Reviews

Kijombo

Yasser Thejeda & Palotré

One might start by pointing out that the musicianship on this recording, the second from this joint Dominican and New...

Reviewed in issue April/2020

In the Key of Joy

Sérgio Mendes

Parental guidance: multitude of guest artists. The rapper Common, for example, (dis)graces the opening track on the venerable Mr Mendes'...

Reviewed in issue April/2020

Galactic Gala

Silla + Rise

Mixing century-old traditional vocals with the latest sonic technology has always been an attractive yet dangerous musical venture. More often...

Reviewed in issue April/2020

Rearrange My Heart

Che Apalache

Little wonder that the celebrated American roots banjo player Béla Fleck was so taken with this pan-American quartet that he...

Reviewed in issue April/2020

Vida-Código

Tiganá Santana

For Vida-Código -his fourth album and his third on the Swedish Ajabu! label – Tiganá Santana presents very little of...

Reviewed in issue April/2020

Braziliance!

Marcos Valle

‘First came Gilberto, then Jobim, and now MARCOS VALLE BRAZILIANCE!’ runs the breathless blurb on the original sleeve of this...

Reviewed in issue April/2020

Sombras

OKAN

The Afro-Cuban roots group OKAN present their first full-length release of jazz-influenced music paying tribute to the sonic traditions of...

Reviewed in issue April/2020

Kijombo

Yasser Thejeda & Palotré

One might start by pointing out that the musicianship on this recording, the second from this joint Dominican and New...

Reviewed in issue April/2020

The Quintessence

Yma Sumac

Some superstars travel at light speed into obscurity. Peruvian singer Yma Sumac died as recently as 2008, aged 86. Her...

Reviewed in issue April/2020

Calypso Travels

Lord Invader & His Calypso Group

One of three initial releases in the Smithsonian Folkways Vinyl Reissue Series, Calypso Travels features native Trinidadian Lord Invader (born...

Reviewed in issue April/2020