Music Crossroads winners "Tikhu Vibrations" (Malawi) on tour in Europe
Brussels, Belgium – Tikhu Vibrations, the winners of the 4th Interregional Music Crossroads Festival held in Tanzania in January 2003, will be touring in Sweden,…
Nice Thighs, But What Are You Selling?
Not too long ago, World Music Central received a press packet promoting the musical group called ‘bond.’ The group is a string quartet of highly-trained…
Arabesque meets the swinging 60’s
Jane Birkin Arabesque (EMI France/Narada World, 2003) It’s odd how our society feels so much nostalgia for the swinging sixties and this era’s icons. And…
Songs of the Matriarchs: The Saharawis
Starry Nights in Western Sahara (Rounder Records, 2003) Song of Umm Dalaila: The Story of the Saharawis (documentary film, 1996) Beat of Distant Hearts (documentary…
Interview with Saharawi Singer Mariem Hassan
Mariem Hassan expresses herself naturally in Hassania, the language of the Saharawis, but has serious difficulties with Spanish. That’s why she has rarely agreed to be…
Drum Drum tours the USA
Drum Drum has commenced their third tour of the USA. It will be their first tour on the roster of SRO Artists Inc and will…
Capping a Decade of Excellence
Africando – Martina (Stern’s STCD 1096, 2003) It’s been 10 years since Africando began the full-force re-Africanization of salsa. Of course, the musical give and take…
Pancho Quinto – Rumba Sin Fronteras
San Francisco, USA – The latest release on the Riverboat label is Rumba Sin Fronteras by Cuban musician Pancho Quinto. Scheduled for release in the…
Celtic Music of Spain
Tejedor – Llunáticos (Aris Música/Resistencia, 2003) Although half of my family can claim Spanish ancestry, I have only known about Spain’s Celtic tradition for the…
New World Titles on Topic Records
London, England – Topic Records has released three new titles from its collection of traditional world music. Drumming & Chanting In God’s Own Country,…