Mamadou Diabate – Heritage (World Village 468064, 2006) Seckou Keita Quartet – Afro-Mandinka Soul (ARC Music EUCD 2028, 2006) Toumani Diabate’s Symmetric Orchestra – Boulevard…
Spirit of Kora
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 Hushed and Heavenly
Various Artists Acoustic Africa (Putumayo PUT 254-2, 2006) Sure, electrified African sounds- be they highlife, soukous, m’balax, benga, mbaquanga or what have you -can bring…
The Wind Cries Cody
Robert Tree Cody and Will Clipman Heart of the Wind (Canyon Records CR 7072, 2006) I first listened to this CD after returning home from…
Kekele Live: Simple and Superb
I don’t get out to many concerts, so I’d rather not be disappointed by any I manage to fit in. My standards aren’t very high,…
Seems Like Gold Times
Various Artists The Rough Guide to African Gold (World Music Network RGNET1173CD, 2006) A golden age is indeed what’s captured by the glorious sounds on…
Isthmus Presence
Various Artists Panama! Latin, Calypso and Funk on the Isthmus 1965-75 (Soundway Records SNDWCD007, 2006) My CD collection wasn’t previously blessed with music from Panama,…
The Heights of Mapfumo
Thomas Mapfumo Rise Up (Real World Records, 2006) This album was originally available in 2005 only as a digital download. My best efforts notwithstanding (having…
African Explorers
Euforquestra Explorations in Afrobeat (Euforquestra Productions, 2006) Think hard… when was the last time you heard a bunch of guys from the midwestern US combine…
In the Midnight Hour
Various Artists Midnight in Mali (Stern’s Africa STCD 1102, 2006) No stage would be big enough to hold every single master musician from Mali if…
From the Dawning of the Ska Era
Various Artists Ska Bonanza: The Studio One Ska Years (Heartbeat 11661-7805-2, 2006) The jerky rhythms, choppy melodies and blazing horns of Jamaican ska may have…