Folk and World Music – Jan.-April 2010
June 1st, 2010
Title: L’Esprit Creole
Artist: Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole
Label: Valcour
Release date: January 2010
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Louisiana Creole musician Cedric Watson has been making a name for himself by reviving and reinterpreting old Creole fiddling styles and songs, which he sings in a Cajun-French/Créole patois. Previously a member of the Pine Leaf Boys, Watson and his band, Bijou Creole, take their latest album in some new directions, shaking things up with inflections of soul, blues, zydeco, and even a hint of Caribbean and reggae rhythms.
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Title: Nha Sentimento
Artist: Cesaria Evora
Label: LUSAFRICA
Release date: January 12, 2010
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Performing compositions from some of Cape Verde’s best songwriters, Evora is accompanied variously by guitar, violin, soprano saxophone and the kanun (Arabic zither), in an album that showcases the diversity of Cape Verdean music.
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Title: Sweet Sweet Jamaica
Artist: Gilzene & Blue Light Mento
Label: World Village
Release date: January 12, 2010
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The debut recording of Jamaica’s Blue Light Mento Band showcases their mastery of the mento genre through fifteen songs, one of which features “Toots” Hibbert (Toots & the Maytals) on harmonica in a reinterpretation of his reggae hit “Sweet and Dandy.”
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Title: Vision of a Psychedelic Africa
Artist: African Head Charge
Label: On-U Sound
Release date: February 9, 2010
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The dub-funk-psychedelia group’s latest release, arguably their best album of the last decade, finds leader Bonjo Iyabinghi Noah accompanied by a bevy of guests including Living Colour bassist Doug Wimbish, guitarist Skip “Little Axe” McDonald, and drummer Keith LeBlanc (all members of the band Tackhead).
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Title: Rising Sun
Artist: Souljazz Orchestra
Label: Strut
Release date: February 16, 2010
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Canada’s Souljazz Orchestra has released it’s first all-acoustic afro-jazz album, which is a feast for the ears. The complex arrangements, utilizing as many as thirty different instruments, draw from jazz, soul, funk, Afro-beat, and Latin music, while channeling Fela, Miles Davis, Pharoah Sanders, and Ethio-jazz great Mulatu Astatke.
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Title: Rise & Shine
Artist: Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars
Label: Cumbancha
Release date: March 23, 2010
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Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars, originally formed in West African refugee camps, have released a sophomore album recorded both in their hometown of Freetown, Sierra Leone, and in New Orleans, where they picked up guest artists Trombone Shorty, Bonerama and Washboard Chaz. The musicians deftly move between styles ranging from roots reggae to African soukous.
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Title: Oyo
Artist: Angélique Kidjo
Label: Razor & Tie Music
Release date: April 6, 2010
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On her latest project, “Africa’s premier diva” embraces the music of her native Benin as well as soul and R&B, with distinctive interpretations of songs made famous by James Brown, Otis Redding, Santana, and Miriam Makeba. Guests include Bono, John Legend, Roy Hargrove and Dianne Reeves.
Review Genre(s): Jazz,World Music
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