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).…
Re-check Your Pulse
Steel Pulse – True Democracy (Elektra/Rhino R2 79287, 2005) Steel Pulse – Earth Crisis (Elektra/Rhino R2 74687, 2005) These two albums, originally released in 1982…
A New Generation of Garifuna Drummers
Lebeha Boys Lebeha Drumming (innova 2009, 2005) In 2002, Garifuna drummer Jabbar Lambey and Canadian Dorothy Pettersen started the Lebeha Drumming Center. The school is…
The National Folk Festival Moves to Virginia
Richmond (Virginia), USA – The National Folk Festival begins its three-year tenure in downtown Richmond celebrating the roots, richness and variety of American culture through…
Filipino-Irish Group Prettier Than Pink Makes U.S. Debut
Glendale (California), USA – Featuring three Filipina musicians and one Irish drummer, the Los Angeles-based pop/rock band Prettier Than Pink have just released their U.S.…
Noel Nicola, Nueva Trova Pioneer, dies at 58
Havana, Cuba – Guitarist and composer Noel Nicola died of cancer in Havana on Sunday, August 7. He was 58. In a week when many…
Karsh Kale’s Classical Science Fiction From India Now Available
San Francisco (California), USA – Rare and unreleased tracks by Karsh Kale are now available as digital downloads on UFO Music. Originally recorded and released…
An Anthology of Venezuela’s Legendary Salsa Band
Miami (Florida), USA – Venezuela’s most famous salsa orchestra, Dimensión Latina, has a new album out. With Al Paso, Dimensión Latina brings back their greatest…
Ibrahím Ferrer Dies at 78
Havana, Cuba – Cuban singer Ibrahim Ferrer died yesterday, August 6, at CIMEQ hospital in Havana (Cuba). He was 78. Ferrer was admired for his…
Historical Hopi Songs
Phoenix (Arizona), USA – From the Hopi village of Hoat’Ve’La on the Third Mesa in Arizona, traditional singer Clark Tenakhongva shares the Hopi vision of…
Wild Polkas
Afenginn Retrograd (Tutl Shd67, 2004) Hailing from Denmark, Afengin do not play what you would expect from a Nordic country. Instead, the band plays breakneck…