Titina Portrait (Network Records, 2012) I’m always a little surprised at the capricious nature of the music industry. It’s sort of a lesson in futility…
A Portrait of Cape Verde’s Titina
Category: Album reviews
Into the Light
Mandolin U. Rajesh Into the Light (Music Today) This is an excellent fusion of Carnatic classical melodies with Western musical idioms. U. Rajesh is the…
Ladakh: In Search of Buddha
Rahul Sharma In Search of Buddha (SaReGaMa) Santoor virtuoso Rahul Sharma is on a roll, with this new age fusion of nature and spirituality blending…
Rodatiempo
Téofilo Chantre Rodatempo (Lusafrica, 2000): 12 tracks, 61 minutes Téofilo Chantre is an accomplished composer, lyricist, guitar player and singer who emigrated with his family…
Bridging the Gap
Ebo Taylor Appia Kwa Bridge (Strut O89CD, 2012) Ghanaian highlife veteran Ebo Taylor has had a long career and this very satisfying new release shows…
Afrosalsa
Various Artists Afrosalsa (Lusafrica, 2000): 8 tracks, 35 minutes This CD features some of the ‘most famous’ hits of contemporary African dance music, produced, arranged…
The Root Remains the Same
Harmonia Hidden Legacy (FolkSounds Records, 2012) There are several bands out there using the name Harmonia. This Harmonia is an American band from Cleveland (Ohio)…
Heading in a Sephardic Direction
Ljuba Davis Ladino Ensemble East and West (self-released, 2012) When the Sephardim, the Jews of Spain, were expelled from their homeland following the reconquista of…
Wildly Expressive Global Influences
Nickodemus Moon People (ESL Music, 2012) Admit it, every once in a while you need some ferocious tunes. You need to walk down the street,…
Annbjørg Lien’s ‘Khoom Loy,’ Connecting Bridges
Annbjørg Lien – Khoom Loy (Compass Records, 2012) Chameleonic fiddler Annbjørg Lien crosses boundaries and embraces a wide range of musical influences on her latest…