Tag Archives: world music

Various Artists (John Noise Manis, prod.): Gamelan of Java

Volume I: Kraton Kasunanan Volume II: Contemporary Composers Gamelan of Java is a new series from John Noise Manis, who produced the landmark series, Gamelan of Central Java. Volume I features two gamelans from the court of Surakarta, the Kyai … Continue reading

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Kodo’s Live at Symphony Center, 2/21/11

“Symphony Center” is what, after renovations and expansion, they now call Chicago’s Orchestra Hall. And it would seem an ideal venue for Kodo: a relatively intimate space (I said “relatively”), almost perfect acoustics, excellent sightlines from almost anywhere in the … Continue reading

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Kodo’s Akatsuki

Once upon a time, when I was younger and lived, possibly, more completely in the world of art than I do now, I went with some friends to Chicago’s then newly refurbished Auditorium Theater to see the Kodo Drummers, as … Continue reading

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Shujaat Husain Khan and Katayoun Goudarzi, Ruby

One of my favorite releases of 2013 was Spring, a beautiful and uplifting two-CD set by Katayoun Goudarzi and Shujaat Husain Khan. They have a new release out called Ruby, their fifth, and it’s definitely on my short list for … Continue reading

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Katayoun Goudarzi and Shujaat Husain Khan: Spring

It’s winter here in the Northern Hemisphere, but one of the most beautiful musical releases of the past few months is called Spring. It’s a collaboration between an Indian sitar master and a Persian-American singer that sets to music the … Continue reading

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Cesaria Évora’s Mae Carinhosa

Cesaria Évora died in 2011 at the age of 70, having spent most of her life singing. This posthumous release gathers a baker’s dozen tracks she recorded over her career but which never ended up on any of her 11 … Continue reading

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Johnny Clegg’s Human

Human is Johnny Clegg’s 20th studio album, not counting any best-of compilations. Clegg was born in England and grew up largely in South Africa. He caused a big stir in the ’70s and ’80s by fronting Juluka, a mixed-race band … Continue reading

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Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon’s Soul Call (Om Namo Narayanaya)

It is tempting to lead with this release’s fascinating backstory. But the music is even better. I hope it was more the music than the story that led to its nomination for a 2010 Grammy in the Best Contemporary World … Continue reading

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Ilgi’s Isakas Nakts Dziesmas

A new CD from this Latvian folk-rock band is always a cause for celebration. This is the first release we’ve received from Ilgi since we wrote our omnibus review of the band’s rather extensive oeuvre two years ago. As was … Continue reading

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Anatolia’s Folk Songs and Dance Music of Turkey and the Arab World, and Chicago Classical Oriental Ensemble’s Soul of a People: The Songs of Sheikh Sayyed Darweesh

These two CDs have been sitting in my “to review” pile for quite a few weeks. They made it to the top this time because the characters in Birds of Amber, which I just reviewed, refer to Darweesh’s music with … Continue reading

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