Nuru Kane Sigil (Riverboat Records/World Music Network TUGCD 1041, 2006) This dynamic disc was recorded in a Scottish country cottage and a Paris studio, but…
African Convergence
Category: Album reviews
Land of Fiddlers
Scandinavia is a land of excellent fiddlers. In the past months, a new batch of recordings featuring top folk violinists from the Nordic countries…
Still the One
Various Artists- The Best of Studio One, Vol. 1 (Heartbeat 11661-7801-2, 2006) Various Artists – Full Up: More Hits From Studio One (Heartbeat 11661-7802-2, 2006)…
Getting to Know These African Women
Thandiswa – Zabalaza (Escondida ESC 6525-2, 2006) Julia Sarr/Patrice Larose – Set Luna (No Format/Sunnyside SSC 3033, 2006) Rachel Magoola – Songs From the Source…
A Wave of Celtic Music CDs for Saint Patrick’s 2006
Saint Patrick’s Day (March 17) has become a key holiday for Celtic music. Many record labels, especially in the United States, use the celebration…
Rich Heritage of Central Asia
Author: Patty-Lynne Herlevi Tengir-Too Aga Khan Music Initiative Presents Tengir-Too (Central Asia), Mountain Music of Kyrgyzstan (Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, 2006) The traditional folk archival label,…
Echoes of Japan
Shunsuke Mizuno Slow Time (Ozella Oz007, 2005) Bassist Shunsuke Mizuno plays beautiful chamber style music that is difficult to categorize. It’s in between world music,…
No Previous Reptilian Experience Necessary
Susheela Raman Music For Crocodiles (Narada 72438-63402-2-1, 2006) Susheela Raman’s prior releases Salt Rain and Love Trap (both also on Narada) rightly got considerable notice…
Mandolin Wizardry
During the last two decades, a new breed of American virtuoso musicians have developed primarily instrumental music with roots in bluegrass, country, Celtic and…
The Rhythms of Vocal and Hand Percussion
John Belcher The Sound According to John (Innova Recordings innova643, 2005) John Belcher has recorded an album of intriguing percussion works. When one thinks of…