Tombak In The Spotlight On Between Hands
Kaveh Mahmudiyan — Between Hands (Global Sonics, 2025) Kaveh Mahmudiyan’s first solo album, Between Hands presents his own compositions with the tombak (Persian goblet-shaped drum).…
Lively Appalachian Strings Meet Chinese Dulcimer
Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer with Chao Tian – From China to Appalachia (Community Music, Inc. and Redeye Distribution, 2024) Grammy Award-winning multi-instrumentalists Cathy Fink…
Beguiling Afro-Fusion Grooves by Hakuna Patata
The name may come across a bit whimsical, but Afro-Belgian artist Hakuna Patata captures a nicely skittering African fusion sound on “Nakupenda,” a tune with…
Ali Doğan Gönültaş Secures Number One Position on Transglobal World Music Chart for July 2024
Keyeyî by Ali Doğan Gönültaş soars to the top on Transglobal World Music Chart for the month of July 2024. Read more about the album…
Bassekou Kouyaté & Amy Sacko Rise to the Top of World Music Charts Europe for July 2024
The album Djudjon by Malian artists Bassekou Kouyaté & Amy Sacko achieved first place at the World Music Charts Europe for July 2024. July Chart…
Os do Fondo da Barra Honors the Male Vocal Tradition of Galicia
Os do Fondo da Barra – BâNZô (Os do Fondo da Barra, 2024) The Os do Fondo da Barra (OFB) is a Galician music group…
“Burn the Flame,” Reggae Seasoned Song by PJ Far-West Selecta
PJ Far-West Selecta has another reggae-flavored grabber that’s giving him recurring status in this column. This one’s called “Burn the Flame” and rocks with additional…
The Joyful and Thought-Provoking Music of Beautiful Nubia and the Roots Renaissance Band
Beautiful Nubia and the Roots Renaissance Band – Ṣonṣo (EniObanke, 2024) Ṣonṣo, the 20th studio album by Beautiful Nubia and the Roots Renaissance Band, was…
Afro-Venezuelan Drum Therapy by Parranda La Cruz
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…
Mojna Presents Inventive Nordic Expressions on “Väntenätter”
Mojna – Väntenätter (Heilo/Grappa, 2024) Mojna, a Swedish/Norwegian trio previously known as Eriksson/Myhr/Malmström, offers a distinctive mix of Nordic folk with elements of improvisation and…
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.…