Lô And Behold: Maame, a DYI Effort
Cheikh Lô – Maame (World Circuit, 2025) A decade has passed since Cheikh Lô last offered a studio album, and Maame feels like a homecoming…
Shane Shanahan’s Audacity (Live) Rallies An All-Star Ensemble
Shane Shanahan – Audacity (Live) (Bright Shiny Things, 2025) Percussionist Shane Shanahan released Audacity (Live), a project that highlights his cross-cultural collaboration. These stem from…
Djékady’s Innovative ‘Benkan’ Intersects Malian Heritage and American Roots
Djékady – Benkan (Bright Shiny Things, 2025) Benkan introduces Djékady, a superb six-piece ensemble co-led by Malian balafon maestro and singer Balla Kouyaté and American…
Ashby Frank Rolls Out A Bluesy Waltz: “Mr. Engineer” Gets A Fresh Trackside Stop
Ashby Frank has released a new contemporary bluegrass version of “Mr. Engineer,” the Jimmy Martin and Paul Williams classic, via Mountain Home Music Company. The…
Carolyn Trowbridge Unveils Hypnotic “Duchess Of Sheba”
Austin Music Award–nominated musician and composer Carolyn Trowbridge has released “Duchess Of Sheba,” the lead single from her debut album Found Memories. The piece presents…
From Ballparks To “Love Shack”: Antonio Andrade Drops Here We Go!
Antonio Andrade – Here We Go! (Life Shakes Records, 2025) Antonio Andrade’s, Here We Go!, presents a covers collection developed during the shutdown months of…
Brazil Meets The World In Brasil Calling Volume 22
Various Artists – Brasil Calling Volume 22 (2025) Brasil Calling Volume 22 highlights 15 tracks that weave Brazil’s regional traditions with contemporary collaborations across continents.…
Tasty Menu
An array of Latin American music styles are seamlessly fused on “Latin Café 2.0,” a cool/warm/hot piece of work by Malamañoso out of Italy.
Andy Nevala’s “El Rumbón (The Party)”—Afro-Cuban Jazz, Reimagined
Andy Nevala – El Rumbón (The Party) (Zoho, 2025) Virtuoso pianist, composer, and educator Andy Nevala has released El Rumbón (The Party), a tasty ten-track…
Songs of the Old World
Rolf Lislevand – Jul I gammel tid (Christmas in the days of old) (Kirkelig Kulturverksted, 2005) I received many Early Music Christmas recordings this year.…
Charming Cross-Cultural Teamwork, Chicago Immigrant Orchestra’s ‘Sanctuary’
Chicago Immigrant Orchestra – Sanctuary (Wahdude Music, 2025) Chicago Immigrant Orchestra has released Sanctuary, an eclectic, boundary-blurring album focused on preserving folk songs rooted in…