Golden Sounds Band – Swahili Rumba (Naxos World 76055-2, 2003) Congolese rumba reigned so long as Africa’s most popular dance music that it’s no surprise how…
The Sounds of Precious Metal
Category: Album reviews
Barefoot in Assisi
Arja Saijonmaa – Nära (Kirkelig Kulturverksted, 2003) Recently I came across a listing for Finnish vocalist Arja Saijonmaa in the Kirkelig Kulturverksted catalog and her most…
Let’s Hope They Stay
Mahmoud Fadl The Drummers of the Nile in Town (Piranha Musik CD PIR 1791, 2003) For his latest Drummers of the Nile outing (there’s been…
The Best of Caetano Veloso
Caetano Veloso – The Best of Caetano Veloso (Nonesuch 79808 2, 2003) I’m usually very skeptical of “Best of…” recordings, but this collection by Caetano Veloso,…
Awards for World Music 2004
Various artists – BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music 2004 (Manteca MANTDCD224, 2004) Here we go ‘round again. This year’s finalists from the third…
Harmonia ‘Music of Eastern Europe’
Harmonia – Music of Eastern Europe (Traditional Crossroads CD 4313, 2003) It’s always been the case that the various ethnic immigrant groups traveling to the USA…
All Joking Aside
Warsaw Village Band People’s Spring (World Village 468028, 2003) I was just a kid back in the early ’70s, but I vividly remember that at…
Sunshine on a cloudy day
Correo Aéreo Lo Que Me Dijo El Viento (independent release) Recently the world music duo, Abel Rocha and Madeleine Sosin, better known as Correo Aéreo…
Oumou
Oumou Sangare Oumou (Nonesuch 79827-2, 2004) This double-CD is both a compilation of previously released tunes (digitally remastered) and a new release, featuring eight unreleased…
Serbia Served Hot
Earth Wheel Sky Band Waltz Rromano (Asphalt Tango Records, CD ATR 0303, 2003) The recently-created Asphalt Tango label made an impressive double splash last year…