We need more recordings like this. This is a diverse and imaginative album that draws on a wide range of influences: rap, old-school funk, Afropop, traditional West African music, and R&B jam sessions.
World Music
Music Review/Interview: Falle Nioke’s “Youkounkoun” EP + 2 Songs — Africa In Any Language
Falle Nioke has evolved into a kind of cultural ambassador. In the English coastal town of Margate, Kent, he has been praised for his performances of original and traditional compositions on West African instruments.
Concert Review: Singer/Songwriter Michael Kiwanuka — He Will Fill You With Light
Michael Kiwanuka blends singer/songwriter with funk and soul, the energy of Afro-pop with the intensity of psych and prog.
Concert Review: Sergio Mendes & Bebel Gilberto — 60th Anniversary of Bossa Nova
For Sergio Mendes, the captivating anniversary show was a chance to look back on the early years of bossa nova and its birthplace.
World Music Review: Tinariwen’s Saharan Grooves
Tinariwen’s music exudes determination, the soulful energy of ethnic resilience.
Concert Review: The English Beat at Lowell Summer Music Series
Mainstay singer/songwriter/guitarist Dave Wakeling and the band were in fine form in Lowell, whipping through a hit-laden 90-minute set to an enthusiastic crowd.
Music Remembrance: Adeus, João Gilberto, Free-Spirited Creator of Bossa Nova
Melhor do que isso só mesmo o silêncio, melhor do que o silêncio só joão (The only thing better than [music] is silence, the only thing better than silence is João)—Caetano Veloso (“Pra Ninguém”)
Music Review: The de-Stones’d New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival 50th Anniversary
“Forgiveness is the key and love is the answer… Have a good Jazz Fest, but also have a good life.”
Jazz Album Review: Magos Herrera & Brooklyn Rider’s “Dreamers”—A Soulful Journey through the Americas
Magos Herrera teamed up with the Brooklyn Rider string quartet to create a collection of music that makes its case for life, love, and liberation through its sheer beauty.
Concert Review: Soca and Calypso Fans go “Crazy” for Parang
Septuagenarian, Edwin Ayoung, better known as Crazy, easily carried the rest of the night with his exuberant performance.