Articles Index
Putumayo Presents The Caribbean
Putumayo's "The Caribbean" is a fun and playful romp through several of the islands that comprise the tropical region. Ska, Cuban Son, Mento and Soca are all represented.
Aurelio - 'Laru Beya'
Aurelio is a musician from the Garifuna tradition of Central America, and his 2011 CD 'Laru Beya' explores both the musical tradition of his people and the varying traditions that fed it. Aurelio's 'Laru Beya' is expressive, modern, and utterly danceable.
Bob Marley and the Wailers Live Forever
Bob Marley and the Wailers Live Forever is a new release of Bob Marley's final concert, which took place at the Stanley Theatre in Pittsburgh, PA on September 23, 1980. The CD is made from Soundboard recordings, so the actual recording quality is excellent, and the Wailers were in outstanding form that night -- it's a special recording, for sure. Read my review of Bob Marley and the Wailers Live Forever.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo - 'Songs From a Zulu Farm'
Songs From a Zulu Farm is a 2011 CD from Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The CD takes Ladysmith Black Mambazo back to their roots: Zulu folk songs, of the sort sung by parents to their children. Read my review of Songs From a Zulu Farm.
Angelique Kidjo - 'Oyo'
'Oyo' is a CD released in 2010 by Angelique Kidjo. It features songs and songwriters who have influenced Kidjo over the years, re-interpreted with Kidjo's signature sound and distinctive voice. 'Oyo' was nominated for a 2011 World Music Grammy Award.
Loreena McKennitt - 'The Wind That Shakes the Barley'
The Wind That Shakes the Barley is Loreena McKennitt's most purely Celtic CD to date. Read a review of Loreena McKennitt's 2010 release The Wind That Shakes the Barley.
Putumayo Presents World Christmas Party
Putumayo Presents World Christmas Party is a collection of mostly modern Christmas songs performed by artists from around the world. It's upbeat and catchy, and if you're a fan of songs like "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," "Winter Wonderland," and "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," you'll enjoy these fun world music covers.
Putumayo Presents South Africa
Putumayo Presents South Africa is a CD featuring songs from a dozen different South African artists playing multiple genres of music. In true Putumayo fashion, it's an uplifting and fun collection of South African music.
Loreena McKennitt - An Ancient Muse
Loreena McKennitt's 2006 album, An Ancient Muse, is her first album of new material in nearly ten years. It's a stunning album wherein Loreena McKennitt musically traverses the ancient Silk Road, studying the influence and roots of the Celts.
Eileen Ivers - An Nollaig - An Irish Christmas
Eileen Ivers's 2007 Christmas release is entitled "An Nollaig", and it's a nice, though not extraordinary, Christmas album.
Manu Chao - La Radiolina
La Radiolina is Manu Chao's first studio CD in 6 years, and, in all honesty, it was worth the wait. The CD is classic Manu Chao, in the sense that it's wildly fresh and pushes boundaries like no one else can.
Putumayo Presents World Hits
A review of Putumayo Presents World Hits - a compilation CD featuring songs that have crossed over into the main stream; actual hit songs by world music artists.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Long Walk To Freedom
Long Walk To Freedom is the 2006 offering from South African band Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The CD features Sarah McLachlan, Emmylou Harris, Taj Mahal, Natalie Merchant, Zap Mama, Hugh Masekela, Melissa Etheridge and more.
Solas - 'For Love and Laughter'
For Love and Laughter is the 2008 release from Irish music group Solas. For Love and Laughter is a really excellent collection of songs that showcase both Solas's virtuosity and their diversity.
Karan Casey - 'Ships in the Forest'
Karan Casey's 2008 release 'Ships in the Forest' is a sweet, if slightly bland, collection of traditional Irish ballads performed with modern instrumentation.
Putumayo Presents Acoustic France
The latest offering from Putumayo Records is Putumayo Presents Acoustic France, a charming collection of breezy, guitar-based ballads from various French singer-songwriters. Included on the collection are songs from Carla Bruni, Rupa and the April Fishes, Sandrine Kiberlain and more!
The Rough Guide to the Music of Vietnam
The Rough Guide to the Music of Vietnam is exactly what it describes itself as: a sampler CD covering a variety of folk and popular musical styles and artists from throughout Vietnam. Artists such as Huong Thanh, Nguyen Le, Kim Sinh and the Khac Chi Ensemble are featured.
Putumayo Presents Gypsy Groove
Putumay Presents Gypsy Groove, CD Review, World Music, Gypsy Music, Balkan Beat Box, Luminescent Orchestrii, Balkan Music
Sara Tavares - Balance
CD Review: Sara Tavares - Balance. Sara Tavares is a Portuguese woman of Cape Verdean descent who has recorded a delightful multilingual and multigenre CD, Balance.
Putumayo Presents Paris
Putumayo Presents Paris is a new collection from Putumayo World Music highlighting some of the greatest songs of the nouvelle scene of Parisian chanson. The compilation includes songs from Paris Combo, Coralie Clement, Carla Bruni and Karpatt.
Tinariwen - Aman Iman: Water is Life
Tinariwen is a band comprised of Tuareg people, desert nomads who play a combination of North African music and American blues. Their latest CD is called Aman Iman: Water is Life, and it is simply excellent.
Mariza - Concerto Em Lisboa
Mariza is the reigning queen of Portuguese Fado music, and her latest CD "Concerto em Lisboa", a live recording of a concert in Lisbon, is absolutely wonderful. The CD also includes an hour-long documentary by the BBC entitled "Mariza and the Story of Fado".
Putumayo Presents Acoustic Africa
Putumayo Presents Acoustic Africa is a wonderful CD that includes acoustic cuts from Angelique Kidjo, Habib Koite, Gabriela Mendes, Diogal and more.
Ska Cubano - Ay Caramba!
Ska Cubano is a band that fuses Jamaican ska with Cuban Son and Colombian Cumbia. Ska Cubano's 2006 debut CD, Ay Caramba!, is exciting, dynamic and, above all, fun!
Susheela Raman - Music For Crocodiles
Susheela Raman's latest CD, Music For Crocodiles, deftly blends modern jazz, classical Indian music and pop into a cool and highly listenable album that fans of jazz-pop chanteuses like Norah Jones and Alicia Keys, as well as world music fans, will enjoy.