France’s Parranda La Cruz rely on nothing more than percussion and voices for “Quichimba,” a rousing piece based on Afro-Venezuelan sources and a prime example…
Afro-Venezuelan Drum Therapy by Parranda La Cruz
Category: Single reviews
Reviews of single recordings
Patxi Pascual Presents Brazilian Flavors on “Los buenos días”
Spanish artist Patxi Pascual exudes a Brazilian air with “Los buenos días,” which features nimble flute, guitar, and vocal scatting atop polyrhythmic drumming and bass.…
Persuasive, Inspiring Roots Reggae by Minna LaFortune
With her song “The Black Star Liner,” Minna LaFortune joins such fellow Jamaicans as Winston Rodney and Joseph Hill in uplifting the ideology of Marcus…
Swinging Bossa Nova by Thalerg
Bossa Nova has long had worldwide recognizability, and that is as it should be. Parisian pianist and composer Thalerg has his own authentic take called…
David Leon’s Flawless Fusion of Sax and Gayageum
Heard any unusual but perfect jazz fusions lately? If not, give a listen to “Palmetto,” a lullaby of an instrumental by American saxophonist David Leon.…
Reverberating Reggae from Tobago
Born in Tobago and currently residing in Canada, Caleb Hart scores with “Good Life,” an echoey reggae track that’s all about something that seems to…
Stimulating Golden Age Ethiopian Sounds by Esy Tadesse
Born in Addis Ababa and currently a resident of Los Angeles, guitarist/vocalist Esy Tadesse nails the golden age Ethiopian sound on “Buna,” a track brimming…
Zoolook’s Soulful Reggae Amalgamation
Hybrid reggae doesn’t always work, but an American who goes by the name of Zoolook gets it absolutely right with “Rockers,” a blend of Jamaican,…
Scintillating Reggae by Kingly T
A new track by American reggae singer Kingly T urges humanity to “Change Direction.” That’s good advice on a number of levels, and the hard-hitting…
Enduring Bossa Nova by Ingrid León and Bob James
Hailing from Mexico and the United States respectively, veteran musicians Ingrid León and Bob James give the classic bossa nova style their own stamp with…