Sephardic Music Master Samy Al-Maghribi Dies in Canada
Oud player Salomon Amzallag, better known as Samy Al-Maghribi, died March 9, 2008. Born in Morocco in 1922, he soon became a well-known figure in Andalusian…
Scotland’s Emily Smith Band Will Bring Celtic Music to Raleigh
Scottish singer Emily Smith will be performing with her band April 2 at the Long View Center in Raleigh. Scottish-born singer/songwriter Emily Smith first made…
Eastern Blok March 08 Tour
Eastern Blok releases their highly awaited second album, Folk Tales. Featuring expanded instrumentation, complex high-energy arrangements with a folk sensibility, “Folk Tales” reaches a new…
Cesaria Evora suffers stroke in Australia
Australia – WOMADELAIDE headline act Cesaria Evora has been forced to cancel her appearance after suffering a stroke in Sydney. The 66-year-old singer from Cape Verde…
Devotional Global Electronica
Cheb i Sabbah Devotion (Six Degrees, 2008) One of the masters of global electronica, Cheb i Sabbah, returns to the Indian subcontinent for inspiration with…
Wonder Women
Umalali – The Garifuna Women’s Project (Cumbancha/Stonetree Records CMB-CD-6, 2008) There is, of course, a bittersweet air to Umalali (to be released on March 18th)…
Áine’s Celtic Pilgrimage
Aine Minogue Celtic Pilgrimage (Sounds True, 2008) Irish harpist and singer Áine Minogue has been exploring the mystical side of Irish music for many years.…
Interview with Mike Henderson of The SteelDrivers about the Band’s Debut CD
The SteelDrivers play what has been called rhythm’n’bluegrass (rhythm and blues combined with bluegrass). this group of veteran songwriters and session men with innumerable hits,…
Forever Seeking Persian Excellence
Mamak Khadem Jostojoo Forever Seeking (Banyan Tree Production, 2008) Most world music fans would easily recognize Mamak Khadem’s voice by her work with the popular…
Afro-Cuban Homecoming
Omar Sosa Afreecanos (Otá Records, 2008) Luminary Cuban keyboardist and composer Omar Sosa continuously provides a fascinating exploration of the musics of Africa and its…