Ferenc – Gypsy Dream (Mesa/Bluemoon Records, 2014) Outstanding Hungarian classical violinist Ferenc Illenyi has a parallel career as a fabulous Gypsy music violinist. His album…
Gypsy Music in His Soul
Category: Album reviews
Charming Collection of Devotional Songs
Manika Kaur Satnam Waheguru (Invincible Recordings, 2014) Manika Kaur’s latest recording, Satnam Waheguru has had a very good reception in yoga and Punjabi circles. Satnam…
Inspiring Tehardent Tuareg Music from Mali
Al Bilali Soudan Al Bilali Soudan (Clermont Music CLE 2012001CD, 2012) With the increasing interest in Tuareg music, most of the focus in recent years…
Bossa and Beyond
It’s a vast country where a lot of music is made, so the laws of probability dictate that a healthy portion of CDs coming into…
Trova Maestro Gets International Recognition
Alejandro Almenares Casa De Trova – Cuba 50’s (Tumi Records, 2014) Cuban singer-songwriter and musician Alejandro Almenares is one of the greatest living troveros (musical…
Vibrant Brass Band Sounds from Russia
Bubamara Brass Band Balkanteka (Sketis Music SKMRon104, 2013) Although most of the focus is on Serbian, Romanian and Macedonian brass bands, Russian also has its…
Embracing Nigerian-American Musical Roots
Offiong Bassey Offiong Bassey (2013) The self-titled debut album by Nigerian-American vocalist Offiong Bassey embraces African-American and African musical roots. Gifted with a great voice,…
Finding the Underlying Unity in American Roots Music
Dirk Powell Walking Through Clay (Sugar Hill Records, 2014) If you crossed a kick ass honky-tonk with a backwoods bayou bar, a country church and…
Renewed Neapolitan Roots and High Energy
Canto Antico South Beat (Canto Antico, 2014) The Vesuvius, Naples’ volcano, and the tarantula unveil an unsettled and overwhelming energy, all which moves with Canto…
Wouter Kellerman’s Flute Enchantments
Wouter Kellerman Mzansi (Kellerman Music, 2013) On his new album Mzansi, South African flute virtuoso Wouter Kellerman presents a collection of traditional and original pieces…