África Negra’s Legacy Revived in ‘Antologia Vol. 2’: A Tribute to São Tomé’s Afro-Roots Pioneers
África Negra – Antologia Vol. 2 (Bongo Joe Records, 2024) Antologia Vol. 2 continues to explore the musical legacy of one of São Tomé and…
Luciane Dom and Gafieira Rio Miami Set to Perform at Logan Square Auditorium
On Friday, October 4, Logan Square Auditorium in Chicago will host a performance by Luciane Dom, a multilingual singer, songwriter, and producer from Rio de…
Tamada Presents Innovative Georgian Folktronica
Tamada – 9 Deadly Sins for Tamada (Alt Orient, 2024) Following the success of his debut album Dionysus vs. Tamada, Georgian singer-songwriter and producer Tamada…
Silkroad Announces Second American Railroad Tour, November 2024
(headline image: American Railroad at Santa Barbara’s Granada Theatre in 2023. Photo by David Bazemore) Silkroad has revealed dates for the second tour of its…
Mina Cho & Grace Beat Quartet, An Encounter of Korean Music and Jazz
Mina Cho & Grace Beat Quartet – Beat Mirage (Gugak Jazz Society, 2024) The Grace Beat Quartet evolved from the Gugak Jazz Society, a 9-piece…
Songdreaming Exemplifies Sam Lee’s Deep Affection for the Natural World
Sam Lee – Songdreaming (Cooking Vinyl, 2024) In March 2024, Sam Lee released his fourth studio album, titled songdreaming. Known as a custodian of folk…
BaBa ZuLa Releases New Single from Upcoming Album
Turkish psychedelic band BaBa ZuLa has released “Arsız Saksağan (Cheeky Magpie),” the first single from their upcoming album İstanbul Sokakları (Streets of Istanbul), set to…
Sapocaya’s Multicultural Array of Afro-Rooted Jazz
With their instrumental track “Baraúna,” a French band called Sapocaya expertly captures the point where Africa, Brazil, and jazz converge.
The Shekere: A Fundamental Traditional African Percussion Instrument
(headline image: Latin Percussion shekere, LP486) The shekere is a percussion instrument made from a dried gourd, covered with a net woven with beads, stones,…
Jawa, Keepers of Venerable Aleppo Sufi Traditions
Jawa – Last Breaths from Aleppo (Muziekpublique, 2023) Multinational ensemble Jawa plays transfixing music that is rooted in Sufi practices. Indeed, Jawa is dedicated to…