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).…
Artist Profiles: Manuel Monestel
Manuel Monestel was born in San Pedro de Montes de Oca, Costa Rica in 1950. He is a singer songwriter whose songs refer to local…
Artist Profiles: Malpais
The group “Malpaís” (whose literal meaning is “bad country” or badlands) takes its name from the Peninsula of Nicoya’s most remote shore, a forgotten land…
Artist Profiles: Luis Muñoz
Luis Muñoz, composer, arranger and percussionist, was born in San Jose, Costa Rica. Coming from a very musical family, Luis showed an early interest in…
Artist Profiles: Jorge Strunz
Jorge Strunz was born in Costa Rica and was given his first guitar at age 6. He began performing professionally in their early teens. The…
Flowerful Cape Verdean Songs
Nancy Vieira – Manha Florida (Lusafrica, 2018) Manhã Florida is the fifth album by Nancy Vieira, one of the finest performers in the Cape Verdean…
Artist Profiles: Jaime Gamboa
Jaime Gamboa is a philologist, publicist, poet and bass player. He has written much of the lyrics of Malpais’ songs, along with his late brother…
Artist Profiles: Iván Rodríguez
Iván Rodríguez was a violinist in the National Symphonic Orchestra of Costa Rica for twenty years, and member of Adrián Goizueta’s Grupo Experimental and the…
Artist Profiles: Fidel Gamboa
Fidel Gamboa Goldemberg, better known as Fidel Gamboa, was born in Nicoya, Costa Rica on August 6, 1961. He was the musical director, lyricist and…
Artist Profiles: Carlos “Tapado” Vargas
Costa Rican musician Carlos “Tapado” Vargas is a percussionist known for his great creativity and excellent technique, formed in the National Symphonic Orchestra. Tapao has…
Artist Profiles: Cantoamérica
Singer-songwriter and guitarist Manuel Monestel founded Afro-Latin band Cantoamerica. Their music is influenced by Cuban son, salsa and calypso. In fact, the group calls it:…