Artist: Sibiri Samake
Title: Dambe Foli
Label: Kanaga System Krush
Genre: Malian traditional music
Independent record label Kanaga System Krush (K.S.K.) released this fall Dambe Foli. Sibiri Samaké’s second and long-awaited album featuring traditional Mande/Bamana Hunters’ music.
Artist: Nawal
Title: Embrace The Spirit
Label: JADE/WARNER MUSIC
Genre: Comoros Island “sufi” folk music
Recommended by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi
Nawal comes from the Comoros Islands, in the Indian Ocean between Mozambique and Madagascar. Now based in Paris she is recognized as a key figure from her native islands. Between traditional and contemporary, Nawal’s compositions are an acoustic roots-based fusion, inspired by the light of her Sufi heritage founded on love, respect and peace. When live in concert, Nawal’ powerful voice and message is able to touch her audience’s hearts.
Artist: TaranaReview by Jim Hoey
Drummer, improviser, and experimenter Ravish Momin is the guiding force behind Tarana, and on his latest EP, After The Disquiet, his jazz, world, Indian, and electronica roots are mixed with violinist Trina Basu’s plaintive strains and pulsing lines. This collaboration leads into melodic territory and beyond for over 35 minutes, with both instrumentalists leading and building off of eachother in fluid improvisations in real time. Read More
Artist: José Cónde
Title: José Cónde
Label: PiPiKi Records
Release date: September 6, 2011
CD release party: at 92nd Street Y Tribeca on September 9, 2011
Genre: singer-song writer/latin groove
José Cónde lives his lyrics. He gets grooves from the names of trees. He leaves melody lines on his own answering machine. He can turn a playful refrain to his dog into a dance anthem. His songs are odes to hot dresses, Brazilian muses, discombobulated elephants, and life-giving springs.
Cónde brings a new focus and maturity to this whimsical world on Jose Conde. He turns highly personal songs into new global grooves and reflective, dynamic ballads. As a songwriter and bandleader, Cónde developed a striking instinct for merging his Miami upbringing, Cuban roots, and the sizzle of New York’s Latin underground. But the new self-titled album is distinguished by a universality; catchy melodies and danceable rhythms likely to draw listeners of all stripes.
Artist: Kristjan Järvi’s Absolute Ensemble
Title: Arabian Nights: Live at Town Hall NYC
Label: Enja Rec (Germany)
Cat.#: ENJ-9571 2
Genre: a melding of Middle Eastern musical genres with Western musical genres including jazz, rock, and contemporary classical, as a post-September 11 statement of unity
Reviewed by Leo Volf
Within moments of listening to Arabian Nights, the term world music instantly springs to mind. The title of the album definitely gives the listener an idea of what part of the world he’s listening to, but to simply categorize the music as an “east meets west” collaboration would be a great disservice to everyone involved. The list of influences seems quite eclectic and the ensemble executes the ideas with great ease. At certain points, members of the ensemble can’t help but to put their own personal stamp on the music. Matt Herskowitz’s light piano fills on “Amr I Bismiki” are a perfect example. Certainly, one would not find a jazz pianist in a traditional Middle Eastern ensemble, but the in the case of the Absolute Ensemble the mix is quite natural and almost seems necessary. And all of this was recorded at one of the most respected acoustic environments in New York City, Town Hall.
Artist: Addis Acoustic Project
Title: Tewesta (REMEMBRANCE)
Label: World Village
Genre: Ethiopia pop
Release Date: 08/09/2011
Comprised of some of the outstanding acoustic musicians Addis Ababa has to offer, the Addis Acoeustic Project brings forth Ethiopia’s pop tunes from the 1950s and 1960s in a new light. Directed and arranged by guitarist Girum Mezmur, the Addis Acoustic Project unfolds vintage Ethiopian music from that era in a fresh way. With influences of traditional East-African, Jazz, and Latin musical styles, these pieces have time and again won the hearts of many Ethiopian and World Music lovers alike.
The band, made up of veteran musicians such as Ayele Mamo (Mandolin), as well as contemporary musicians such as Girum Mezmur (Guitar/ Accordion/Leader), Henock Temesgen (Double Bass), Nathaniel Tessema (Drums), Dawit Ferew (Clarinet), and Mesale Legesse (Kebero/Percussions), produces unique sounds dear to most Ethiopians and has attracted a greater world music audience.
Artist: Omara Portuondo and Chucho Valdés
Title: Omara & Chucho
Label: World Village France
Cat. #: 479062
Genre: Cuban music/World
Artist: Hadar Noiberg
Title: Journey Back Home
Label: self produced
Genre: Jazz/nu Israel music
Reviewed by Matthew Rentz
For her solo album Journey Back Home the NYC based Israeli artist Hadar Noiberg draws from an eclectic array of influences. Her masterful flute work weaves a path that beckons the listener for a glimpse of her native land. Backed by the remarkably solid rhythm section of Omer Avital (double bass) and Ziv Ravitz (drums/ percussion), Noiberg is free to explore her diverse roots. Journey Back Home is a wonderful jazz album that offers the listener an excursion from the melting pot of New York to the rich tradition of Israel.
CD reviews by William Harvey
Artist: Willie Martinez/La Famillia Sextet
Title: After Winter, Spring
Label: Cuch Be Witcha Productions
Genre: Latin Jazz
After Winter, Spring is drummer/percussionist Willie Martinez’s second album as a leader. This album features many of Martinez’s own originals and arrangements. His band La Familia Sextet is tight and hard grooving as they venture through various latin jazz styles. On this recording Martinez lets his band shine as he plays mostly a supporting role in the rhythm section; a sign of a mature veteran who as a leader choses to place emphasis on melody and groove.
In addition to his strong instrumental chops Martinez is featured as a vocalist singing in both English and Spanish. Musical influences heard range from Ray Baretto, Max Roach, Ray Romero, Cachao, to Hilton Ruìz as mentioned in the liner notes of After Winter, Spring. Additionally, pianist Misha Tsiganov wrote “Anthony” as a dedication to the late Tony Williams , which ends with a nice drum solo. After Winter, Spring has and will continue to captivate Latin jazz and Afro-Carribean music fans alike.
Artist: Tirtha (Vijay Iyer, Prasanna and Nitin Mitta)
Title: Tirtha
Label: ACT Music + Vision
Cat.#: ACT 2011
Genre: Nu Indian Jazz (?)
Reviewed by Matthew Rentz
Tirtha is a Sanskrit word that represents a crossable shallow river or stream and a place of pilgrimage. That is exactly what the US based ensemble of the same name provides the listener on their self-titled debut album, a journey where the traveller emerges having experienced a spiritual transformation.