Taraf de Haidouks Maskarada (Crammed Craw 40, 2007) Maškaradă is Taraf de Haidouks’ fist recording since the famed "Band of Gypsies." Pooling the exceptional talent…
Riotous Gypsy Extravaganza
Category: Album reviews
They Call Him Johnny Coolman
Toots and the Maytals – Light Your Light (Concord Music, 2007) On Light Your Light, Toots and the Maytals return to their roots, singing classics…
Ready, Set, Gwoka
Jacques Schwarz Bart Soné Ka-La (Emarcy/Universal BOOO9204-02, 2006) Guadeloupe’s Jacques Schwarz-Bart didn’t start seriously playing the saxophone until the age of 24, making up for…
Splendid Electric Violin
Chris Murphy Luminous (Kufala, 2007) I have to admit that I am sucker for electric violin. In my teenage years I fell in love with…
Horn of Africa
Manu Dibango Lion of Africa (Global Mix GMCD/DVD01, 2007) Like several of his African peers (such as Hugh Masekela), Cameroon’s Manu Dibango was a superstar…
The Tibetan Diva Rises
Vienna, Austria – Tibetan music to western audiences have often symbolized meditative mindscapes and spirituality, often luring them into experiencing the mystical with the appeal…
Manu Chao’s Polyglot Melting Pot of Lyrics and Music
Manu Chao La Radiolina (Nacional Records, 2007) After a 6 year hiatus Manu Chao has blazed back onto the music scene with his third solo…
Bridgewater’s Malian Grooves
Dee Dee Bridgewater Red Earth (Decca/Universal Music, 2007) American jazz singer Dee Dee Bridgewater ventured into the exciting sounds of Mali for her latest recording,…
Native American Voyager Encounters Jewish Music
R. Carlos Nakai & Udi Bar-David Voyagers (Canyon CR7078, 2007) Native American flautist R. Carlos Nakai has collaborated wit musicians form many different cultures. He…
Unparalleled
Parallel 23 Parallel 23 Live (Jazmo Productions, 2007) San Francisco-based Parallel 23 is comprised of just four guys: Sam Bevan on bass, Colin Douglas on…