Juaneco y su Combo and The Birth of Jungle Cumbia

Out of the Peruvian jungle in the late '60s came JUANECO y su COMBO with a new sound known as Jungle Cumbia. Two new releases highlight the band's incredible music and tragic-laden history. This is an event.
by David McGee
 

 
 

The Charmed Third Moment of Stardom

Appraising a long-overdue retrospective of towering Cuban singer ABELARDO BAROSSO and 14 essential recordings he made with ORQUESTA SENSACION
by David McGee
 

 

 

Sevdah, From Mostar to the World

Sevdah, traditional folk music from Bosnia and Herzegovina given a modern spin by Mostar Sevdah Reunion and lead vocalist Antonija Batincv
by David McGee
 

 
 

Southern Strategy: Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino Brings the Music and Culture of Italy’s ‘Heel’ to the World at Large

Southern Strategy: Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino is making waves bringing an updated version of the traditional pizzica music and the culture of Italy's 'heel'--Salento-to the world at large.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Enlightened Moodism

East meets East in a mesmerizing collaboration between Russian pianist-composter ANTON BATAGOV and Tibetan singer YUNGCHEN LHAMO on the haunting album TAYATHA. In our interview, this musical odd couple explains it all.
by David McGee
 

 
 

‘Welcome Has No Boundaries’

Zimbabwe's beloved OLIVER 'TUKU' MTUKUDZI has released his 61st album, SARAWOGA, of songs of hope and respect. 'There's always something to talk about,' he tells us, and then proves it.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Klezmer? Gypsies? Schubert? Yes!

Schubert's classic C Major Quintet re-invented by ZRI, a Hungarian klezmer band, in a revelatory performance following the group's acclaimed 2014 gypsy interpretations of Brahms's music
by David McGee
 

 
 

The Past and the Future Power of West African Rock

Mali's BASSEKOU KOUYATÉ & NGONI BA reach electrifying heights on BA POWER, on which Kouyaté’ continues exploring 21st Century possibilities of the ancient ngnoi lute.
by David McGee
 

 

 

On Dawning, Saffron Engages East and West In Service to Rumi’s Impassioned Insights

On Dawning, its new album, Saffron engages East and West in service to the Persian Sufi poet Rumi's impassioned insights. World music at its most moving, this.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Found Sounds and A Cry of Conscience: Filastine Takes It To the Streets (Literally)

At the intersection of unabashed globalism and bass music, the wandering arts instigator FILASTINE takes dance music to its outer-national limits on £00T, incorporating and dismantling lush sounds from North Africa, Brazil, Ja...
by David McGee
 

 

 

Monoswezi: Experimentation is The Order of The Day

Shanu quite simply means “Five” in the Shona language of Zimbabwe, home to MONOSWEZI's lead vocalist and mbira player HOPE MASIKE. This, their fifth album, is the most adventurous to date from the lineup representing four n...
by David McGee
 

 
 

She’s Got Hand

Born in Vietnam, now residing in the U.S., VAN-ANH VANESSA VO employs her country's traditional instruments in compelling fashion on her new album, THREE-MOUNTAIN PASS.
by David McGee