The Colombian Charm of Juliana Martina’s Latest Album, ‘Laman’
Juliana Martina – Laman (Juliana Martina/AudioMaze, 2023) Juliana Martina’s latest album, Laman is a real gem! I stumbled upon this incredibly talented vocalist recently, and…
Steel Drum Island’s Captivating Spin on the Timeless Tune ‘Hot Hot Hot'”
“Hot Hot Hot” is one of the most recognizable tunes ever to emerge from the Caribbean, and the U.S.’s Steel Drum Island do a particularly…
Casapalma Retrieve Cherished Cantabrian Folk Songs in ‘Montañesas’
Casapalma – Montañesas (Raso Estudio, 2023) Gifted Spanish band Casapalma passionately lays claim to the mountain melodies and the vibrant Cantabrian traditions of northern Spain…
New Book in English By Peter Manuel Focuses on Flamenco Music History, Forms, Culture
American writer Peter Manuel has published a new book titled Flamenco Music History, Forms, Culture on University of Illinois Press. Notably, Peter Manuel offers English-language…
Scott Emmerman’s ‘Spheres’ Combines Jazz and Indian Vibes with Artful Precision
“Spheres,” a fusion of jazz and Indian influences by American guitarist Scott Emmerman, is a crafty, enjoyable mix in terms of both sources and production…
Bruno Deschênes Unravels Transmusicality in New Book
In Transmusicality, Mastering a Music from Another Culture (Croatian Musicological Society, 2022), Bruno Deschênes, a Canadian musician, composer and master Japanese shakuhachi player, takes a…
Alain Labrie’s Labryenco Transcends Flamenco with ‘Morir y Nacer’
Labryenco – Morir y Nacer (-I-C-U-B4-T-, 2023) Labryenco, the dynamic flamenco ensemble led by Netherlands-based guitarist and composer Alain Labrie, has released its third album,…
Old Town School of Folk Music Reveals New World Music Wednesdays in 2024
Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago has announced the new set of its new World Music Wednesdays. The world music series will return…
Madedonian Tradition Redefined on Dobrila & Dorian Duo 2
Dobrila & Dorian Duo – Dobrila & Dorian Duo 2 (SJF Records, 2023) Dobrila Grasheska and Dorian Jovanovic introduce the listener to a fascinating exploration…
Malian Guitar Maestro Mama Sissoko
Mama Sissoko was born in 1949 in Nioro du Sahel, 450 km north of Bamako, Mali. As a teenager, his parents entrusted him to his…