Category Archives: Music

Kenny Dorham’s Blue Bossa In The Bronx: Live From The Blue Morocco

I haven’t heard much of jazz trumpeter Kenny Dorham’s music, and you probably haven’t either. It’s a pity because as many of his peers noted, he was the definition of underrated. He also died tragically young at the age of … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged | Comments Off on Kenny Dorham’s Blue Bossa In The Bronx: Live From The Blue Morocco

Diva Ethno Future Sound’s Şăltăr Vitĕr Şol Korănat

The Path of Life to the Truth in Love, Unity, and Fidelity… In their third album Şăltăr Vitĕr Şol Korănat, the Chuvash group DIVA Ethno Future Sound offers a historical and folkloric journey through time, ancestry, and emotion. DIVA, founded … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , | Comments Off on Diva Ethno Future Sound’s Şăltăr Vitĕr Şol Korănat

Gary Smulyan’s Tadd’s All, Folks; and Alfie!’s The Songs of Burt Bacharach

Though not much remembered now but by musicians and aficionados, Tadd Dameron (1917 – 1965) was one of the most influential composers, arrangers and pianists of the era that bridged big band swing and bebop, the 1940s and ’50s. American … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged | Comments Off on Gary Smulyan’s Tadd’s All, Folks; and Alfie!’s The Songs of Burt Bacharach

Nuker’s Hamta

The debut album Hamta by Buryat ethno rock band Nuker explores traditional Buryat music fused with the raw energy of rock and heavy metal. From the very first track, it becomes clear that Nuker isn’t just another ethnic fusion band; … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Nuker’s Hamta

Erlend Apneseth’s Song Over Støv

This album is a deep, complex and engaging exploration of the borderlands where Norwegian traditional music meets chamber folk, art song, and avant garde minimalism. We’re in good hands with Hardanger fiddler and composer Erlend Apneseth at the helm. The … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged | Comments Off on Erlend Apneseth’s Song Over Støv

Sudeshna Bhattacharya & Mosin Khan Kawa’s Mohini

The first time I settled myself to listen closely to Mohini, there came a moment in the midst of the third piece, “Raga Bhairavi,” when a small embellishment made by Sudeshna Bhattacharya on her sarod made my heart soar. I … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , | Comments Off on Sudeshna Bhattacharya & Mosin Khan Kawa’s Mohini

Mojna’s Väntenätter

Somehow I totally slept on this when it was released in the summer of 2024, but I recently fished it out of the digital folder where it was languishing and have been listening to it a lot. Väntenätter is the … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , | Comments Off on Mojna’s Väntenätter

The Ukrainians’ Istoriya: The Best of The Ukrainians

John D. Benninghouse wrote this review. Istoriya demonstrates well the dual-edged sword that is the “best of” compilation. On the one hand, it gives a nice overview of The Ukrainians‘ oeuvre and is an enhanced CD and so the buyer … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , | Comments Off on The Ukrainians’ Istoriya: The Best of The Ukrainians

The Ukrainians’ Diaspora

John D. Benninghouse wrote this review. Long before Gogol Bordello assaulted New Yorkers with their high octane blend of Gypsy and punk, The Ukrainians were on the other side of the ocean leading the unruly child of rock’n’roll into a … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , | Comments Off on The Ukrainians’ Diaspora

David Celia’s Organica

Michelle Erica Green wrote this review. If David Celia‘s Organica didn’t declare in the liner notes that all songs had been recorded in his house on a Macintosh G4, I would not have suspected this was a home-grown project. The … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , | Comments Off on David Celia’s Organica