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Reviews

Review of Karl Hector Presents: Johnny!

Karl Hector Presents: Johnny!

Johnny!

Now-Again

Rating: ★★

The German guitarist and producer JJ Whitefield wears many different musical hats, from his forays into 60s and 70s ethno-funk...

Reviewed in issue May/2022

Review of The Strings of São Domingos

The Strings of São Domingos

Ano Nobo Quartet

Ostinato Records

Rating: ★★★

Gently swaying rhythms as effortless as lapping waves, melodies infused with the sweet melancholic longing of saudades: the music of...

Reviewed in issue May/2022

Review of Afrikalou

Afrikalou

Robin Cochrane

Jambadon Music

Rating: ★★★

Swedish percussionist Robin Cochrane resides in Stockholm, and has lately been concentrating on the balafon, West Africa’s gourd-resonating marimba-like instrument....

Reviewed in issue May/2022

Review of Susuma

Susuma

Jembaa Groove

Top of the World

Agogo Records

Rating: ★★★★

Susuma harnesses the groove engine of West African highlife and hitches it to the sensitive stylings of 1970s soul. The...

Reviewed in issue May/2022

Review of Zenzile: The Reimagination of Miriam Makeba

Zenzile: The Reimagination of Miriam Makeba

Somi

Salon Africana/Membran

Rating: ★★★★

Born in the US to immigrant parents from Rwanda and Uganda, Somi Kakoma is not only a Grammy-nominated jazz singer...

Reviewed in issue May/2022

Review of Diaxas

Diaxas

Jam Groove

Jam Groove

Rating: ★★★

Like an African version of Jamaica’s Sly & Robbie, Jam Groove are the London-based Senegalese rhythm duo of drummer Oumar...

Reviewed in issue May/2022

Review of Mabanzo

Mabanzo

Juanita Euka

Strut Records

Rating: ★★★

This bubbly singer jokes that she grew up ‘pretty much everywhere,’ and there are certainly a lot of influences present...

Reviewed in issue May/2022

Review of Seengwa

Seengwa

Mamadou Diabaté & Percussion Mania

Delicious Tunes

Rating: ★★★

Born into a griot family in Burkina Faso in 1973 and a master of the balafon, Mamadou Diabaté released his...

Reviewed in issue May/2022

Review of Tatamana

Tatamana

Batila

Galileo Music

Rating: ★★★

A unique and highly personal take on contemporary African music. Ange da Costa, known professionally as Batila, was born in...

Reviewed in issue April/2022

Review of Hard Times Never Kill

Hard Times Never Kill

Gonora Sounds

Top of the World

The Vital Record

Rating: ★★★★

In much the same way as the late guitarist Ronnie Moipolai from Botswana, the blind guitarist and singer Daniel Gonora...

Reviewed in issue April/2022

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