Various Artists Ghana Special: Modern Highlife, Afro-Sounds and Ghanaian Blue 1968-1981 (Soundway Records, 2009) Ghana Special, the latest compilation on the Soundway Records, focuses on…
Vibrant Ghana in the 1970s
Category: Album reviews
Phenomenally Good Ali & Toumani
Ali Farka Touré and Toumani Diabaté Ali & Toumani (World Circuit/Nonesuch Records, 2010) Drawing the listener close from the opening notes, guitarist Ali Farka Touré…
The Exquisite Mbube of Bulawayo
Insingizi Voices of Southern Africa, Vol. 2 – Insingizi (Arc Music EUCD2243, 2009) Imbizi, one of the finest a cappella groups from Africa, has a…
Spectacular Omar Sosa
Omar Sosa Ceremony (Ota Records, 2010) Two brilliant minds joined forces on Ceremony, the new album by Cuban pianist and composer Omar Sosa, who is…
Brilliant Rocky Mountain Mandolin
Matt Flinner – Music du Jour (Compass Records, 2009) Matt Flinner is one of the most reputable mandolinists in the United States. His latest recording…
Griselda’s Reels
Hot Griselda Hot Griselda (Appel Rekords, 2009) Although most people associate Celtic music with Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany (France), Galicia (Spain) and Asturias (Spain), Celtic…
Rebellious Guitars
Group Bombino Guitars from Agadez (Music of Niger), Vol. 2 (Sublime Frequencies, 2009) Hisham Mayet, the man who compiled and edited the tracks of Guitars…
Reinvigorating Trova
Marta Topferova Trova (World Village, 2009) Marta Topferova, the passionate Czech singer-songwriter with a Latin American heart has a new recording titled Trova. The new…
Alan Lomax Presents Haitian Impressions
Alan Lomax in Haiti (Harte Recordings, 2009) In December of 1936, a young Alan Lomax arrived to Haiti to collect music. Lomax, accompanied by his…
Reggae Gets a Stretch
Jason Wilson – The Peace Maker’s Chauffeur (Wheel Records/Raspberry Jam Music, 2009) Edward II – The Definitive Collection (E2 Music E2CD1001, 2009) Despite the very…