Author: Tom Orr

Le Trio Joubran – Randana (Fairplay/Randana FP500, 2006) The Chicago Classical Oriental Ensemble – The Songs of Sheikh Sayyed Darweesh: Soul of a People (Xauen…

Maurice El Medioni Meets Roberto Rodriguez – Descarga Oriental (Piranha CDPIR2003, 2006) The Afro-Semitic Experience – Plea for Peace (Reckless DC Music RMCD-1052, 2005) Think…

Monty Alexander Concrete Jungle: The Music of Bob Marley (Telarc CD-83635, 2006) This isn’t the first time Jamaican pianist Monty Alexander has jazzed up reggae…

UB40 Who You Fighting for? (Rhino R2 73305, 2006) I wasn’t ready to write off UB40. True, they hadn’t made a really good album in…

Various Artists The Rough Guide to the Music of Tanzania (World Music Network RGNET 1158 CD, 2006) A quick scan through my hopelessly disorganized collection…

Zanzibara 1 – Ikhwani Safaa Musical Club: A Hundred Years of Taarab in Zanzibar (Buda Musique 860118, 2005) Zanzibara 2 – Various Artists: Golden Years…

Various Artists Brazilian Lounge(Putumayo PUTU 247, 2006) This collection might be seen as the flip side of Putumayo’s Acoustic Brazil from last year, continuing a…

Vocal Baobab Yoruba Dream: Afro-Cuban Chants (ARC Music EUCD 1965, 2005) The Yoruba pantheon of deities forming the basis of the Santeria religion have their…

Nuru Kane Sigil (Riverboat Records/World Music Network TUGCD 1041, 2006) This dynamic disc was recorded in a Scottish country cottage and a Paris studio, but…