Care to hear New Orleans style brass and Palestinian tradition combined to electrifying heights? Believe me, you do. And “Shmaali / Ya Tal’aeen” by Hanoun…
Second Line Levantine
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.
Purple With Purpose
I’m the first to admit that I have no clear definition for the term “world music.” I do, however, know that longstanding band Ancient Future…
Forward Ever
From Peru but easing forth with an acoustic sound that nods to the wider Latin music world, a band called Donguille.pe (a mashup of the…
Don’t Let it Ebb
American reggae artist Kingly T infuses “Let Love Flow” with a feel that makes the music flow as easily as the timely message. It’s the…
An Overdue Appreciation of Herb Alpert
Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass & Other Delights at the Hollywood Bowl, July 5th, 2026 I was not very long out of my mother’s…
The Right Flavor
French multi-instrumentalist Arnito brings the right kind of vibrancy and bounce to “Saveur vanille” a layered Latin jazz piece of the highest order.
Lotta Love
Born in Colombia and based in Los Angeles, guitarist Juan Carlos Quintero applies a personal touch to the old Cuban standard Yours (Quiéreme Mucho).” And…
Panning in the Right Direction
With a set of chromatic handpans leading the way and shifting rhythms zapped electronically, “Turkish Kawabanga” by an Israeli quartet called Floating Sheep is wonderfully…
Double D
Combining retro soul with his own Brazilian roots, Bruno Del Rey makes “Dança Derradeira” a perfect old and new match.
Brandishing a Brass Spear
His name will clue you in as to his instrument of choice, and Jb Trombone does a choice instrumental version of Burning Spear’s reggae classic…