William Eaton Ensemble Sparks and Embers (Canyon Records CR 7061, 2003) “File under new age” states the fine print on the back of this double…
Stoked
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.
Taking More Heat
Bio Ritmo – Bio Ritmo (Locutor Records LR 001, 2004) Various Artists – The Rough Guide to Mambo (World Music Network RGNET 1136 CD, 2004)…
Quantity and Quality
Wasis Diop Everything Is Never Quite Enough (Mercury France/Universal 077 396-2, 2003, distributed by Triloka Records) The 1990s albums of Senegal’s Wasis Diop–Hyenes, No Sant and…
Everywhere You Want to Be
Lucky Dube – The Other Side (Heartbeat 11661-7770-2, 2003) Nasio – Living in the Positive (Higher Love Music, 2003) Mounia Sahara – I’ve Got A…
The Sounds of Precious Metal
Golden Sounds Band Swahili Rumba (Naxos World 76055-2, 2003) Congolese rumba reigned so long as Africa’s most popular dance music that it’s no surprise how…
Let’s Hope They Stay
Mahmoud Fadl The Drummers of the Nile in Town (Piranha Musik CD PIR 1791, 2003) For his latest Drummers of the Nile outing (there’s been…
All Joking Aside
Warsaw Village Band People’s Spring (World Village 468028, 2003) I was just a kid back in the early ’70s, but I vividly remember that at…
Serbia Served Hot
Earth Wheel Sky Band Waltz Rromano (Asphalt Tango Records, CD ATR 0303, 2003) The recently-created Asphalt Tango label made an impressive double splash last year…
And in This Corner of the Sahara…
Various Artists – The Rough Guide to the Music of Morocco (World Music Network, RGNET 1128 CD, 2004) Malouma – Dunya (Marabi Productions 46806.2, 2003)…
It’s a Black Peruvian Thing
Peru Negro – Jolgorio (Times Square Records TSQ-CD-9035, 2003) Olga Milla – Caricia (Olga Milla OM120256CD, 1996) The extent to which Africa played a role…