Mezklah Bassist Juan Carlos Ramirez Critically Injured in a Car Crash
At approximately 2:00 PM Saturday, on December 6, Mezklah bassist and keyboardist Juan-Carlos Ramirez was involved in a major car accident in Downtown Los Angeles.…
Afrobite
Chopteeth Chopteeth (Grigri Discs GRIGRI001, 2008) An “Afrofunk Big Band” is how this Washington D.C.-based collective refer to themselves and that label alone was enough…
Guitar Journeys
Quite a few guitar albums make it to World Music Central’s inbox. I need to begin with one of the most pleasant guitar surprises I’ve…
Mali Koura, the New Album by Issa Bagayogo Released in the UK
Mali Koura, the new album by Mali’s Issa Bagayogo, was released in the UK yesterday (8 December 2008) on Six Degrees Records. It was amongst…
New Amnesty International Song and Video Titled The Price of Silence Makes Urgent Call for Universal Human Rights
New York (NY), USA – Renowned actor Laurence Fishburne, reggae icon Stephen Marley, singer Natalie Merchant, African diva Angelique Kidjo and South American sensation Aterciopelados…
Jazzy Bala
Kakande – Dununya (Jumbie Records, 2008) Guinean musician Famoro Dioubate is one of the leading bala (also known as balafon) players in North America. Based…
Aotearoa New Zealand 2008 CD Sampler
The CD sampler titled Aotearoa New Zealand was presented at WOMEX 2008 in Sevilla (Spain). The sampler features a wide range of musical styles by…
Nordic Folk Explorations
Groupa Frost (Footprint Records, 2008) Groupa is a legendary group in Swedish folk music, which describes its music as Nordic folk fusion. The veteran group…
Honoring the Departed
The Music of Ammasu is a collection of field recordings featuring the Ammasu Akapoma Group. They were made in 1976 in Brong-Ahafu, Ghana. The group…
Hamsa Lila’s MJ Greenmountain Celebrates Solo CD Release
After taking world fusion into new realms in the pioneering band Hamsa Lila, singer and percussionist MJ Greenmountain celebrates the release of his debut solo…