Various Artists Baila! A Latin Dance Party (Putumayo PUT 251-2, 2006) Musical surprises are always welcome, but never underestimate the value of an album that…
Party in Session and in Motion
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.
Scorching Seconds
Hossam Ramzy and Jose Luis Monton Flamenco Arabe 2 (ARC Music EUCD 2000, 2006) Perhaps later I’ll be concerned that I haven’t heard the first…
Live and Give
Amparanoia La Vida Te Da (Wrasse Records, WRASS 171, 2006) There’s an interesting disclaimer in the liner notes of this album. “All tracks were recorded…
Double Dose of Half an Island
The Rough Guide to Merengue (World Music Network RGNET 1171 CD, 2006) The Rough Guide to Bachata (World Music Network RGNET 1164 CD, 2006) My…
Chinese Kosher
Metropolis Shanghai: Showboat to China (Winter and Winter 910 111-2, 2005) Zuflucht in Shanghai: The Port of Last Resort – A Film by Joan Grossman…
New Salif Keita Forthcoming and Fabulous
Salif Keita M’Bemba (Universal/Decca, 2006) It’s been heating up Europe for a while, and now M’Bemba, the latest by Mali’s Salif Keita, will finally get…
Divine Madness
Sussan Deyhim Madman of God (Crammed Discs craw 22, 2006) The Sufi are a minority sect in the Muslim world, their belief in music and…
Drums and Dreams
Nii Tagoe – African Roots (ARC Music EUCD 1981, 2006) Shaman’s Dream – African Dream (Sounds True M1014D, 2006) Recordings based around African percussion are…
A Musical Balancing Act
Sara Tavares Balancê (Times Square Records TSQ-CD-9054, 2006) Let me first disclose that I haven’t the computer knowhow to type this album’s title with the…
Lila’s Cantina
Lila Downs La Cantina (Narada 09463-34248-2-1, 2006) Where her last two releases combined the confessional intimacy of Mexican folkloric music with global seasonings, Lila Downs‘…