King Selewa & his Calypsonians Calypso: Back to Mi Home (ARC Music EUCD 2231, 2009) Calypso music has been a vehicle for shrewd social commentary,…
The New Calypso Royalty
Category: Album reviews
Magnificent Silk Road
The Silk Road Ensemble Off the Map (World Village, 2009) With a worldwide network of master musicians spanning cultures and genres, an innovative musical outreach…
Swedish Folk Jazz Explorations
Gunnel Mauritzson Det som sker… (Sandkvie, 2008) Gunnel Mauritzson is one of the leading folk and jazz singers in Sweden. Her latest recording, Det som…
Irresistible Gypsy All Stars
Mahala Rai Banda Ghetto Blasters (Asphalt Tango Records, 2009) With their 2009 recording Ghetto Blasters, Mahala Rai Banda are now part of Asphalt Tango Records,…
Drumming Across Mali
Nahini Doumbia & Les Espoirs Du Mali Percussion and Songs from Mali (Arc EUCD2245, 2009) On the CD Percussion and Songs from Mali, Nahini Doumbia…
Nu-Bossa Discoveries
Various Artists I Love Bossa Nova (Afro:Baile Records) One of Brazil’s most popular music exports, Bossa Nova, is now over 50 years old. Although there…
Bombay Dub Orchestra’s 3 Cities Takes on a New Personality
Bombay Dub Orchestra 3 Cities in Dub (Six Degrees, 2009) Several months back I reviewed Bombay Dub Orchestra’s 3 Cities. Now Bombay Dub Orchestra’s composers…
In Passing
Kenyatta “Culture” Hill Pass the Torch (Tafari Records 1046, 2007) The sudden 2006 death of Joseph Hill, leader of roots reggae harmony trio Culture, robbed…
Rekindled Ska Fire
Blue Riddim Ska Inferno (Markosa Records 2010, 2009) The idea of a white reggae band is one that would raise no eyebrows nowadays, but such…
Dazzling Fula Musical Ride
Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni Ba I Speak Fula (Sub Pop/Next Ambiance, 2010) Riding high on the success of 2007’s Segu Blue and his upcoming U.S.…