Polo Montanez Guitarra Mía (Evolver EVL2017-2, 2003) Originally put out by the French label Lusafrica in 2002, this is a sparkling, joyous disc that nonetheless…
What Could’ve Been
Category: Album reviews
Rocky Mountain high
R. Carlos Nakai – Sanctuary (Canyon Records, 2003) There are many among us who can say that Navajo-Ute flautist R. Carlos Nakai is the first Native…
Aztec Reggae
Vick Silva – Roots Man Dance (Rhombus Records) Los Angeles based Chicano musician-producer Vick Silva offers 11 tracks of Aztec-influenced reggae on Roots Man Dance. The…
Songs of the Desert
Tinariwen – The Radio Tisdas Sessions (World Village, 2002) Blues returning to its African roots can be heard in the Malian nomadic group, Tinariwen’s debut release,…
Peace In Our Time
Culture – World Peace (Heartbeat 11661-7764-2, 2003) “We can’t take another war/we want world peace.” So sings Culture’s Joseph Hill on the title track of this…
Fiddling in French
Norouet – Spirale (Ozone Music Group, 2001) Hart Rouge – Une Histoire de Famille (Red House Records, 1999) There used to be a time when…
Sufi Serenity
Ensemble Ibn Arabi – Chants Soufis Arabo-Andalous [Arab-Andalusian Sufi Songs] (Long Distance 0450103, 2003) The mystical facet of Islam known as Sufism has long regarded artistic…
The Purest Voice
Bill Jones – Two Year Winter (Brick Wall Music BRICK 005CD, 2003) Anyone who has followed the progress of Bill Jones in the last few years…
Toi Toi by Thomas Mapfumo & The Blacks Unlimited
Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited Toi Toi (Protest) (aNOnym ReCOrds, 2003) With lyrics that encompass Mapfumo‘s strong sense of social activism and pleas for…
Ghazal Astounds, Khan Makes Sweet Sounds.
Ghazal – The Rain (ECM 1840, 2003) Shujaat Husain Khan – Hawa Hawa (World Village 468022, 2003) Ghazal, a duo comprised of Iranian kamancheh (spike…