Album reviews | World Music Central

Ryan David Green - Off and Running cover artwork. A filtered photo or illustration of the artist holding his guitar upright, next to his heart.

Album reviews

Ryan David Green: Masterful American Roots Guitarist

Ryan Emmert January 25, 2025 No Comments Ryan David Green world music

Ryan David Green – Off and Running (self-release, 2024) Ryan David Green, a Berklee College of Music graduate, is known for his intricate yet accessible…

Jupiter & Okwess - Ekoya cover artwork. An illustration of Jupiter flying over the equatorial regions of Africa and South America.

Album reviews

Jupiter & Okwess Amplify Global Roots with Ekoya

Jupiter & Okwess – Ekoya (Airfono, 2025) Jupiter & Okwess, veterans of Kinshasa’s vibrant music scene, return with their fourth album, Ekoya, a striking hybrid…

This album cover for Shunta! At the Kafana features a lively, abstract collage of musical instruments, including a violin, keyboard, trumpet, clarinet, and drum. The vibrant yellow and red tones are contrasted by the bold black silhouettes of two playful cat figures. The typography is bold and eclectic.

Album reviews

shunTA! Brings the Kafana Spirit to Life with Debut Album

JGurski January 23, 2025 No Comments Balkan music Gypsy music Romani music shunTA!world fusion world music

shunTA! – At The Kafana (Rakia Records, 2024) London-based band shunTA! is set to release their debut album, At the Kafana, an electrifying tribute to…

La Pambelé - Nací Mestizo cover artwork. a psychedelic design fetauring the three band leaders in vintage 1970s clothing.

Album reviews

La Pambelé Revives 1970s Salsa with a Modern Twist in Nací Mestizo

Iliana Cabrera January 22, 2025 No Comments Colombian music La Pambelé salsa world music

La Pambelé – Nací Mestizo (2024) Bogotá’s mighty salsa orchestra, La Pambelé, returns with its second studio album, Nací Mestizo (I was born mestizo, of…

Parchman Prison Prayer — Another Mississippi Sunday Morning. A photo of a black man with white hair singing.

Album reviews

Voices Behind Bars: The Soul of Another Mississippi Sunday Morning

Angel Romero January 21, 2025 No Comments American folk music blues gospel hip hop Parchman Prison Prayer world music

Parchman Prison Prayer — Another Mississippi Sunday Morning (Glitterbeat Records, 2025) Another Mississippi Sunday Morning is the sequel to the acclaimed 2023 album Some Mississippi…

Rémi Geffroy - Carrefour des Anges © Jouch. This album cover shows a child wearing a red coat walking along a reflective shoreline, with their back to the viewer. The sky above is a gradient of light blue. Both the sun and the moon are visible simultaneously, side by side. The title, "Carrefour des Anges," is handwritten beneath the artist's name, Rémi Geffroy, which appears in a clean, elegant font at the top of the cover. The title translates to "Crossroads of Angels."

Album reviews

Rémi Geffroy’s Carrefour des Anges Embraces Innovation

Madison Quinn January 19, 2025 No Comments accordion French music Rémi Geffroy world music

Rémi Geffroy – Carrefour des Anges (CVE Prod, 2025) Rémi Geffroy’s Carrefour des Anges is the sixth offering from the virtuoso diatonic accordionist and composer.…

Album reviews

Arcs & Rivers: A Fusion of Jazz and Greek Tradition

Angel Romero January 18, 2025 No Comments bouzouki Georgios Prokopiou Greek music Joel Lyssarides world fusion world music

Joel Lyssarides and Georgios Prokopiou – Arcs & Rivers (ACT Music, 2024) Pianist Joel Lyssarides and bouzouki virtuoso Georgios Prokopiou bridge cultures and genres in…

Sauljaljui - Vaivaik cover artwork. A photo of the artist leaning forward with a red background.

Album reviews

Sauljaljui’s Vaivaik: A Bold Fusion Rooted in Taiwanese Indigenous Traditions

Angel Romero January 18, 2025 No Comments Sauljaljui Taiwanese music world fusion world music

Sauljaljui – Vaivaik (Wind Music, 2024) Sauljaljui’s new album, Vaivaik (embarking in the Paiwan language) is a groundbreaking exploration of world fusion music. The album…

Album reviews

Karjalasta Kolttien Maille Bridges Karelian and Skolt Sámi Cultures

Madison Quinn January 16, 2025 No Comments Amanda Kauranne Anna Lumikivi Emmi Kuittinen Erkki Lumisalmi Finnish music Karelian music Karjalasta kolttien maille Sami music Skolt Sámi world music

Karjalasta kolttien maille – Karjalasta kolttien maille (Global Music Centre, 2022) The album Karjalasta Kolttien Maille (From Karelia to the Skolt Sámi Lands), released in…

This album cover features an elegant, circular watercolor painting of a serene mountain landscape, framed by blossoming cherry branches. The background is a rich blue with subtle textural details, and the text "Prelude to the Divine Realm: Pipa and Guqin" is displayed at the top in a classic serif font. The artists' names, Gao Hong and Zhao Xiaoxia, are written at the bottom. Chinese characters on the right.

Album reviews

Gao Hong and Zhao Xiaoxia Explore the Depth and Beauty of Chinese String Music

Angel Romero January 15, 2025 No Comments Chinese music Gao Hong guqin pipa world music Zhao Xiaoxia

Gao Hong and Zhao Xiaoxia – Prelude to the Divine Realm 神遊引 (Naxos World, 2025) Prelude to the Divine Realm is an exceptional collaboration between…