Mercan Dede – Sufi Traveler (Doublemoon/Mi5/Caroline Dist., 2004) Burhan Ocal and the Trakya All Stars Featuring Smadj – Kirklareli Il Siniri (Doublemoon DM20, 2003) Born…
Turkish Delights
Category: Album reviews
Carrying the Fado Torch
Various Artists Fado: Exquisite Passion (Narada World, 2003) Narada World presents this 13-track compilation of four female Fado singers: Amália Rodrigues and three of her…
Sergio Mendes, The Swinger from Brazil.
Sergio Mendes The Swinger from Rio – Favourites (Wrasse Records Wrass114) If people have heard only two Brazilian songs they are likely to be ‘The…
Key Chapters From the Reggae History Book
Third World – 96 Degrees in the Shade (Hip-O Select/Island B0002400-02, 2004) The Upsetters – Super Ape (Hip-O Select/Island B0002430-02, 2004) Max Romeo & the…
Brazil at Home and Abroad
Various Artists – Brizzi Do Brazil (Amiata Records ARNR 0304, 2004) Various Artists – The Rough Guide to Brazil: Bahia (World Music Network RGNET 1135…
Alan Lomax’s Southern Journey Remixed
Tangle Eye Alan Lomax’s Southern Journey Remixed (Rounder, 2004) This CD has generated a lot of controversy because of its use of samples. New Orleans-based…
Missing Latin America
Various Artists World 2003: Music without Frontiers (Narada World 72435-90071-2-0, 2003) This is Narada’s annual sampling of “World Music” favorites from the hands of the…
Bloody Good
Lila Downs Una Sangre [One Blood] (Narada 72435-76757-2-7, 2004) The U.K. magazine Songlines recently included Lila Downs‘ 2000 release Tree of Life as one of…
Otto, Brazilian Top of the world potential
Otto Sem Gravidade (Trama T004/762-2) Great singer songwriters are usually guitarists or piano players. But in Brazil they are also percussionists. Airto Moreira, Naná Vasconcelos…
Diamond Fingers Mines a Gem
Sekou Bembeya Diabate Guitar Fo (Discorama WVF 497016 [distributed in the U.S. by World Village/Harmonia Mundi]) As lead guitarist and point man for longtime Guinean…