Jolie Holland Catalpa (Anti/Epitaph 6691-2) One of the most attractive sounds on the first Be Good Tanyas CD was Jolie Holland’s voice, whether providing harmonies…
Intimate Sketches
Category: Album reviews
Stoked
William Eaton Ensemble Sparks and Embers (Canyon Records CR 7061, 2003) “File under new age” states the fine print on the back of this double…
British Fusion
Pentangle The Lost Broadcasts 1968-72 (Hux Records 049, 2004) I’ve never been able to make up my mind about Pentangle. were they a unique fusion…
Taking More Heat
Bio Ritmo – Bio Ritmo (Locutor Records LR 001, 2004) Various Artists – The Rough Guide to Mambo (World Music Network RGNET 1136 CD, 2004)…
Persian poetry & spiritual intoxicants
Safa Alight (Songlines) Safa (Farsi): means inner purity, sincerity and sincere affection. The Vancouver ensemble Safa comprised of Puerto Rican percussionist Sal Ferreras, Quebecois jazz…
Quantity and Quality
Wasis Diop Everything Is Never Quite Enough (Mercury France/Universal 077 396-2, 2003, distributed by Triloka Records) The 1990s albums of Senegal’s Wasis Diop–Hyenes, No Sant and…
Drums of the North
GaPa Imaginaria (independent release, 2004) The Canadian duo GaPa, Patrick Graham and Ganesh Anandan have been exploring various percussion techniques, specializing in improvisation and finger…
The Rough Guide to Gypsy Swing
Various Artists The Rough Guide to Gypsy Swing (World Music Network RGNET 1138 CD, 2004)The Rough Guide to Gypsy Swing is so crammed with such…
Everywhere You Want to Be
Lucky Dube – The Other Side (Heartbeat 11661-7770-2, 2003) Nasio – Living in the Positive (Higher Love Music, 2003) Mounia Sahara – I’ve Got A…
Tango ’til you’re sore
Various Artists The Rough Guide to the Music of Argentina (World Music Network RGNET1119CD, 2004) When it comes to Latin music, tango ranks number one…