Bebel Gilberto – Momento (Ziriguiboom/Six Degrees 657036 1133-2, 2007) CeU – CéU (Urban Jungle Records/Six Degrees 657036 1129-2, 2006) No one needs to bring sexy…
Brazilian Beauties, Musical Marvels
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.
The Occidental Purists
Occidental Brothers Dance Band International (Self-Released, 2006) You could easily believe the tracks on this very sharp CD were recorded in Kinshasa or Accra years…
Calling Out Around the World
Various Artists Putumayo World Party (Putumayo PUT 263-2, 2007) The various-artist collections from the prolific Putumayo label can be built around the lightest of concepts,…
Kidjo and Co.
Angelique Kidjo Djin Djin (Razor and Tie/Starbucks Entertainment 7930182967-2, 2007) Albums featuring an array of guest stars are certainly nothing new in mainstream pop music,…
If These Walls Could Sing
The Crammed Discs All Stars 20 Ways to Float Through Walls (Crammed Discs Cram 129, 2007) This various-artists compilation is not, Crammed Discs founder Marc…
Based on the Book
Various Artists The Rough Guide To World Music: Africa & Middle East (World Music Network RGNET1181CD, 2007) Released to coincide with the recent book of…
Unabridged Reggae
Groundation Upon the Bridge (Young Tree Records YTR-1230CD, 2006) Remember concept albums? Well, Northern California reggae band Groundation apparently does, and they’ve made a very…
Unbeatable Bokoor
Various Artists Bokoor Beats: Vintage Afro-beat, Afro-rock and Electric Highlife From Ghana (Otrabanda Records OTBO8, 2007) British musician and music scholar John Collins’ affinity for…
Gimmie That Old Time Juju
King Sunny Ade – Gems from the Classic Years 1967-1974 (Shanachie SH66041, 2007) Sometime in the summer of 1983 I walked into Main Street Records…
Afro-Latin Round Trips
Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca – Isabela (Mopiato Music MOPI-2, 2007) Papa Noël – Cafe Noir (Tumi Music TUMI 141, 2007) With the symbiosis between…