Tag Archives: world music

BaBa ZuLa’s İstanbul Sokakları and Buzz’ Ayaz’s Buzz’ Ayaz

Here are a couple of ear-bending releases from the Eastern Mediterranean: one from Turkish psych veterans BaBa ZuLa, the other from Cypriot newcomers Buzz’ Ayaz. Both are from the Hamburg-based global music label Glitterbeat. If you’re open to a dose … Continue reading

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Wishamalii’s Al-Bahr, and Aylin’s Soulgarden’s Bu Bir Demdir

The Finland based multi-cultural trio Wishamalii makes powerful and beguiling music that seamlessly blends genres. World renowned Finnish piannist Kari Ikonen joins with Palestinian-Jordanian singer, composer and oud virtuoso Nemat Battah, and Ethopian percussionist Abdissa “Mamba” Assefa on this soulful … Continue reading

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Various artists’ Folk and World Music Galore Vol. 3

The German label Folk Galore, part of the CPL-Music group, has put together this year’s compilation of top tracks from the group’s 2024 folk music releases. Folk and World Music Galore Vol. 3 is, as usual, a good way to … Continue reading

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Vishwa Mohan Bhatt & Sandeep Das’s Indian Delta

Born in Rajasthan, Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt studied traditional Indian music with the greatest teachers. He even spent time with Pt. Ravi Shankar. He even invented his own instrument. Combining the traditional Indian veena with a Hawaiian guitar, he created … Continue reading

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Various artists’ The Music of Nubenegra

Brendan Foreman wrote this review. In 1994 Manuel Dominguez, a longtime devotee to traditional Spanish music, began the Nubenegra label out of Madrid, Spain. Originally dedicating his label solely to Spanish and Cuban music, he soon expanded its coverage to … Continue reading

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Lama Gyurme and Jean-Philippe Rykiel’s Rain of Blessings: Vajra Chants

Patrick O’Donnell wrote this review. If it’s meditation or inner peace you seek, Rain of Blessings may be the perfect musical accompaniment. But if you’re after anything else — some quiet background music or an interesting listen, for instance — … Continue reading

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Habib Koite and Bamada’s Muso Ko

Patrick O’Donnell wrote this review. Habib Koite’s rich guitar playing and complex, poetic lyrics make Muso Ko an album of literary proportions. Throughout the 16 tracks, the immensely talented Koite tackles prostitution, work ethics and morals, politics, the dangers of … Continue reading

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Trendafilka’s For the Olives

“Chichovite Konye,” the opening track on Trendafilka’s second album For the Olives was a good choice for its first single, as it presents the vocal group’s two sides in microcosm, as it were. Beginning with a stately, slow traditional polyphonic … Continue reading

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Arun Ramamurthy Trio’s New Moon

Arun Ramamurthy Trio’s debut Jazz Carnatica was one of my favorite releases of 2014 (indeed, of the entire decade of the Teens), and I’m delighted to report that their follow-up, although a decade in the making, is even better. Their … Continue reading

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Arun Ramamurthy Trio’s Jazz Carnatica

I love jazz violin and I love Carnatic music — classical music from the south of India. So I figured I would love this album by Indian jazz violinist Arun Ramamurthy, and I was right. It’s been on heavy rotation … Continue reading

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