Haale Gafori No Ceiling (Channel A Music, 2008) Haale Gafori’s No Ceiling out on Channel A Music is big step off the beaten path of…
Dark, Downtown Club Sound
Category: Album reviews
The Teak Project
The Teak Project (First Hand, 2008) Second generation Indo-Jazz sitar player Jonathan Mayer is the son of Indo-Jazz pioneer John Maye, which maintains the tradition…
Creative Musical Consciousness of Tsunami-Hit Lands
Various Artists Laya Project (Earth Sync) In 2004 a gigantic wall of water sailed up streets, stormed through villages and ripped away homes, livelihoods and…
Pow-Wow Favorites Dance Till Sunrise
Northern Cree Dancin’ Til Sunrise, Vol. 7 (Canyon Records (CR-6414), 2008) Award-winning Canadian group Northern Cree, is one of the most cherished names in Native…
Klezmer Renaissance
In recent years, Klezmer music has experienced a revival in Germany, Poland, Israel and some American cities. Three recordings show a reliable picture of the…
Yer Desert Blues
Toumast – Ishumar (Real World/Ryko USCDRW148, 2008) Etran Finatawa – Desert Crossroads (Riverboat Records/World Music Network TUGCD 1048, 2008) Justin Adams & Juldeh Camara –…
Choose the Party
Three recent compilations use the word party in the album’s title. These electrifying will get your guests grooving. The Rough Guide to African Street…
Masterful Boleros from Buena Vista Social Club Diva
Omara Portuondo Lágrimas Negras – Canciones y Boleros (Yemaya Records, 2005) Kudos go to the Spanish label Yemayá Records for the 2-disc release of Omara…
Peruvian Pursuits
Peru Negro – Zamba Malató (Times Square Records TSQ-CD-9066, 2008) Chicha Libre – ¡Sonido Amazónico! (Barbes Records BROO17, 2008) There’s nothing wrong with pan flutes,…
Opening Flamenco’s Doors
Raphael Brunn Flamenco Quintet Puertas Abiertas (independent, 2007) New York-based guitarist Raphael Brunn plays Flamenco Spanish-style. While many US-based guitarists who claim to play Flamenco…