Benji Kaplan, Chorando Sete Cores Review

Benji Kaplan, Chorando Sete Cores Review 1

Guitarist, vocalist and composer Benji Kaplan explores the far-reaching range of his composing, orchestrating and guitar playing, with Chorando Sete Cores.  Kaplan combines the colorful sounds of a wind quintet with his acoustic nylon-stringed guitar. The quintet is: Anne Drummond -Alto and C Flute, Remy Leboeuf – Clarinet and Bass Clarinet, David Byrd-Marrow – French … Read more

3MA, Anarouz Review

3MA, Anarouz Review 5

3MA is the meeting of three string-instrument virtuosi, Ballaké Sissoko (kora), Driss El Maloumi (Oud) and Rajery (valiha), all three are symbolic of their countries in Africa. Centuries of kora musical traditions run through Ballaké Sissoko’s fingers. In 1997, together with his cousin Toumani Diabaté, he recorded New Ancient Strings, which refers to the very … Read more

Tribal Seeds, Roots Party Review

Tribal Seeds, Roots Party Review 7

Tribal Seeds is a US rock-reggae band that was formed by brothers Steven (lead vocals, guitar, and producer) and Tony Ray “Maad T-Ray” Jacobo (producer) in 2005. Tribal Seeds brand new EP, Roots Party, takes us on a party trip through eight tracks. It has been three and a half years since their last studio … Read more

Sultans of Strings, Christmas Caravan Review

Sultans of Strings, Christmas Caravan Review 9

With a progressive world sound that embodies all the qualities that make world music so enjoyable, 3-time JUNO nominees, and 3-time CFMA winning ambassadors of musical diversity Sultans of String have expanded the traditional notion of Christmas music with their new, genre-hopping album, Christmas Caravan. Recorded and co-produced with JUNO Award winning engineer John ‘Beetle’ Bailey, … Read more

Astrid Kuljanic Transatlantic Exploration Company Review: Riva

Astrid Kuljanic Transatlantic Exploration Company Review: Riva 11

Croatian vocalist and composer Astrid Kuljanic has released Riva. She combines Croatian rhythms and melodic structures with jazz and switches from Croatian to English-language lyrics throughout the album. The quartet is comprised of: Astrid Kuljanic on vocals; Ben Rosenblum on accordion; Mat Muntz on bass; and Rogerio Boccato on percussion. The album concentrates on jazz-style … Read more

Guilhem Desq Vision Review

Guilhem Desq Vision Review 13

  We are going medieval on you! There is a musician out there that has taken an ancient instrument and turned it lose, he breathes new life and innovation into this old-world instrument. French musician Guilhem Desq, electrified his hurdy-gurdy and connected it to a sampler to create amazing sounds that seem to come straight … Read more

Equiknoxx Review: Colón Man

Equiknoxx Review: Colón Man 15

The Kingston-based production crew Equiknoxx is back with a new album, Colón Man. The Jamaican musicians build their own cast of experimentation to form a music that combines noise and music in ways we haven’t heard before. Gavin “Gavsborg” Blair, the Kingston-based producer and center of the Equiknoxx sound, describes Colón Man as, “an album … Read more

Project Mama Earth Review: Mama Earth

Project Mama Earth Review: Mama Earth 17

Project Mama Earth is a fascinating band, and with their 2017 debut, Mama Earth, we get to enjoy the fruits of this multi-cultural union. British vocalist Joss Stone is collaborating with a select team of musicians, led by drummer Jonathan Joseph. Comprising of Stone (vocals), Nitin Sawhney (guitar), Jonathan Joseph (drums), Étienne M’Bappé (bass/guitar) and … Read more

Melodic Intersect Review: Looking Forward

Melodic Intersect Review: Looking Forward 19

Looking Forward is the latest release from an ensemble that combines Indian classical music with western colors in a highly improvisational format to create their own unique brand of world music. The ensemble is called Melodic Intersect and Looking Forward is their sixth CD. Consisting of:  tabla player and leader Enayet Hossain, Hidayat Khan who … Read more