She had the musicality of Ella Fitzgerald, the public presence of Eleanor Roosevelt and the audience of Elvis Presley. Born a peasant at the turn of the last century, legendary Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum earned a position of great wealth and influence. She was a powerful symbol, first of the aspirations of her country, and then of the …
Third ECM album by French-African drummer Manu Katché, following the best selling ‘Neighbourhood’ and ‘Playground’. ‘Third Round’ features a completely revised ensemble line-up, but is faithful to a group concept that The Guardian described as “beautifully mutated grooves and jazzy themes”, with all participants elevated by the physical presence of Katché’s beats and drum patterns. Once again, all …
Early in the 1980’s, Ray Barnett traveled to Uganda after hearing a report saying, “Over 150,000 orphans are dying of starvation in Uganda”. Ray, raised as an orphan himself, desperately wanted to do something. He knew if people back home could only see these beautiful children in person, they would help. That’s when the idea of a children’s …
In world music, few if any other, musicians are held in such esteem as Nigeria’s King Sunny Ade. In a career that stretches back to the 1960s, the man has proven to be a dynamic and enduring influence, taking juju music (a derivative of an indigenous percussive style in Nigeria; also, contrary to popular misconception, the term has …
Subtitled: Modern Highlife, Afro-Sounds & Nigerian Blues 1970-76….& Nigerian Blues, 1970-1976. Since 2002, Soundway Records has been synonymous with high-quality and groundbreaking compilations of music from Africa, the Caribbean and South America. Nigeria Special is the most ambitious project yet for the label – a truly in-depth, double album look at Nigerian music in the early to mid-’70s, …
Excellent compilation from the most important female vocalist to emerge out of South Africa. She originally came to prominence with the Manhattan Brothers before leaving to play with her own all-female group the Skylarks. In 1958 she took on the female lead in the self-styled Jazz opera ‘ King Kong’ which electrified both black and white audiences with …
Angelique Kidjo is one of the most electrifying artists in the Pop world. With effortless cross-pollination of the West African traditions of her childhood in Benin with elements of American R&B, funk and jazz, as well as influences from Europe and Latin America, no artist makes music for the world quite like Angelique Kidjo. She spices her funky, …
New release on M.O.D. Technologies. Three previous releases in the US through Palm Pictures. First release, Gigi, received critical acclaim and strongly established her as a new force in the World music arena and beyond. Bill Laswell, Abegasu Shiota, Hamid Drake, Aiyb Dieng, Dominic Kanza are all featured, as well as, two world renowned guest musicians, Steven Bernstein …
In the Heart of the Moon is a summit meeting between two world music giants, guitarist Ali Farka Toure and master of the kora-the 21-string gourd harp-toumani Diabate. It is the first newly recorded work from either artist in five years and their first album-length collaboration. More an eloquent, in-depth dialogue than a jam session, In The Heart …