Occidental Brothers Dance Band International Odo Sanbra (Occidental Brothers, 2008) The term “short but sweet” seems to have been tailor-made to describe Occidental Brothers Dance…
Expanded Band of Brothers
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.
Africa to Jamaica to Africa
Various Artists African Reggae (Putumayo PUT 287-2, 2009) Africa has always been celebrated as the spiritual home of roots reggae, so it’s no surprise that…
Getting Chummy With Chamame
Chango Spasiuk Pyandi – Los Descalzos (World Village 468083, 2009) If it’s Argentinean and involves a squeezebox, don’t instantly think tango. Think also chamame, an…
Counting Blessings
Blessings Nqo Mbube and Gospel from Southern Africa (ARC Music EUCD 2199, 2009) I suppose a guy with a name like Blessings Nqo is pretty…
Under Observation
Dennis Brown The Best Of Dennis Brown: The Niney Years (Heartbeat, 2008) While Bob Marley is considered the King of Reggae, Dennis Brown (who Marley…
Franco From The Beginning
Franco & Le TPOK Jazz Francophonic (Stern’s Africa STCD3041-42, 2008) Franco Luambo was certainly the greatest guitarist in all of Congolese music. As to whether…
Mali’s Greatest In-House Band
Super Rail Band De Bamako Belle Epoque, Vol. 2: Mansa (Sterns Africa STCD 3039-40, 2008) The Buffet Hotel de la Gare, opened in 1961, was…
A Joyous Return
Oumou Sangare Seya (World Circuit WLWCD081, 2009) It’s been a long time since new music by Mali’s Oumou Sangare has been heard outside her home…
Enduring Cuban Legacy
Omara Portuondo – Gracias (World Village/Montuno WVF 479021, 2008) Buena Vista Social Club – At Carnegie Hall (World Circuit WLWCD080, 2008) Ah, the Buena Vista…
Amereggae
Rockamovya – Rockamovya (Young Tree Records YTR-0206, 2008) Scholars Word – Make Way (Scholars Word, 2008) John Brown’s Body – Amplify (Easy Star Records ES-1017,…