2008 Music Obituaries, February
World Music Central’s list of musicians, scholars and music industry professionals who left us in 2008. February 3 Jorge Liderman, 50, composer. Born in Buenos…
Haitian References
BelO Reference (Sacem, 2008) Blending Haitian tradition with modern production and an easygoing flow that goes down like smooth jazz at times, the music of…
2008 Music Obituaries, January
World Music Central’s list of musicians, scholars and music industry professionals who left us in 2008. January 1 Dennis Clifton, 54, musician and studio engineer.…
The David Grisman Quintet will perform Four Nights in Seattle
The Pacific Jazz Institute at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley presents mandolinist and composer of “Dawg” music for four nights January 15 – 18, 2009. Band members…
Buika Undressed
Buika Niña de Fuego (Warner Music Latina 513004, 2008) It was the flamenco feel that I first caught upon listening to Spain’s Concha Buika, but…
Mestizao Festival 2009 Brings Music Hybrids to Granada
The city of Granada in southern Spain will host the 5th edition of Mestizao Festival. The festival focuses on mestizo music, which is a genre…
Brazil Gone Batty
Bat Makumba Boteco (Bat Makumba Records 665744 10052-4) San Francisco-based Bat Makumba (named after a Caetano Veloso song) here follow up their debut with another…
Niyaz Will Celebrate in 2009 New Album Release in Los Angeles
On February 7, the Persian electro-acoustic sensation Niyaz does a hometown record release party in Los Angeles at the El Rey Theatre in support of…
Kora Master in the Spirit
Youssoupha Sidibe Xelcom (Self-released, 2008) Senegal’s Youssoupha Sidibe has played his kora (21-stringed West African harp) alongside artists as varied as Matisyahu, Bela Fleck, India…
Chicha Rebound Continues
Juaneco y su Combo Masters of Chicha Vol. 1 (Barbes Records BROO20, 2008) The 2007 compilation Roots of Chicha brought long-overdue wider recognition to a…