Tag Archives: world music

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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Metropolitan Klezmer’s Yiddish For Travelers, and Metropolitan Klezmer featuring The Isle Of Klezbos (teaser)

Judith Gennett wrote this review. Some people — me for example — think of klezmer as great party music, even though they’ve never been to a Jewish party! I always think of partying when I hear klezmer, even if I … Continue reading

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Paquito d’Rivera’s Big Band Time, Elio Villafranca’s Encantaciones, and various artists’ The Rough Guide To Latin Jazz

In 1997 Ry Cooder caused a sensation with a CD that he called Buena Vista Social Club. The whole world hailed Cooder’s best-selling “rediscovery” of a generation of Cuban musicians, some in their 70s or even 80s, who had been … Continue reading

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Puentes Brothers’ Morumba Cubana

Mike Stiles wrote this review. Alexis and Adonis Puentes are purveyors of the Cuban son (“sone”) musical tradition. As children they spent much time among artists the likes of whom frequented the legendary Buena Vista Social Club. Morumba Cubana is … Continue reading

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Orlando Poleo’s Sangre Negra

Big Earl Sellar wrote this review. Hailing from Venezuela, Orlando Poleo is one of the artists at the forefront of World Jazz in Europe. This is not the type of Afro-Jazz of Tito Puente, nor that of Hugh Masakela, but … Continue reading

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Vieja Trova Santiaguera’s Pura Trova: The Best of Vieja Trova Santiaguera & Live and Rare Tracks

Big Earl Sellar wrote this review. Pura Trova is a two-disc set with comprehensive booklet, in semi-box set form, by Vieja Trova Santiaguera, a collection of Cuban son performers. More or less a put-together group, VTS features artists in their … Continue reading

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