Tombak In The Spotlight On Between Hands
Kaveh Mahmudiyan — Between Hands (Global Sonics, 2025) Kaveh Mahmudiyan’s first solo album, Between Hands presents his own compositions with the tombak (Persian goblet-shaped drum).…
Mama Knows Best
Italy’s Mama Djarra infuses “Mana” with full-blooded declarations of female empowerment, resistance and solidarity, which happen to be a perfect match for the song’s militant…
Anouar Brahem Reaching for the Sky
Anouar Brahem – After The Last Sky (ECM, 2025) Eight years after Blue Maqams, Tunisian oud player and composer Anouar Brahem returns with After The…
Tradition with a Twist: Kasiva Mutua Reinvents Kenyan Beats
Kasiva Mutua – Desturi (Delicious Tunes, 2025) Gifted Kenyan percussionist Kasiva Mutua makes a striking debut as a solo artist with Desturi, an outstanding album…
Värttinä Tops the Transglobal World Music Chart for July 2025
The album Kyly by groundbreaking Finnish band Värttinä reached the number one spot of the Transglobal World Music Chart for the month of July 2025.…
Värttinä Surges to the Summit of World Music Charts Europe for July 2025
The album Kyly by Finnish folk stars Värttinä Secured the coveted top position of World Music Charts Europe for the month of July 2025. Kyly…
Áššu Rekindles Sámi Fire on Luohtenlegut
Áššu – Luoteniegut (Nordic Notes / CPL-Musicgroup, 2025) Áššu, the trio led by veteran Finnish Sámi singer Ulla Pirttijärvi, intertwines traditional joik with contemporary sounds…
Mamah Soares Mixes Candomblé and Club Beats in “Banho de Abô”
Mamah Soares, a multi-instrumentalist and composer from Salvador, Bahia, returns with Banho de Abô, a new single released on June 13 via Kaxambu Records. Featuring…
Tried, True and Terrific
The longstanding relationship between jazz and samba remains as strong as ever, with “Afosamba” by Brazilian pianist Antonio Adolfo and his octet a shining example…
Sister Sadie Mix Bluegrass and ’90s Twang on All Will Be Well
Sister Sadie – All Will Be Well (Mountain Home Music, 2025) Bluegrass group Sister Sadie returns with All Will Be Well, a new full-length album…
An Overview of the Twangy Jaw Harp
(headline image: Algair Jaw Harp) Few musical instruments are as small and unassuming yet as globally far-reaching as the jaw harp. Also known as the…