Nazarenes – Songs of Life (Heartbeat 11661-7624-2, 2005) Taj Weekes & Adowa – Hope and Doubt (AlphaPocket Records CD 0011, 2005) Winston Jarrett and the…
Abundant Reggae Riches
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.
Cru Rings True
Seu Jorge Cru (Wrasse Records WRASS 160, 2005) Seu Jorge has been featured in a couple of movies. One was the Brazilian favela (slum) drama…
Jamaican Guitar Great Catches a Wave
Ernest Ranglin Surfin’ (Tropic Entertainment/Telarc CD-83682, 2005) Ernest Ranglin was an accomplished guitarist in his native Jamaica long before there was such a thing as…
Talkin’ Balkan
Various Artists Rough Guide to the Music of Balkan Gypsies (World Music Network RGNET 1159 CD, 2005) I love albums that get right to the…
Songs of the Brave
Brave Old World – Dus Gezang Fin Geto Lodzh [Song of the Lodz Ghetto] (Winter and Winter Music 910 104-2, 2005) True to their name,…
Latin Percussion Masters in Their Element
Ray Barretto – Time Was-Time Is (O+ Music OP109, 2005) Tito Puente – The Rough Guide to Tito Puente (World Music Network RGNET 1162 CD,…
New Cuban Series Packs Only the Essentials
Ibrahim Ferrer – Ay, Candela (Escondida ESC 6513-2, 2005) Ruben Gonzalez – Momentos (Escondida ESC 6514-2, 2005) Omara Portuondo – Sentimiento (Escondida ESC 6516-2, 2005)…
Re-check Your Pulse
Steel Pulse – True Democracy (Elektra/Rhino R2 79287, 2005) Steel Pulse – Earth Crisis (Elektra/Rhino R2 74687, 2005) These two albums, originally released in 1982…
Uzbekistandards
Ochilbek Matchonov Music From Central Asia: Uzbekistan on the Silk Road (ARC Music EUCD 1946, 2005) Music from the Silk Road regions and countries ending…
Palm World Voices Sets Out on the Right Path
Pioneering Producer Chris Blackwell (who helped make an international star of Bob Marley years ago) recently cemented a new partnership between his own Palm Pictures…