Mulatu Astatke, the Father of Ethio-jazz
Mulatu Astatke (b. 19 December 1943) is an Ethiopian musician, composer, and arranger widely regarded as the originator of Ethio-jazz, a genre that fuses Ethiopian…
Vowel Play: Florence Adooni’s ‘A.O.E.I.U.’ Hits All the Right Notes
Florence Adooni – A.O.E.I.U. (Philophon, 2025) Gifted Ghanaian singer Florence Adooni has released her first international album, A.O.E.I.U. (An Ordinary Exercise In Unity), via Philophon.…
Small Regrets, Big Sound: Chris Jones Teams Up With Jim Lauderdale
To mark the 30th anniversary of his band, the Night Drivers, Chris Jones revisits the country-leaning sound that has long shaped his bluegrass songwriting. His…
Vicente Vallés Receives Castillete de Oro award at Cante de las Minas
On August 5, 2025, journalist Vicente Vallés received the Castillete de Oro at the International Festival El Cante de las Minas in La Unión. Vallés…
Eddie Palmieri, Grammy-Winning Pianist and Bandleader, Dies at 88
Eddie Palmieri, the influential American pianist, composer, and bandleader, died on August 6, 2025. He was 88. Born Eduardo Palmieri on December 15, 1936, in…
Flaco Jiménez, Grammy-Winning Conjunto Accordionist, Dies at 86
Leonardo “Flaco” Jiménez, the influential accordionist who brought conjunto music from the dance halls of San Antonio to stages around the world, died on July…
National Flamenco Contest Expands Prizes and Categories
(headline image: Isabel Albás, president of Instituto Municipal de Artes Escénicas (IMAE) during the presentation.) The 24th National Flamenco Art Contest (CNAF) will take place…
Rock It On Over
Bob Dylan’s “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” redone as a Latin jazz/rock instrumental? Yup, and the USA’s Andy Rothstein Band does a mighty fine…
Ecuador Sets Sail for La Mar de Músicas 2026
The 31st edition of La Mar de Músicas will take place in Cartagena from 17 to 25 July 2026, with Ecuador as the guest country.…
Mahotella Queens Make a Majestic Return
Mahotella Queens – Buya Buya: Come Back (Umsakazo Records, 2025) After nearly two decades without original material, South Africa’s iconic mbaqanga group the Mahotella Queens…