With her song “The Black Star Liner,” Minna LaFortune joins such fellow Jamaicans as Winston Rodney and Joseph Hill in uplifting the ideology of Marcus…
Persuasive, Inspiring Roots Reggae by Minna LaFortune
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.
Swinging Bossa Nova by Thalerg
Bossa Nova has long had worldwide recognizability, and that is as it should be. Parisian pianist and composer Thalerg has his own authentic take called…
David Leon’s Flawless Fusion of Sax and Gayageum
Heard any unusual but perfect jazz fusions lately? If not, give a listen to “Palmetto,” a lullaby of an instrumental by American saxophonist David Leon.…
Reverberating Reggae from Tobago
Born in Tobago and currently residing in Canada, Caleb Hart scores with “Good Life,” an echoey reggae track that’s all about something that seems to…
Colorful Bachata Via Portugal and Romania
You’d be hard-pressed to find a more descriptive song title than “Journey to Bachata Portuguese-Romanian.” But the piece (An American, U.K. and yes, Romanian coproduction)…
Stimulating Golden Age Ethiopian Sounds by Esy Tadesse
Born in Addis Ababa and currently a resident of Los Angeles, guitarist/vocalist Esy Tadesse nails the golden age Ethiopian sound on “Buna,” a track brimming…
Zoolook’s Soulful Reggae Amalgamation
Hybrid reggae doesn’t always work, but an American who goes by the name of Zoolook gets it absolutely right with “Rockers,” a blend of Jamaican,…
Scintillating Reggae by Kingly T
A new track by American reggae singer Kingly T urges humanity to “Change Direction.” That’s good advice on a number of levels, and the hard-hitting…
Enduring Bossa Nova by Ingrid León and Bob James
Hailing from Mexico and the United States respectively, veteran musicians Ingrid León and Bob James give the classic bossa nova style their own stamp with…
Reaching Out and Stepping Back
(headline image: Isaac et Nora – Photo by Jean-Marie Jagu) However one chooses to define “World” music, there are a few certainties applicable to the…