There’s never been a shortage of top-notch Brazilian reggae, and “Botânica” by Karola Nunes is a great addition to the bumper crop, sporting layers of…
First-class Brazilian Reggae by Karola Nunes
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.
Exceptional World Fusion by Fiddler Pooya Eshghinejad
Iranian violinist Pooya Eshghinejad applies an excellent melding of traditional and jazz inspirations throughout “Panjdari,” showcasing not only his own skills but those of his…
Los Hermanos del Alma, an Afro-Roots Cuban/Swiss Collaboration
Deep roots Afro-Cuban drumming, reggae-tested effects, West African mallet percussion and chanted intonations combine to make ”Rumbadub” by Los Hermanos del Alma (a Cuban/Swiss collaboration)…
Rico Côrtes’ Refreshing Brazilian Pagode
The often-overlooked Brazilian pagode sound gets a refresher courtesy of Rico Côrtes, whose “Quero Ter Replay” is a bright and bouncy example of why pagode…
Gifted Canadian Banjoist Talise Delights with “Western Pine”
Canada’s Talise has a wonderful touch on the clawhammer banjo, and she matches it with understated vocal beauty and weaving Appalachian fiddle tones on “Western…
Jamaica’s Mikha’el Unveils Reggae Song “Justice,”
Jamaican singer Mikha’el has some things to say via “Justice,” a thematically familiar reggae music topic delivered in a vocal style that’s equally vulnerable and…
The Enchanting Longing Sounds of Esfinge
“Pudesse Eu Voltar,” by Portuguese band Esfinge, delightfully combines the melancholy tones of fado music with a waltz-like tempo, Mediterranean overtones and perfectly entwined acoustic…
Kattimoni’s Enduring Reggae
Australian singer Kattimoni is new to me, but the message of her tune “Planet United,” in which she teams up with chanter Buggy Nhakente, is…
Maxton Hunter’s Stirring Sitar Fusion
I’m not familiar with many sitar masters from the United States (which is no one’s fault but my own), but Maxton Hunter certainly comes across…
Sujatha Maheshwari’s Charming Cross-Genre Flute
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…