Artist Profiles: Bola Abimbola
Bola Abimbola was born in 1966 and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, the large African metropolis that gave us celebrated African musical pioneers Fela Kuti and…
Artist Profiles: D’banj
Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo, better known as D’banj, was born June 9, 1980 in Zaria, Nigeria. D’banj is a singer-songwriter as well as a harmonica master…
Artist Profiles: Dele Sosimi
Dele Sosimi is a British-Nigerian musician born February 22, 1963 in London, England. Dele Sosimi stands out as one of the most active musicians currently…
Artist Profiles: I. K. Dairo
For many years, I.K. Dairo was an influential Juju musician and made a lasting impression on musicians in Nigeria and other parts of Africa. The…
Artist Profiles: I.M. Harjito
I.M. Harjito, the Gamelan Kusuma Laras (“Flowering Harmony”) artistic director, is one of the finest Javanese musicians practicing today. He is a graduate of Indonesia’s…
Artist Profiles: Midiyanto
Midiyanto is a musician and puppet master (dhalang) from Wonogiri, Central Java, coming from a family of artists. Over the last 30 years he has…
Artist Profiles: Heni Savitri
Heni Savitri began to study sindhènan (Javanese singing with gamelan) in 2002. In 2003, she won the competition for best vocalist in her native district…
Artist Profiles: Lagbaja
Lagbaja is widely considered to be one of Africa’s most exciting and interesting contemporary artists. Combining sophisticated compositions with a dynamic stage show and enigmatic…
Jazz Bata 2, the Extension of an Inspired Journey
Chucho Valdés – Jazz Bata 2 (Mack Avenue Records, 2018) Cuban pianist, bandleader, composer and arranger Chucho Valdés’s Jazz Bata 2 is a recording where…
Lustrous and Fresh Areas of High Traffic
Damien O’Kane – Areas of High Traffic (Pure Records, 2015) Often the first impressions that come to mind when handed a Celtic CD are of…