Lila Downs: Pecados y Milagros (Sins and Miracles, 2011) and Balas y Chocolate (Bullets and Chocolate, 2015) Together with her husband, saxophonist Paul Cohen, plus…
Innovative Recreations of Mexican Folk Music
Category: Album reviews
The Dolomites’ Japanese Balkanalia
The Dolomites Japan Years, Volumes 1, 2 and 3 (Dolomites Music, 2015) The Dolomites has released three volumes of recordings that took place in Japan…
Roots Rock from Los Lobos and Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad
Two recent albums demonstrate how rock music and American roots genres are combined effectively, generating timeless songs. Celebrated band Los Lobos from East Los…
Transfixing Sufi Music
American Sufi Project Vol. 1 (Ammi Media, 2015) American Sufi Project is a new ensemble focusing on the Sufi musical traditions from Turkey, Iran and…
Impeccable Hybridization of Clarinet and Indian Music
Shankar Tucker Filament (Shrutibox Music Records, 2015) American clarinetist Shankar Tucker explores Indian music on his new album titled Filament. The clarinet is rarely found…
Magnificent Performers of Ancient Georgian Music
Zedashe Our Earth and Water (Living Roots Music, 2015) The nation of Georgia has an ancient polyphonic vocal tradition that is mesmerizing and hauntingly beautiful.…
A Freer String Sound
Ozere Finding Anyplace (album release: October 19, 2015) Canadian band Ozere brings together classical music training and the traditional musics of North America and other…
St. Tropez Lounge Music
Various St. Tropez: The Sex, The Beach, The Music (Petrol/EMI) This is an excellent compilation of lounge music, perfect for getting your party cozy and…
Dizzyingly Good Gnawa Music
Aziz Sahmaoui & University of Gnawa Mazal (World Village, 2015) Aziz Sahmaoui & University of Gnawa return for another musical dip into the fiery depths…
Strange, Wonderful and Essential Reggae
Yabby You – Dread Prophecy (Shanachie Entertainment, 2015) My first encounter with the music of Yabby You was back in the vinyl days of…