Andy Palacio and the Garifuna Collective Watina (Cumbancha CMB-CD-3, 2007) The Garifuna of Central America, descendants of African slaves who survived a 17th century shipwreck…
Garifuna Roots Replanted
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.
A Twist of Fado
RosaNegra Fado Ladino (ARC Music EUCD 2046, 2007) It’s really only the singing on this disc that conjures up the blue moods of Portuguese fado…
Reggae the Easy Way
Various Artists Six the Hard Way (Heartbeat 11661-7829-2, 2006) In case you can’t afford the whole line of Studio One reggae reissues recently put out…
Fortunate Son?
Vieux Farka Toure Vieux Farka Toure (World Village 468065, 2007) Following in the footsteps of a parent who’s nothing short of legendary in the music…
All That Jazz
Source with Abdoulaye Diabate – Tonight’s African Jazz Band (CompletelyNuts Records CTN 001, 2006) Tribaljazz – Tribaljazz (Hidden Beach Recordings HBRCD 00001, 2006) Having the…
Call Him Ismael
Ismael Lo Senegal (Wrasse Records WRASS 183, 2006) I’d almost forgotten how good this guy is. Sure, Ismael Lo has released music since the last…
More Hot Sauce From the Hot Source
Africando Ketukuba (Stern’s Africa STCD 1103, 2006) In my snobbish opinion, the scantily-clad young woman on the cover of this CD should be astride a…
A Beaten Path Between Africa and Haiti
Bonga and the Voudou Drums of Haiti – Ayiti Afrika (Bongamusic, 2006) Not to be confused with the legendary Angolan singer named Bonga, Gaston “Bonga”…
Let’s Get Ready to Rumba
Various Artists Roots of Rumba Rock: Congo Classics 1953-1955 (Crammed Discs CRAW 33, 2006) If the thought of two CD’s worth of Congolese rumba more…
Tartit’s Twofold Tuareg Trance Tunes
Tartit Abacabok (Crammed Discs Craw 34-P, 2006) The first and second tracks on this CD give you a pretty good idea of the two worlds…