Category Archives: Music

Manel Fortià & Libérica’s Alé: Iberian Chants

Over the past few years Catalonian jazz bassist Manel Fortià has risen to the top tier of musicians I hold in high esteem and always enjoy listening to. Whether with his trio, or with singer Magalí Sare, or with his … Continue reading

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Ensemble Voskresenie & Nikita Savostin’s Telega, Testo’s Marya.Ivan, and The Unknown Composer’s KOVRЫ (Carpets)

Here are three albums from the 2024 Russian World Music Chart. The music on Telega bridges the folk music of the Perm region of Russia, modern ethno-folk, and musical theater. The songs, most of them dance and other social occasion … Continue reading

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Coloma Bertran’s En Moviment, and Carmela’s Vinde Todas

Barcelona based composer and violinist Coloma Bertran released this EP of experimental dance tunes late in 2024. It’s a beguiling short album that leaves the listener wanting more. Playing entirely by herself with rhythms supplied in part by two guest … Continue reading

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Russian World Music Chart announces Top 20 albums for 2024

Vedan Kolod’s Birds topped the 2024 Russian World Music Chart, voted on by an international jury of 21 World Music representatives from around the globe. The Russian World Music Chart (RWMC), was launched in 2021. Its purpose is to attract … Continue reading

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Scroggins & Rose’s Speranza

I never tire of hearing new versions of the song “Wayfaring Stranger.” A quick spin through my music library finds at least 10 versions by the likes of Eliza Carthy, Emmylou Harris, Neko Case, Jack White, Maria McKee, 16 Horsepower, … Continue reading

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The Fury’s Live In Brooklyn, and Jason Palmer’s The Cross Over: Live in Brooklyn

Giant Step Arts keeps taking giant steps (sorry!) in recorded jazz, dropping this exemplary “supergroup” project as 2024 was closing. This quartet The Fury brings together four important names in current jazz, tenor saxophonist Mark Turner, guitarist Lage Lund, bassist … Continue reading

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Möller, Willemark, and Gudmundson’s Frifot; Frifot’s Frifot, Jårven, and SummerSong; Garmarna’s Garmarna, Guds Spelemån, Vengeance, and Vittrad

Methinks that no one can keep up with all the great Nordic music that’s being released. Reynard, a band mate of mine, noted that A Fine Kettle of Fish, his favourite source of Nordic music, has tripled the space they … Continue reading

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Garmarna’s Hildegard von Bingen

The sticker says “12th century chants, 21st century sounds.” But don’t let that strike fear into your soul. This is no mamby pamby attempt to cash in on the unexpected appeal of Gregorian chants with New Age backgrounds. Nor is … Continue reading

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Anders Norudde’s Kan Själv!, Anders Norudde, Leo Svensson, and Goran ‘Freddy’ Fredericksson’s Med Hull Och Hår, and Lennart Gybrant and Anders Norudde’s Böndernas Underverk

Various members of the Green Man staff have reviewed CDs from the Swedish band Hedningarna (the Heathens) over the years. Anders Norudde, once known as Anders Stake, was a founding member of this band and is still a mainstay in … Continue reading

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Morild’s Dromte Mig En Drom, BNB’s Ein Song Fra Dei Utsungne Stunder, and Poul Lendal’s Ønskebarn

Jasmine Johnston contributed this review. Life is about interruption. It’s about a lot of other things too, but at the tender age of twenty-six, I find myself moving from staid Victoria, BC, to sight unseen Dalian, China — an interruption … Continue reading

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