Nation Beat Legends of the Preacher (Modiba MP 0007, 2008) Brazilian bluegrass? Country candomble? Okay, I’m either generalizing too much or not specifying enough, but…
Offbeat Yet Spot On
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.
Samba, Strictly Speaking
Various Artists Far out: Strictly Samba (Far Out Recordings FAR0137, 2009) Samba is truly Brazil’s signature sound, but even a collection like this, with a…
Tailor Made
Victor Deme Victor Deme (Chapa Blues/Makasound, 2008) Growing up in Burkina Faso, Victor Deme dabbled in his father’s tailoring business and more seriously pursued his…
Nigeria’s Definitive Golden Age Revisited
Nigeria 70 – The Definitive Story of 1970s Funky Lagos (Strut Records STRUTO35CD/LP, 2009) Strut Records is one of those labels that have a knack…
A Welcome Introduction
Dozan Introducing Dozan (World Music Network INTRO112CD, 2008) Music from Jordan is something I don’t have a lot of. In fact, I’m almost certain I…
More Than One Kind of Sauce
Various Artists Salsa (Putumayo PUT 289-2, 2009) Any salsa compilation is likely to cause a few grumbles as to whether its selections truly fit the…
Expanded Band of Brothers
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…
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…