Reviews of World Music CDs, concerts and festivals.
Orla Fallon is best-known as being the harpist and one of the singers from the international sensation Celtic Woman. Her CD 'Distant Shore,' which is her first solo release since she left Celtic Woman, is an excellent choice for those who are already Orla Fallon fans... but is it such a good choice for those who don't already love Celtic Woman? Read on and find out!
Huun Huur Tu and Carmen Rizzo's new CD, 'Eternal,' is a collaborative effort between not just the artists, but the genres: Tuvan Throat Singing and World-Electronica must find a way to intermingle and intertwine. Does it create something new and magical, or is it just weird? Read and find out more about Huun Huur Tu and Carmen Rizzo's CD, 'Eternal.'
Oumou Sangare's latest CD, Seya, is the first internationally-released CD from the queen of Malian music in six years. Read my review of "Seya," and get a taste of this extraordinary work from Oumou Sangare.
Vieux Farka Toure's second album, Fondo, is a tradition-respecting yet forward-thinking record from the son of the late great Ali Farka Toure. Unlike his first album, which was something of an homage to his father, Vieux Farka Toure's Fondo is a full step out of his father's shadow, completing the passing of the torch from father to son.
The sophomore release from Israeli producer and musician Idan Raichel features dozens of guest musicians from around the world, all of whom make up the Idan Raichel Project. Titled 'Within My Walls,' the Idan Raichel Project explores themes of home, confinement, and love.
Toubab Krewe's 2009 release, Live at the Orange Peel, is a strong testament to the band's effortless ability to blend West African music and American surf-rock. Read what I have to say about Toubab Krewe's Live at the Orange Peel CD.
Ilembe: Honoring Shaka Zulu is the 2008 offering from seminal South African group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Shaka Zulu was a hugely important leader for the Zulu people, and for their CD Ilembe, Ladysmith Black Mambazo have compiled a beautiful group of songs in his honor.
Jah is Real is a 2008 release from roots reggae legend Burning Spear. Jah is Real was nominated for a Grammy Award, and deservedly so - it's a great back-to-basics CD from Burning Spear.
Lakshmi Shankar's 2008 CD, Dancing in the Light, was nominated for a Grammy Award. Read my review of Lakshmi Shankar's Dancing in the Light.
'And Winter Came' is Enya's 2008 Christmas and Holiday music CD. Read a review of Enya's 'And Winter Came' CD.
A review of Loreena McKennitt's newest CD, 'A Midwinter Night's Dream,' which is a collection of Christmas and wintertime songs. 'A Midwinter Night's Dream' is a wonderful Celtic Christmas CD, with Loreena McKennitt's signature touches, as well as traditional elements.
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.
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!
Karan Casey's 2008 release 'Ships in the Forest' is a sweet, if slightly bland, collection of traditional Irish ballads performed with modern instrumentation.
Review of Belgium-based world fusion band Think of One's eighth CD, "Camping Shaabi".
Majaz is the Sophomore CD from the Palestinian oud group Le Trio Joubran. The CD showcases the Joubran brothers' masterful oud skills and their tasteful songwriting abilities.
Eileen Ivers's 2007 Christmas release is entitled "An Nollaig", and it's a nice, though not extraordinary, Christmas album.
CD Review - Manu Chao - La Radiolina
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.
Zap Mama's 2007 CD "Supermoon" is a sultry fusion of African and Euro-pop styles. Read my review
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.
Les Yeux Noirs, a French Gypsy Jazz fusion band, played an amazing concert at Ithaca, NY's State Theatre on May 6, 2007.
Putumay Presents Gypsy Groove, CD Review, World Music, Gypsy Music, Balkan Beat Box, Luminescent Orchestrii, Balkan Music
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 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".
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.
Putumayo Presents Acoustic Africa is a wonderful CD that includes acoustic cuts from Angelique Kidjo, Habib Koite, Gabriela Mendes, Diogal and more.
Balkan Beat Box and Golem put on a phenomenal live show at Castaways in Ithaca on September 17, 2006. Golem plays klezmer with a punk twist, and Balkan Beat Box plays a fusion of various Middle Eastern and European genres with modern electronic and hip-hop sounds thrown in.
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!
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 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.
Cedric Watson and Corey Ledet present an array of traditional Louisiana roots music, including Cajun music, Creole music and Zydeco music, on their new CD, "Going Down To Louisiana", from Valcour Records.
The Pine Leaf Boys are one of the hottest young Cajun bands in Southwest Louisiana today. Their attitude is completely irreverent, and they are known for hilarious onstage antics, but their music is pure and straight-ahead old-style Creole and Cajun music.
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.
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.
A review of the Cesaria Evora concert in New York City at the Beacon Theatre on 3/30/06. Seu Jorge opened.
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.
One World, One Kid is basically a "mix tape" that one child made for his friend, who was seriously ill with cancer. Putumayo World Music found out about his project, and put the CD out. A percentage of the proceeds of the album go to The Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Matisyahu is a Hasidic Jewish Reggae Rapper, who recorded this live album in Austin, TX in 2005.
Matisyahu is a Hasidic Jewish Reggae Rapper. Youth is his first nationally-released studio album.
We Be Burnin' is reggae superstar Sean Paul's followup to his hit album
dutty rock.
Tim O'Brien is a noted genre-mixer, combining old-time, bluegrass and Celtic music into his own signature sound. The Crossing is a particularly Celtic-sounding CD from O'Brien.
The Chieftains are undoubtedly one of the most influential Irish groups in the world. On this "Greatest Hits" album, they collect a number of not only their best Irish tunes, but also a number of folk collaborations with American artists.
