva Timba (Blue Note, 2025) Cuban pianist Harold López-Nussa returns with Nueva Timba, a fantastic album that combines jazz innovation with Cuban…
View More Pianist Harold López-Nussa Dazzles with ‘New Timba’Variations on a Theme: Varijashree Reimagines Her Musical Identity Live in Bengaluru
Varijashree – Vari (The Live Sessions) (GroundUp Music, 2025) Vari (The Live Sessions) reframes vocalist and composer Varijashree Venugopal’s 2023 studio album Vari through a…
View More Variations on a Theme: Varijashree Reimagines Her Musical Identity Live in BengaluruKevin Ricard Takes the Lead on The Crossing
Kevin Ricard – The Crossing (Roots of Rhythm Recordings, 2025) Veteran percussionist Kevin Ricard steps into the spotlight and directs the traffic of rhythm with…
View More Kevin Ricard Takes the Lead on The CrossingKadialy Kouyate’s “Toña” Balances Heritage, Healing, and Innovation
Kadialy Kouyate – Toña (ARC Music, 2025) Senegalese kora player, singer, and composer Kadialy Kouyate returns with Toña, his ninth album and perhaps his most…
View More Kadialy Kouyate’s “Toña” Balances Heritage, Healing, and InnovationMulatu Astatke, the Father of Ethio-jazz
Mulatu Astatke (b. 19 December 1943) is an Ethiopian musician, composer, and arranger widely regarded as the originator of Ethio-jazz, a genre that fuses Ethiopian…
View More Mulatu Astatke, the Father of Ethio-jazzVowel Play: Florence Adooni’s ‘A.O.E.I.U.’ Hits All the Right Notes
Florence Adooni – A.O.E.I.U. (Philophon, 2025) Gifted Ghanaian singer Florence Adooni has released her first international album, A.O.E.I.U. (An Ordinary Exercise In Unity), via Philophon.…
View More Vowel Play: Florence Adooni’s ‘A.O.E.I.U.’ Hits All the Right NotesMaqam on the Move: Mustafa Said Charts a New Course in Arabic Music
Mustafa Said & Asil Ensemble – Maqam Pilgrims (Mapamundi Música, 2025) Egyptian composer and oud master Mustafa Said returns with Maqam Pilgrims, a superb new…
View More Maqam on the Move: Mustafa Said Charts a New Course in Arabic MusicCierzo Lento – A Modern Take on Aragonese Tradition
Idoipe – Cierzo Lento (self release, 2021) Cierzo Lento was the debut full-length album by Spanish musician Idoipe. The self-produced LP combines electronica with traditional…
View More Cierzo Lento – A Modern Take on Aragonese TraditionBerimbau: Bowed Sounds at the Heart of Afro-Brazilian Tradition
(headline image: Berimbau) The berimbau is a single-stringed musical bow that functions as both instrument and cultural emblem. Though now most closely associated with Brazil,…
View More Berimbau: Bowed Sounds at the Heart of Afro-Brazilian Tradition
