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: Hamid Reza Taqavi
Hamid Reza Taqavi, born in 1976 in Iranian Azerbaijan, began playing santur at the age of 11 under the direction of Ibrahim Safari and continued…
Nakai’s Southwestern Jams
R. Carlos Nakai Quartet – What Lies Beyond (Canyon Records CR-7211, 2016) Acclaimed Navajo-Ute flutist R. Carlos Nakai has numerous projects that range from traditional…
Artist Profiles: Alireza Ghorbani
Vocalist Alireza Ghorbani, born in 1972, began studying the Persian classical repertoire (radif) at the age of 12 with such masters as Mehdi Fallah, Hossein…
Les Moncada Chats with “Timbalero Monster” Nicky Marrero
There are timbaleros (timbales players) in Latin music and then there are timbaleros. Nicky Marrero is the master at his work! Nicky Marrero has performed…
Interview with Filmmaker Reed Rickert
Reed Rickert has directed several documentary films related to music. We talked to him to find out more about his projects. Walila: The Modern Sound…
2016 Holiday Gift Guide – Day 3
Today’s portion of the Gift Guide is an assortment of cool music-related stuff. B00WY4NZBG
2016 Holiday Gift Guide – Day 2
Today’s portion of the Gift Guide is all about playing music. Isn’t about time your Uncle Fred finally took up the Irish whistle? Or perhaps…
2016 Holiday Gift Guide – Day 1
Right about now that leopard print Snuggie is probably looking like a fine gift idea, as are the Troll Chia Pets and one of those…
New Ethiopian Sounds Celebrate Emperor Tewodros II
Gabriella Ghermandi – Ethiopia – Celebrating Emperor Tewodros II (Arc Music, 2016) Vocalist Gabriella Ghermandi dedicates this album to charismatic Ethiopian emperor Tewodros II. Born…
Artist Profiles: Honoré Avolonto
Afrobeat musician Honoré Avolonto started his career in 1969 as a percussionist. The young conga player went onto become one of Benin’s most prolific composer.…