Very Be Careful Escape Room (Barbes Records, 2010) Be very careful that you don’t label Los Angeles-based Very Be Careful a world music band. They’re…
Taking Good Care
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.
National Pride
Razia Zebu Nation (Cumbancha CMB CD 16, 2010) It would be a dirty shame to see an environment and ecosystem as unique as that of…
Have a Nice Day
Meklit Hadero On A Day Like This… (Porto Franco Records PFR 015, 2010) Close your eyes as you listen to this debut CD by Ethiopian-born…
Up With Downs
Lila Downs Lila Downs y La Misteriosa en Paris – Live a FIP (World Village WVF479027, 2010) Words like “eclectic” and “versatile” don’t begin to…
Ethiopia’s Head Man
Mulatu Astatke Mulatu Steps Ahead (Strut 056CD, 2010) Ethiopian music has seen quite a resurgence in recent years and many good things have resulted. For…
Ancient Indulgence Made Modern
Gaida Levantine Indulgence (Palmyra Recordings, 2009) It was overlapping pre-dawn calls to prayer from the mosques of Damascus and the sounds of Arabic pop on…
Buoyant Banjo
Evie Ladin Float Downstream (Evie Ladin / Evil Diane, 2010) The sound of the banjo remains an acquired taste, even given a recent resurgence in…
Rocking the House Again
Afro-Rock, Volume 1 (Strut 059CD, 2010) I reviewed this collection back in 2001 when the site you’re looking at was called World Music Portal and…
Enter the Dragon
Byron Lee & the Dragonaires The Man & His Music (17 North Parade VP4165, 2009) Many a ska, calypso and reggae purist has dismissed the…
How Can They Keep From Singing
Mara Louw & the African Methodist Choir – African Hymns (ARC Music EUCD 2249, 2009) Soweto Gospel Choir – Grace (Shanachie 66043, 2010) There’s a…