21 Jun
Bhimpalasi (Part 2 of 3) by Michael Robinson
Thursday, 21 June 2001
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
This Robinson fellow is a jazz-influenced electronic/world composer, in the sub-strata of the world music and electronic genres where he utilizes technology to evoke and ma…
With the dearth of options currently available in the majority of American music stores, it is certainly an admirable goal to attempt to add to that landscape shades of oth…
16 Jun
Rooted: Origins of Now by The Miyumi Project Big Band
Saturday, 16 June 2001
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
ROOTED: ORIGINS OF NOW is world music with a distinct infusion of contemporary jazz including Yoko Noge singing the Japanese folk tune "Jongara Buchi" and other jazz motifs…
13 Jun
What Worlds They Bring by Danny Heines
Wednesday, 13 June 2001
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
As a World music entry, this original collection of songs highlights the talents of guitarist Danny Heines. There are 13 selections. The titles of the CD collection are "Vi…
12 Jun
Manhattan Vibes by Christos Rafalides
Tuesday, 12 June 2001
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Christos Rafalides, a relative newcomer on the New York jazz scene with his own Manhattan Vibes group, fits right into the groove being established by Khaeon World Music. S…
07 Jun
Vietnam: The Aftermath by Billy Bang
Thursday, 07 June 2001
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Justin Time producer Jean-Pierre Leduc found the right words to describe without exaggeration Billy Bang's Vietnam: The Aftermath: "the record of his life." For list…
This music has a story and meaning for me personally. Melanie Armstrong, who provides some beautiful vocals on this recording, is the future wife of someone that crossed my…
25 May
Various Brazilian Musicians Compilation by Biscoito Fino
Friday, 25 May 2001
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
After listening to this remarkable compilation of Brazilian music and Brazilian jazz, I was ready to take a vacation down to Brazil, for it is a compilation of 19 songs tha…
24 May
O piano de Claudio Santoro by Gilda Oswaldo Cruz
Thursday, 24 May 2001
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
For those interested in Brazilian jazz and world music, O PIANO DE CLAUDIO SANTORO, performed by gifted pianist Gilda Oswaldo Cruz will be a powerful, entertaining listenin…
Blending new age jazz, smooth jazz, surreal harmonics, and vocals into a world music motif, Angelwings has created a haunting, lovely collection in their CD release, THE NY…
18 May
Once Upon A Time In The City Of Kazan by Alex Rostotsky / Yuri Parfenov
Friday, 18 May 2001
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
At a time when American artists like Dave Douglas, Michael Wolff or Chick Corea are infusing their work with rhythms and modes from Eastern European or Middle Eastern refer…
15 May
From The Belly Of Abraham by Hasidic New Wave / Yakar Rhythms
Tuesday, 15 May 2001
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Hasidic New Wave specialize in an amalgam of folk/traditional music from various Middle Eastern/Hebraic traditions with jazz (and a bit of rock) both earth-bound and avant-…
13 May
The Best Of Richard Galliano by Richard Galliano
Sunday, 13 May 2001
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Dreyfus Jazz continues to stretch the definition of jazz, as it includes some of Europe's extraordinary musicians interpreting jazz standards, even as they push the limits …
Back in 1981, not only was the world younger and slightly less expensive, but the concept of "world music" was pretty much non-existent as both a "genre" and a marketing co…
There are many modern Klezmer bands working today - Klezmer being one of the earliest "fusion" musics, an amalgamation of early jazz and East European Hebraic melodies & rh…
03 May
Dreams and Secrets by Wadada Leo Smith & Thomas Mapfumo
Thursday, 03 May 2001
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
With a driving guitar solo begins a startling collaboration between Wadada Leo Smith and Thomas Mapfumo. Leading their own instrumental groups, N'Da Kulture and The Blacks …
13 Apr
Live At The Nordic Roots Festival by Vasen
Friday, 13 April 2001
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
In your friendly neighborhood CD store, the product of the Swedish quartet Vasen would likely be filed under the "folk" or "world" sections - but to leave it at that is lik…
12 Apr
An Lomall (The Edge) by Alyth McCormack
Thursday, 12 April 2001
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Alyth McCormack is a young singer from the Western Islands of Scotland who sings entirely in the Gaelic language. Despite her youth, McCormack’s voice is rich with a striki…
09 Apr
Safi by Ray Lema and Tyour Gnaoua
Monday, 09 April 2001
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Regarding this album, composer/performer Ray Lema enthusiastically states, "My (life-long) dream is to play with traditional musicians without asking them to change. I am t…
31 Mar
Zimphonic Suites by Zim Ngqawana
Saturday, 31 March 2001
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Zim Ngqawana is a most unique composer, and Sheer Sound of South Africa has issued his jazz collection in the CD release titled ZIMPHONIC SUITES. The work is created with t…
THE BEAT OF LOVE is exciting to listen to, each song led to something else, and it was a fun-filled and entertaining listening voyage. Jazz listeners should find this one v…
29 Mar
Child of the Light by Ernie Smith
Thursday, 29 March 2001
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Sheer Sound of South Africa brings us the sounds of Ernie Smith on the new CD release, CHILD OF THE LIGHT, which is a smooth blend of contemporary jazz, smooth jazz, and wo…
Shaluza Max is a versatile composer and singer. In his latest CD release of world music and contemporary jazz, his versatile voice brings to the jazz listeners 11 selection…
29 Mar
Acha Masimango by Kampi Moto & George Phiri
Thursday, 29 March 2001
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
ACHA MASIMANGO is a fine example of world music and contemporary jazz together. Featuring the exquisite voice of Kampi Moto and the mellow guitar playing of George Phiri, t…
I was completely surprised with vocals and music on HITS, featuring Dominic Chianese who plays the role of Uncle Junior on the HBO television series, "The Sopranos." Cultiv…
27 Mar
Live In South Africa by Andy Narell
Tuesday, 27 March 2001
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Steel pan virtuoso Andy Narell has created a 2-CD set that will delight his fans and those who love listening to a master of the steel pan perform. Titled LIVE IN SOUTH AFR…
26 Mar
Liberation Afrobeat Vol. 1 by Antibalas' Afrobeat Orchestra
Monday, 26 March 2001
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
This is a true compliment to last year's rash of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti CD reissues and reveals that the influence of the great Nigerian activist/saxophonist/Afro-Beat origina…
Habib Koite is a singer/guitarist from Mali, who was born into a family of griots (a traditional musician/historians). Though he plays the acoustic guitar, Koite channels t…
He's from Manchester Jamaica, he started playing banjo shortly thereafter switching to guitar and as a teenager Monty Alexander played in his group? Who is he? Give up? His…
25 Feb
Keep on Moving: The Best of Angelique Kidjo by Angelique Kidjo
Sunday, 25 February 2001
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Keep on Moving is a collection of the best of African diva Angelique Kidjo's previous releases. It features songs with a wide variety of influences including hip hop, regga…
If African and Middle Eastern flavored pop mixed with solid jazz is your thing, then waste no time getting Malak. If that combination sounds intriguing, then consider getti…
16 Feb
Live In Concert by Willie & Lobo
Friday, 16 February 2001
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
The gypsy life.... .and a soundtrack to boot. Lively intriguing music, traveling the world and exposure to many influences is the story of this talented duo. The simplicity…
14 Feb
Live At St. Andrews by Bourcier Julin and Wolff
Wednesday, 14 February 2001
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Before our readers stomp all over me and accuse me of nepotism, I would like to clarify that Tom Bourcier is not closely related to me. However, we share a common ancestor …
11 Feb
Mokoondi by Mice Parade / Adam Pierce
Sunday, 11 February 2001
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Adam Pierce is the mastermind behind this "eccentric," deep and mysterious work. This disc is like a movie with tons of special effects. He also contributes the majority of…
09 Feb
Sound Time by Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe
Friday, 09 February 2001
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe is a legendary figure in Nigeria as one of the most popular proponents of the African horns-&-guitars genre known as Highlife, but is virtually …
DONIA is contemporary world jazz music from the country of Morocco, and it is an exciting debut of a group of young jazz musicians calling their group, "Sawt el Atlas." Int…
03 Feb
Distant Wind by Mei Han and Randy Raine-Reusch
Saturday, 03 February 2001
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
There are legion of musicians who seek seemingly infinite ways to express themselves artistically. Within their unique forms of musical expression there are those who expou…
02 Feb
Think With Your Heart by The Omer Avital Group
Friday, 02 February 2001
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
While the publicity accompanying the CD, Think With Your Heart, compares bassist Omer Avital’s leadership with that of Charles Mingus, a more apt comparison would be…
27 Jan
Dreams and Secrets by Wadada Leo Smith & Thomas Mapfumo
Saturday, 27 January 2001
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
With a driving guitar solo begins a startling collaboration between Wadada Leo Smith and Thomas Mapfumo. Leading their own instrumental groups, N'Da Kulture and The Blacks …
20 Jan
Not All Who Wander Are Lost by Chris Thile
Saturday, 20 January 2001
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Take a dash of jazz, a pinch of bluegrass, and a heaping spoonful of world music, and you have the remarkable new CD release, NOT ALL WHO WANDER ARE LOST, featuring the sou…
15 Jan
Best Of Faateleku - Music From The Gambia by Ismaila Oussou Nije
Monday, 15 January 2001
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
When there’s SO much world music around, what’s a listener/music addict to do? Especially with the price of CDs: domestic releases are high, but OY! Those imports! So one m…
09 Jan
The Bombay Jazz Palace by Various Artists
Tuesday, 09 January 2001
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
I like to watch a lot of old movies. We're talking "Casablanca." This CD will take you there -- Sam Spade in a smoke filled room, with dancers and great food. If you've nev…
09 Jan
Saturday Night in Bombay, Remember Shakti by John McLaughlin
Tuesday, 09 January 2001
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
I enjoy the guitar. I love jazz. But I have never really listened to a lot of Middle Eastern influenced music. This was very different for me. The first song, "Luki" has th…
07 Jan
Roma Variations by Yuri Yunakov Ensemble
Sunday, 07 January 2001
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
When I was a young snotty early-teenage thing, on Sunday afternoons I’d have to bear my mom’s Eastern European folk and polka radio programs. Naturally, I thought of this m…
This new CD release is a true blending of world music themes with contemporary jazz themes, and it is a highly unusual collection. The title is KARMA, and it certainly is t…
01 Jan
Robert Symons Tropicana Steel Pan Bermuda Vol. 1 & 2 by Robert Symons
Monday, 01 January 2001
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Robert Symons is a kindred soul that has traveled the world spreading music to the masses in many different forms. From his youth learning how to play the guitar to his cur…
12 Oct
Solo Brasileiro by Maria Teresa Madeira
Thursday, 12 October 2000
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
SOLO BRASILEIRO will be of interest to jazz audiences because it showcases the talents of Maria Teresa Madeira as she brings the modernism of contemporary Brazilian music t…
06 Oct
Cape Town Revisited by Abdullah Ibrahim Trio
Friday, 06 October 2000
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
Duke Ellington was impressed enough to arrange a 1963 recording session for Abdullah Ibrahim (then known as Dollar Brand). Since then this giant of a composer/pianist has b…
26 Sep
Tridruga by Yuri Lemeshev Brad Shepik Tony Scherr
Tuesday, 26 September 2000
Published in
World Music - CD Reviews
TRIDRUGA is a perfect blend of world music with contemporary jazz, made accessible and enjoyable by the combined efforts of Yuri Lemeshev on accordion, Brad Shepik on guita…
It's easy to see why there is so much comotion being made about this explosive new CD "Head West" by the group "Comotion". The group starts off with the hard driving energe…