Sofrito Tropical Discotheque (Strut STRUTO70CD, 2011) The DJ team of Hugo Mendez, Frankie Francis and The Mighty Crime Minister, collectively known as Sofrito, can reportedly…
Dancing in the Tropics or Elsewhere
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.
An Even Fuller Belly
The Rough Guide to Bellydance (World Music Network RGNET1249CD, 2011) The folks responsible for World Music Network’s very extensive Rough Guide series must be too…
Hot From the Land of Fire
Azerbaijan – Traditional Music / Lok-Batan Folklore Group (ARC Music EUCD 2318, 2011) I don’t have much Azerbaijani music in my collection, so this CD…
Taylor Tells Tales
Ebo Taylor Life Stories (Strut STRUTO72CD, 2011) Ghana’s Ebo Taylor has been making music for more than half a century, first as a frontman, arranger…
Africa Gets Axed
The Rough Guide to African Guitar Legends (World Music Network RGNET 1259 CD, 2011) A recent music-themed issue of the Los Angeles Times Magazine featured…
New Worlds on the Dance Floor
Generation Bass Presents Transnational Dubstep (Six Degrees Records, 2011) Mr. Pauer – Soundtrack (Fabrika, 2011) I continue to be wary of the way global music…
Bossa Beyond
Bossa Nova Around the World (Putumayo PUT 306-2, 2011) It’s not uncommon nowadays to hear the sounds of Brazilian bossa nova (and its more African…
Passing the Garifuna Torch
Aurelio Martinez Laru Beya (Sub Pop/Next Ambiance NXA 002, 2011) It’s been 7 years since Aurelio Martinez’s splendid Garifuna Soul album, and a lot has…
More Lightness Comes to Light
Tabu Ley Rochereau The Voice of Lightness Vol. 2: Congo Classics 1977-1993 (Sterns Africa STCD 3056-57, 2010) Only once did I get to see Tabu…
Nice But Slim Pickings
The pickPocket ensemble Memory (the pickPocket Ensemble, 2010) Their hands commit no acts of larceny in other people’s trousers. Rather, the pickPocket ensemble (punctuation theirs),…