Hossam Ramzy – El Berencesa -The Princess (Drumzy Music CD001, 2018) Hossam Ramzy is one of the most important currently active percussionists / composers. This…
El Berencesa’s Rhythmic Vignettes
Category: Album reviews
Diali Cissokho Brings North Carolina and M’bour Together on Routes
Diali Cissokho and Kaira Ba – Routes (Twelve Eight Records, 2018) Routes is the new album by North Carolina-based Diali Cissokho and Kaira Ba. Diali…
Dayramir González as a Formidable Orchestrator and Bandleader
Dayramir González – The Grand Concourse (Machat Records, 2018) In recent years there’s been a wave of highly-talented Cuban pianists. Composer, arranger, producer and keyboardist…
Masterful Puerto Rican Percussion Labyrinth
Hector “Coco” Barez – “El Laberinto del Coco” (Hector “Coco” Barez, 2018) “El Laberinto del Coco” is the first solo album from virtuoso Puerto Rican…
Koum Tara’s Sound Recipe Spanning Millennia
Koum Tara – Chaâbi, Jazz and Strings (Odradek Records ODRCD700, 2018) Jazz legend tells us that while the U. S. 369th Infantry Regiment (AKA Harlem…
An Era of Afro Latin Sounds from Guadeloupe and Martinique
Various Artists – Disques Debs International, An Island Story: Biguine, Afro Latin & Musique Antillaise 1960-1972, Volume 1 (Strut Records, 2018) Strut Records, a world…
The Final Album of an Australian Musical Icon
Gurrumul – Djarimirri [Child of the Rainbow] (Skinnyfish Music, 2018) Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow) is the final album recorded by Gurrumul Yununpingu (better known…
Sharon Shannon’s Globetrotting Songs
Sharon Shannon – Sacred Earth (Celtic Collections, 2017) Irish accordionist is a masterful musician who is comfortable playing traditional music as well as exploring the…
Los Angeles Vallenato
Very Be Careful – Daisy’s Beauty Salon (Downtown Pijao/Steady Beat Records, 2018) Los Angeles band Very Be Careful recorded this album in an abandoned recording…
Flamenco Pop and EDM
Elena Andujar – Flamenco In Time (Wake Up! Music, 2018) Elena Andujar’s Flamenco In Time intends to bring together electronic dance music (EDM), flamenco pop…