World Music Central’s Best World Music Albums of 2019
World Music Central presents the Top 20 World Music Albums of 2019 selected by our staff. Our favorites include the best 20 overall and best…
Asmâa Hamzaoui & Bnat Timbouktou Top the January 2020 Transglobal World Music Chart
The album Oulad Lghaba from Moroccan Gnawa musician Asmâa Hamzaoui and her band Bnat Timbouktou (Daughters of Timbuktu) is the number one album in the…
Enthralling Tibetan Spiritual Impressions
Laurie Anderson, Tenzin Choegyal and Jesse Paris Smith – Songs from the Bardo (Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, 2019) Songs from the Bardo is a spellbinding recording…
Artist Profiles: Ulla Pirttijärvi
Ulla Pirttijärvi is one of the most significant Sámi artists, born in the village of Angeli, Finland. She began her career in Angelin Tytöt. Ulla…
Artist Profiles: Harald Skullerud
Harald Skullerud has worked as a professional musician since 1995, primarily as drummer and percussionist. He uses drums from various continents that he has collected…
Artist Profiles: Olav Torget
Olav Torget has been an independent musician since the early nineties. He plays electric and acoustic guitars and the West African konting (ngoni). He learned…
Cross-Cultural Fusions Across the Globe
Taperebá (2019) is a superb new album from Mikarimba, an ensemble of excellent musicians led by Japanese marimba maestra Mika Stolzman. The United States-based act…
New Compilation Features Winners of the 2019 Russian World Music Awards
A compilation album featuring the winners of the 2019 Russian World Music Awards is now available. The winners this year are: Best world music project…
Smithsonian Folkways to Reissue Calypso Travels
Calypso Travels will be available on vinyl on January 31, 2020. The original recording, released in 1959 featured master calypsonian Lord Invader before his death…
Multifaceted Essences from the Far North
Although Finland is a relatively small country in northern Europe, it has a sizable, high quality music scene. These are some noteworthy recordings from the…