by Steven Miller
Catalyst: The Music of Gregg Hill is a striking testament to the adaptability of Hill’s compositions, illustrating how his works can be reinterpreted and transformed when placed in the hands of a visionary ensemble, resulting in a very enjoyable world music album. The album marks a departure from the straight-ahead jazz settings that Hill’s music has historically inhabited. Hill’s compositions have long been fixtures in jazz contexts. However, on Catalyst, the Dave Sharp Worlds Quartet, under the direction of bassist Dave Sharp and with arrangements from Elden Kelly, takes [...]
by Steven Miller
Juan Megna’s Mariwô is a vibrant celebration of Afro-Brazilian and Argentinian musical traditions, artfully blended with the improvisational language of modern jazz. The album’s seven tracks form a setting of intricate rhythms, melodic depth, and exceptional interplay between musicians. Megna’s artistic vision and technical mastery of these rhythmic melodies have a strong grounding in the Afro-diasporic influences of Candomblé and the emotive power of Argentinian forms like the chacarera and milonga. Mariwô transcends genres while staying deeply rooted in its cultural origins; this is world music with modern [...]
by Steven Miller
Released on the ZOHO label, Live in Aspen is a luminous and immersive program of classical and world music, showcasing the talents of classical guitar virtuoso Sharon Isbin and legendary sarod master Amjad Ali Khan. Captured live during the Aspen Music Festival’s 75th anniversary, this album features Khan and his sons, Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash, alongside tabla prodigy Amit Kavthekar, creating a cross-cultural symphony that will resonate with world music lovers. With compositions drawing on raga structures and Western classical sensibilities, the album illustrates how musical dialogue can become a profound exchange [...]
by Steven Miller
The music of The Zawose Queens reverberates with spirit and fire, drawing from ancestral vibrations through traditional instruments like the chizeze fiddle, illimba thumb piano, and ngoma drums. Voices soar and intertwine, evoking a deep connection to nature, ceremony, and ritual. Their debut album, Maisha, captures this blend of organic and electronic elements, presenting an album rich in the Gogo people’s musical tradition from central Tanzania’s Dodoma region.
Pendo and Leah Zawose’s debut marks a significant milestone as they become the first women in their famed musical family to lead an album. [...]
