Mali’s legendary Festival au Désert Received WOMEX 2013 Professional Excellence Award
World music expo WOMEX announced today the winner of the 2013 Professional Excellence Award. The award goes to Mali’s famed Festival in the Desert (Festival…
Mamadou Diabate’s Superb Percussion Experience
Mamadou Diabate’s Percussion Mania Kanuya (Extraplatte EX920-2, 2011) Kanuya (friendship, esteem and respect) is a thrilling album of modern West African centered around the balafon.…
Nonesuch and Perro Verde Records to Release Ry Cooder and Corridos Famosos Live in San Francisco
Nonesuch and Perro Verde Records have announced the release of Ry Cooder’s first live album in more than 30 years. Live in San Francisco is…
Beautifully Crafted Jazz and Haitian Roots
Vo-Duo Nou La (Lakou Brooklyn 641444111725, 2012) Haitian rots music, poetry and jazz come together in the debut album by a New York-based group called…
Latin Jazz Drummer Steve Berrios Dies at 68
Steve Berrios, a well-known jazz and Latin music percussionist from New York died July 24th, 2013 in Manhattan. He was 68. Steve Berrios was born…
Baila: A Latin Dance Party
Various Artists Baila: A Latin Dance Party (Putumayo, 2006) It is hard to go wrong with a compilation of Latin dance hits, and this stellar…
Super Charged Robert Randolph & The Family Band
Robert Randolph & The Family Band – Lickety Split (Blue Note, 2013) Looking for a cure for that mid-summer ennui, well, look no further than…
Popular Tuvan Throat Singer Kongar-ol Ondar Dies at 51
Renowned Tuvan throat singer Kongar-ol Ondar passed away July 25, 2013 in Kyzyl, the capital of the central Asian Tuva Republic (Russia). He died after…
Catriona McKay & Olov Johansson to Release The Auld Harp
Two leading harp players, Catriona McKay (Scottish harp) and Olov Johansson (Swedish nyckelharpa) are set to release a new collaboration titled The Auld Harp (Olov…
Renowned Zimbabwean Musician Chiwoniso Maraire Dies at 37
One of Zimbabwe’s most respected artists, mbira musician and vocalist Chiwoniso Maraire died on Wednesday, July 24th, 2013 at South Medical Centre in Chitungwiza, a…