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The cover art for "Ceylan" by Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek features a background with vertical, irregular teal lines dripping down into a deep black base. The album title, "Ceylan," is displayed in large, off-white, bold serif typography. A small, circular emblem with a stylized crown in purple is positioned in the upper right corner.

Music videos

Deerly Beloved: Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek Reimagine ‘Ceylan’

Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek’s latest single, “Ceylan”, released via Big Crown Records, offers a fresh interpretation of the Neşet Ertaş classic, originally written by…

The album cover for Live in the Khaleej! by Ghazi & Boom.Diwan x Arturo O’Farrill features a minimalistic yet elegant design. The background is a warm golden yellow, complemented by intricate black line art. The central visual element is a stylized clock or astrolabe-like illustration with abstract detailing. The typography is clean and modern, with the artist names at the top in a refined font and the album title boldly displayed at the bottom.

Album reviews

The Music World is Their Oyster

Tom Orr February 17, 2025 No Comments Abdullah Al-Mutairi Al-Mudhafar Arturo O’Farrill Boom.Diwan Claude Cozens Ghazi Ghazi Al-Mulaifi Hamad Ben Hussain Hamad Saeed Jasper Shogo Dutz Liany Mateo piano world fusion world music

Ghazi & Boom.Diwan x Arturo O’Farrill- Live in the Khaleej! (self released, 2025) Lest you doubt the infinite possibilities for fusion in the global music…

Danilo Pérez and the Bohuslän Big Band - Lumen cover artwork. A colorful illustration of flowers and leaves.

Album reviews

Danilo Pérez and Bohuslän Big Band Unite Jazz Cultures with Lumen

Iliana Cabrera February 15, 2025 No Comments Alberto Pinton Christer Olofsson Danilo Pérez Göran Kroon Gustaf Wiklund Ingrid Utne Jan Eliasson Joakim Rolandsson Lennart Grahn Linus Lindblom Lisbeth Diers Martin Bjurek Svanström Mikael Karlsson Niclas Rydh Olli Rantala Samuel Olsson Staffan Svensson world fusion world music

Danilo Pérez and the Bohuslän Big Band – Lumen (Prophone Records, 2024) Lumen by Danilo Pérez and the Bohuslän Big Band is a striking new…

Crossroads Concerts 2025 poster. A collage of photos of artists set to perform.

Events

Irish-Indian Fusion at the Crossroads in New York

World Music Central News Room February 14, 2025 No Comments Celtic music Irish folk music New York Irish Center world fusion world music

The New York Irish Center continues its world music series, Crossroads Concerts, with a fusion of Irish and Indian folk traditions on Thursday, February 27,…

Clockwise From Top Left: Youssou NDOUR, Marina Heredia, Amjad Ali Khan (with Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash), Sona Jobarteh, Paolo Angeli, and Simon Shaheen. Photo credits: Youssou NDOUR - Youri Lenquette, Sona Jobarteh- Rob O'Connor, Paolo Angeli - Nanni Angeli, and Simon Shaheen - Keith Getter. All Other Photos Courtesy of The Artists

Events

Striking the Right Note: World Music Institute Unveils 2025 Spring-Summer Lineup

World Music Central News Room February 11, 2025 No Comments Amaan Ali Bangash Amjad Ali Khan Anoushka Shankar Ayaan Ali Bangash Bill Frisell Derek Gripper Flamenco Indian classical music José Quevedo "El Bolita"La Plazuela Lucian Ban Marina Heredia Mat Maneri Paolo Angeli Rahim AlHaj Simon Shaheen Skúli Sverrisson Sona Jobarteh Spanish music Vieux Farka Touré world fusion world music World Music Institute Yamandu Costa Youssou N'Dour

The World Music Institute (WMI) has announced its Spring-Summer 2025 season, featuring a mix of globally renowned and emerging artists. Highlights include performances by Anoushka…

Larry & Joe - Manos Panamericanos cover artwork. A collage of various musical instruments: a green harp, a red banjo, a blue acoustic bass and a yellow fiddle.

Album reviews

Panamericanos: Larry & Joe Unite Musical Traditions Across Borders

Angel Romero February 11, 2025 No Comments Bluegrass Larry & Joe Venezuelan music world fusion world music

Larry & Joe – Manos Panamericanos (self-release, 2024) Larry Bellorín and Joe Troop present a cross-cultural collaboration through music on Manos Panamericanos (Pan American brothers).…

The Almighty Groove - Frère d'Afrique cover artwork. A green meadow and clouds in the distance.

Album reviews

Frère d’Afrique: A Rhythmic Bridge Between Africa and Colombia

Iliana Cabrera February 7, 2025 No Comments Colombian music guitar percussion Senegalese music world fusion world music

The Almighty Groove – Frère d’Afrique (Real World X/Real World Records, 2024) The Almighty Groove’s debut EP, Frère d’Afrique, released via Real World X, presents…

The album cover for Doug MacDonald's "Santa Monica Session" features an abstract, colorful design. The background is dominated by vibrant hues of orange, pink, teal, and yellow, blending together in a dreamlike, sky-inspired composition. Palm trees stretch vertically, adding a California vibe to the artwork. The bold, white sans-serif text displaying the artist's name and album title stands out clearly against the vivid backdrop.

Album reviews

Doug MacDonald keeps It Fresh on Santa Monica Session

Iliana Cabrera February 6, 2025 No Comments Doug MacDonald Latin jazz world fusion

Doug MacDonald – Santa Monica Session (Dmac Music, 2024) Doug MacDonald, a seasoned guitarist deeply rooted in the West Coast jazz tradition, unveils a fresh…

This colorful album cover for Raúl Monsalve y Los Forajidos - Sol features a bold, central title "SOL" surrounded by a striking collage of colorful imagery. Each quadrant shows vivid, surrealist illustrations: a skeletal figure, a bird, intricate flowers, a key, and mystical aquatic elements. The psychedelic palette includes yellows, blues, oranges, and purples.

Album reviews

Raúl Monsalve y Los Forajidos Illuminate with Sol

Iliana Cabrera February 4, 2025 No Comments Afro-Venezuelan Raúl Monsalve y Los Forajidos Venezuelan music world fusion world music

Raúl Monsalve y Los Forajidos – Sol (Olindo Records, 2025) Raúl Monsalve y Los Forajidos return with Sol (sun), a stunning genre-blurring second album that…

This album cover for Blakaz Antandroy by Loya features a monochromatic photograph with a vintage, earthy tone. It portrays a group of people seated in what appears to be a modest, rustic indoor setting. The central figure is playing a traditional drum, while others participate in the scene, possibly singing or clapping.

Album reviews

Blakaz Antandroy by Loya and the Remanindry Family Deliver A Groundbreaking Fusion

Madison Quinn February 3, 2025 No Comments Blakaz Antandroy Loya Madagascan music Madagascar Malagasy music Remanindry Family world fusion world music

Loya featuring the Remanindry Family – Blakaz Antandroy (LZ Records, 2024) Some albums do more than entertain, they transport you. Blakaz Antandroy, the collaborative album…