Ana Moura Coliseu (World Village 468103, 2011) The pure, aching intimacy of Portuguese fado music is a perfect fit for the small venues (called fado…
Fado on a Grander Scale
Category: Album reviews
Dancing in the Tropics or Elsewhere
Sofrito Tropical Discotheque (Strut STRUTO70CD, 2011) The DJ team of Hugo Mendez, Frankie Francis and The Mighty Crime Minister, collectively known as Sofrito, can reportedly…
An Even Fuller Belly
The Rough Guide to Bellydance (World Music Network RGNET1249CD, 2011) The folks responsible for World Music Network’s very extensive Rough Guide series must be too…
Hot From the Land of Fire
Azerbaijan – Traditional Music / Lok-Batan Folklore Group (ARC Music EUCD 2318, 2011) I don’t have much Azerbaijani music in my collection, so this CD…
Taylor Tells Tales
Ebo Taylor Life Stories (Strut STRUTO72CD, 2011) Ghana’s Ebo Taylor has been making music for more than half a century, first as a frontman, arranger…
Swinging’ Gaita
Bellonmaceiras Quinteto Folkfusion (Dofol, 2010) Spanish band Bellonmaceiras Quinteto brings together Galician folk music and a series of global sounds with a focus on improvisation.…
Africa Gets Axed
The Rough Guide to African Guitar Legends (World Music Network RGNET 1259 CD, 2011) A recent music-themed issue of the Los Angeles Times Magazine featured…
The Good Ones of Kigali
Kigali Y’ Izahabu (Dead Oceans, 2010). The album Kigali Y’ Izahabu by Rwandan musicians Adrien Kazigira, Stany Hitimana and Jeanvier Havugimana was unplanned. Producer Ian…
Tasty Sofrito Indeed
Sofrito – Tropical Discotheque (Strut Records, 2011) Tropical Discotheque is a excellent collection of international roots-based dance music put together by Sofrito, one of the…
Bob Marley & The Wailers Live Forever
Bob Marley Bob Marley & The Wailers – Live Forever: The Stanley Theatre, Pittsburgh, PA, September 23, 1980 (Universal Music, 2011) Jamaican reggae star Bob…