Sira is a cross-cultural collaboration between German-born jazz trumpeter Volker Goetze and Senegalese Griot singer and kora player Ablaye Cissoko. A Griot is a traditional West African storyteller. A kora is a West African string instrument that is similar to a lute and sounds a bit like a harp. The album’s title, Sira, means mermaid [...]

Baboon Strength is the latest release from Charlie Hunter. He recorded it with drummer Tony Mason, and keyboardist Erik Deutsch. This album, released on Hunter’s label, is a departure from what we’re used to hearing from him.
When I heard the first track, Athens, I started laughing. I just couldn’t contain myself. Baboon Strength isn’t what [...]

Gilfema + 2 is the follow up to Gilfema’s self-titled debut that was released in 2005. The diversity of the trio is reflected in the music. Guitarist/vocalist Lionel Loueke is from Benin. Bassist Massimo Biolcati is Italian, but grew up in Sweden. Drummer Ferenc Nemeth is Hungarian. Gilfema + 2 includes two guest clarinetists, Anat [...]

I bought this CD at the mall after seeing a movie. The movie and the CD are in no way related. I don’t even remember what the movie was, but I still listen to the CD all the time. On the way home a pelican pooped on the car. It was terrifying. We were grooving [...]

I usually listen to music when I clean. Saturday is my big house cleaning day. I stick in a good CD–something I can sing along too–and clean every inch of our apartment. We have a small apartment so it doesn’t take long. This past Saturday I listened to Jasmine Jamillah’s When Heaven Falls while I [...]

My old college roommate got in touch with me through MySpace recently. I love hearing from old friends. I especially love hearing from old friends who are making good music. I just wanted to do this fast post so that you can hear some of her stuff.
The band is called Gamma, Like Very [...]

Sometimes all I want to do is sit and think about where I’m going and where I’ve been. Sometimes I need to close to close my eyes and be transported to another place. That’s what Ibrahima Faye’s Gudd Fann Live Long does for me.
Faye is heavily influenced by his Senegalese roots. He interweaves traditional and [...]

The Half of It’s newly released self-titled CD has recently found its way into my CD collection. This Philadelphia based quartet’s brand of jazz fusion makes you sit up and take notice.
I’m a writer and I usually listen to music while writing. Some music is good for that. This CD isn’t and that’s a good [...]

For a long time whenever I got into my husband’s car Right Now Move was playing. I like this CD so it made riding in my husband’s car more enjoyable. Normally I don’t like his car. I especially don’t like driving his car. I’m not saying that his car is any worse than my car. [...]

I recently got a new CD and was playing it while writing one of my blogs. “What’s this?” my husband asked when he came into the room. “This is good. What is it?” he asked again.
I didn’t want to tell him. It is rare that I find music that he can’t identify, but thinks is [...]