(headline image: Samba Touré – Photo by Karim Diarra) Malian singer, guitarist, and composer Samba Touré is one of the foremost torchbearers of Songhoy blues.…
Guitar Hero Samba Touré’s, Pacesetter of Songhoy Traditions
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
Anouar Brahem Reaching for the Sky
Anouar Brahem – After The Last Sky (ECM, 2025) Eight years after Blue Maqams, Tunisian oud player and composer Anouar Brahem returns with After The…
Tradition with a Twist: Kasiva Mutua Reinvents Kenyan Beats
Kasiva Mutua – Desturi (Delicious Tunes, 2025) Gifted Kenyan percussionist Kasiva Mutua makes a striking debut as a solo artist with Desturi, an outstanding album…
An Overview of the Twangy Jaw Harp
(headline image: Algair Jaw Harp) Few musical instruments are as small and unassuming yet as globally far-reaching as the jaw harp. Also known as the…
Balkan Beats and Sephardic Streets: Mara Aranda Maps a Forgotten Musical Legacy
Mara Aranda – Geografías de la Diáspora Vol. IV: Sefarad en el Corazón de Bulgaria (self-release, 2025) In the fourth installment of her five-part series…
Crown Jewels Anthology Celebrates Koko Taylor’s Legacy
Alligator Records is set to release Crown Jewels, a new compilation that features some of the finest performances by the legendary Koko Taylor, known worldwide…
Kolintang: The Wooden Wonder of Minahasa
(headline image: Kolintang class in middle school. As a regular curriculum in some schools in Indonesia, it is a way to pass the technique of…
Gaelynn Lea’s Haunting Macbeth-Inspired Album Takes the Stage
Gaelynn Lea – Music From Macbeth (self-released, 2025) Gaelynn Lea, the American violinist, composer, and disability rights advocate, rose to prominence after winning NPR Music’s…
Marcos Valle’s Contrasts Returns Modern Bossa Nova in Style
Marcos Valle – Contrasts (Far Out Recordings, 2025 reissue) Originally released in 2003, Contrasts marked a pivotal moment in Marcos Valle’s late-career resurgence. It combined…
Celtic Crossfade: Cushla Fuses Myth and Machine on Tech Duinn
Cushla – Tech Duinn (Foehn Records, 2025) Cushla’s debut album Tech Duinn expands on the groundbreaking sound introduced in their singles “Ar Casa” and “The…