Tyler Bennet | World Music Central

v cover artwork. a color photo of the artist holding a Persian lute.

Album reviews

Ahmadreza Nabizadeh Revives Persian Folk Tradition with Mar Jangeh

Ahmadreza Nabizadeh – Mar Jangeh (X DOT 25 Music, 2024) Ahmadreza Nabizadeh’s 2024 album, Mar Jangeh (X DOT 25 Music), is a rich homage to…

Luis Giménez Amorós - Fiesta Popular Experimental de Moros y Cristianos cover artwork. This album cover features a minimalist and elegant design. It prominently displays stylized brass instruments, such as trumpets or horns, drawn with soft lines in sepia tones. In the background, a flock of birds in flight.

Album reviews

Luis Giménez Amorós Reconstructs Tradition with Fiesta Popular Experimental de Moros y Cristianos

Tyler Bennet February 24, 2025 No Comments Luis Giménez Amorós Spanish music world music

Luis Giménez Amorós – Fiesta Popular Experimental de Moros y Cristianos (KRB, 2024) Fiesta Popular Experimental de Moros y Cristianos presents an innovative fusion of…

Ahmadreza Nabizadeh - Do Dooneh cover artwork. The artist holding an electric guitar.

Album reviews

Ahmadreza Nabizadeh Bridges Persian Folk and Pop with Do Dooneh

Tyler Bennet February 18, 2025 No Comments Ahmadreza Nabizadeh Iranian music Persian music world music

Ahmadreza Nabizadeh – Do Dooneh (X DOT 25 Music, 2022) Ahmadreza Nabizadeh’s Do Dooneh masterfully amalgams Persian folk and pop using his powerful, emotive baritone…

Russkie Uzory Ensemble of Krasny Zilim Village - Cufflinks of Siltamak: Russian Songs from Bashkortostan cover artwork. A photo of the women wearing tradiional red and white dresses.

Album reviews

Tradition Preserved: The Russkie Uzory Ensemble and Their Celebration of Bashkir Heritage

Tyler Bennet February 9, 2025 No Comments Bashkortostan Russian music Russkie Uzory Ensemble of Krasny Zilim Village world music

Russkie Uzory Ensemble of Krasny Zilim Village – Cufflinks of Siltamak: Russian Songs from Bashkortostan (Antonovka, 2025) The vocal ensemble Russkie Uzory Ensemble, also affectionately…

The cover of Gangar's debut album, "Stubb," features a painting by Norwegian artist Kenneth Lien. The artwork depicts a lone rider on horseback traversing a winding path through a dense forest, set against a backdrop of softly lit mountains under a dusky sky. The band's name, "Gangar," appears in stylized, rustic typography at the top left corner, while the album title, "Stubb," is positioned subtly at the bottom right.

Album reviews

Norwegian Folk-Metal Rockers Gangar Release International Debut, Stubb

Tyler Bennet February 5, 2025 No Comments Gangar Norwegian folk music Norwegian music world music

Gangar – Stubb (Heilo Records, 2023) Norway’s Gangar brings a fresh take on Nordic roots music. The young, five-piece ensemble digs deep into Norway’s extensive…

The album cover for Orchestrations by Guy Buttery features a minimalistic design with a muted green background. At its center is a vintage-style illustration of a bird perched on a rocky outcrop, characterized by vibrant green plumage with subtle red accents. The title and credits are displayed in elegant serif fonts, with contributors listed on the right. A small ginkgo leaf illustration adds a delicate botanical touch.

Album reviews

Guy Buttery’s “Orchestrations”: A 12-Year Project of Innovation

Tyler Bennet January 31, 2025 No Comments Guy Buttery western classical music world music

Guy Buttery — Orchestrations (Guy Buttery Music, 2025) South African guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Guy Buttery is set to release Orchestrations on February 21, 2025. This…

This album cover for Panoramas by Norman Menzales features a multi-layered design that combines natural and cultural elements. The background shows the iconic rice terraces of the Philippines, overlaid with colorful, stylized fish swimming along a flowing orange line resembling a river. In the foreground, a black-and-white photo of farmers working in the fields. Bright golden sunray-like patterns and subtle white swirls complete the design. The title and subtitle, "Flute Music of the Philippines," are prominently displayed in elegant, white typography.

Album reviews

Flute Virtuoso Norman Menzales fosters a rich dialog between Western Classical and Filipino Traditions

Tyler Bennet January 27, 2025 1 Comment Filipino music Norman Menzales western classical music

Norman Menzales – Panoramas (Para Recordings, 2025) Norman Menzales’ Panoramas (Para Recordings, 2025) presents a nuanced exploration of his Filipino heritage through a series of…

The album cover for "Salta!" by Peixe e Limão features bright yellow hues. The background appears to be a large spiral or wavy structure, resembling a slide or artistic architectural element, creating a sense of movement and fluidity. Three individuals are central to the image, walking downward on this structure, each carrying musical instruments. They are dressed in neutral, light-toned clothing, contrasting subtly with the intense yellow backdrop.

Album reviews

Peixe e Limão Dives Deep with Salta!

Tyler Bennet January 14, 2025 No Comments Peixe e Limão world fusion world music

Peixe e Limão – Salta! (Muziekpublique, 2024) Peixe e Limão (fish and lemon in Portuguese), a trio formed by two Italians and a Belgian in…

Christine Zayed - Kama Kuntu cover artwork. An illustration of the artist's face in black and pink. With tree branches and flowers on her left side.

Album reviews

Christine Zayed Bridges Arabic Tradition and Modernity with Kama Kuntu

Tyler Bennet January 5, 2025 No Comments Arabic music Christine Zayed kanun Palestinian music qanun world music

Christine Zayed – Kama Kuntu (T-Rec., 2024) Christine Zayed, a Palestinian-born singer, composer, arranger, and kanun (qanun) master, has captivated audiences with her innovative approach…

JB Moundele - Racines cover artwork. A map of Africa.

Album reviews

JB Moundele: From Jazz Roots to African Rhythms

Tyler Bennet December 29, 2024 No Comments African music JB Moundele world fusion world music

JB Moundele – Racines (New Groove, self-release, 2024) JB Moundele is a versatile saxophonist, composer, producer, and arranger whose career reflects his explorations of jazz…