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).…
Karkabas: the Trance-Inducing Metal Castanets
(A pair of karkabas, fair trade. Gnawa metal castanets.) The karkabas, a musical instrument intricately tied to Gnawa music, a traditional genre originating from Morocco.…
Biography of Composer, Researcher and Multi-Instrumentalist Tito Rinesi
Tito Rinesi is a composer and researcher specializing in ethnic and traditional music from various countries. He is a multi-instrumentalist and singer, proficient in playing…
‘Brasil’ by Ritenour and Grusin: A Fusion of Jazz Mastery and Brazilian Soul
Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin – Brasil (Candid Records, 2024) Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin have released Brasil, a captivating, exquisite and accessible exploration of…
Stimulating Golden Age Ethiopian Sounds by Esy Tadesse
Born in Addis Ababa and currently a resident of Los Angeles, guitarist/vocalist Esy Tadesse nails the golden age Ethiopian sound on “Buna,” a track brimming…
Bab L’ Bluz Takes the Number One Spot on Transglobal World Music Chart for June 2024
The album Swaken by Moroccan/French band Bab L’ Bluz has claimed the number one position on the Transglobal World Music Chart for the month of…
Ana Lua Caiano Takes the Number One Spot on World Music Charts Europe for June 2024
The album Vou Ficar Neste Quadrado (I will stay in this square) by Ana Lua Caiano, a Lisbon-based artist, has captured the top rank on…
Rachel Newton’s ‘Sealladh’: A Splendid Album Inspired by Scottish Art
Rachel Newton – Sealladh (Hudson Records, 2024) Sealladh (pronounced ‘shall-ugh’), the latest album from singer, harpist, and composer Rachel Newton, originated as a commission for…
Zoolook’s Soulful Reggae Amalgamation
Hybrid reggae doesn’t always work, but an American who goes by the name of Zoolook gets it absolutely right with “Rockers,” a blend of Jamaican,…
Alana, Buíoch, and Picarós: Finalists of the Runas 2024 Contest
Three emerging bands, Alana, Buíoch, and Picarós, have been selected as finalists for the Runas 2024 Contest. The popular vote played a crucial role in…
A Cantadeira Reinvents the Songs of Portuguese Elders
A Cantadeira – Tecelã (Repasseado, 2024) Joana Negrão, known professionally as A Cantadeira, was born in Setúbal, Portugal, in 1983. Her musical career is deeply…