Golden Harps of Galicia
Rodrigo Romaní Trío – Fios de ouro no ár (Altafonte, 2018) Spanish musician Rodrigo Romaní is one of the leading harp players in Galicia. He’s…
Charming Old Style Braguesa Guitar
Chico Gouveia – Moda Velha (Tradisom, 2016) Guitarist Chico Gouveia showcases one of Portugal’s beautiful musical instruments, the viola braguesa (Braguesa guitar), from northwestern Portugal.…
Artist Profiles: Mustapha Tettey Addy
Mustapha Tettey Addy was born in 1942 in a small village near Ghana’s capital Accra. The Addy family was known for their impressive ritual drummers…
Artist Profiles: Blay Ambolley
Gyedu-Blay Ambolley, affectionately known as the “Simigwa Do Man,” was born in 1947 in the port city of Sekondi-Takoradi, in the Western Region of Ghana.…
Artist Profiles: Bernard Woma
Bernard Woma plays the xylophone from northern Ghana called the gyil. Like the bala from Guinea and Mali, the gyil has gourd resonators that have…
Artist Profiles: Aja Addy
Aja Addy was born 1948 in Accra, Ghana. He was an acclaimed Ghanaian master drummer and percussionist. Influenced by his work as a tigari priest,…
Exceptionally Good Recreations of Czech Folk Songs
BraAgas – O ptácích a rybách (Indies Scope, 2018) BraAgas is an all-female ensemble and one of the finest performers of contemporary Czech folk music.…
Sacred Sikh Vocals with a Global Appeal
Manika Kaur – Sacred Words (Suriya Recordings, 2018) Sacred Word is an album by a very successful kirtan performer named Manika Kaur. Kirtan is a…
Masterful and Electrifying Ne La Thiass
Cheikh Lo – Ne La Thiass (World Circuit, 2018), reissue In 1995, while Coolio’s “Gansta Paradise,” TLC’s “Waterfalls,” Seal’s “Kiss from a Rose” and Madonna’s…
Artist Profiles: Lulo Reinhardt
Lulo Reinhardt is a gifted guitarist who was taught by his father since the age of five. At twelve, he was already playing with the…