Features
Ian Brennan's Hidden Tales
A selection of excerpts from this new book, collecting stories behind some of the most singular albums that we have had the privilege of hearing
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Live reviews
Belgrade Jazz Festival - review
The 34th edition of the Belgrade Jazz Festival featured Chucho Valdés, Miklós Lukács and Irina Karamarkovic
Features
Catrin Finch and Aoife Ní Bhriain: “The most important thing is hopefully people will love the music”
Welsh harpist Catrin Finch is embarking on a new partnership, this time exploring her Celtic and classical roots with Irish fiddle player Aoife Ní Bhriain
A Beginner's Guide
Eliades Ochoa: A Beginner's Guide
Mary Farquharson marvels at the career of the much-loved former Buena Vista Social Club musician who is still highly influential today
Features
Aziza Brahim: Voice of the Resistance
The Western Sahara has been the subject of dispute for many decades. One of its most eloquent activists and singers, Aziza Brahim, talks about life in exile and how music and politics are inseparable
Features
San Salvador interview: “There’s a universality in our music that works”
Mark Sampson chats to the dynamic French vocal sextet San Salvador during a brief moment at home in south-west France following a whirlwind 18 months of international touring
Features
Morocco's female Gnawa ambassador Asmâa Hamzaoui
Jo Frost speaks to trailblazing Moroccan musician Asmâa Hamzaoui and her sister Aicha about Gnawa traditions that have been passed down through generations, and the need for women to express themselves in their culture
Features
EMEL interview: “I’m not interested in that inherited feeling where women are rivals anymore”
EMEL’s latest album sees her work with a completely female team to make one of the most unapologetically forthright and adventurous albums of the year
Features
Liraz interview: “I refuse to be silenced like women in Iran, who see my videos and tell me ‘Thank you!’”
The Israeli-Iranian singer and actress Liraz talks to Jane Cornwell about rediscovering her Iranian roots, singing in Persian and the risks taken to fulfil her desire to record with fellow Iranian musicians
Features
Harp of Darkness: “If I expose the bin-baja harp, something will have to die”
Patrick Jered ventures into Madhya Pradesh in India to unearth the legendary bin-baja harp, widely considered as a pariah instrument
Features
Blick Bassy: “This generation must defy imported culture and design their own role models and paths”
Daniel Brown speaks to Cameroonian musician and writer Blick Bassy about breaking the silence on France’s colonialist treatment towards his country’s independence heroes
Features
Simon Broughton gets to grips with Colombia's marimba music: “absolutely exhilarating and liberating for the soul”
The marimba music of Colombia’s Pacific coast is enjoying a something of a revival. Simon Broughton grabs a couple of mallets and takes a swing at a workshop
Features
Erol Josué interview: “I wanted to participate in the reconstruction of Haiti’s national heritage. I needed to be there”
The vodou priest, singer, actor and choreographer Erol Josué is on a mission to dispel the myths and misconceptions about Haiti’s musical religion
A Beginner's Guide
Amália Rodrigues: A Beginner's Guide
Pleasure, pain and poetry – the ‘Queen of Fado’ gave Portugal its soundtrack during a turbulent 20th century. Chris Moss looks back over Amália’s career
Features
Aynur: Solace in Exile
The Kurdish singer Aynur Doğan has released her first solo album while living in exile in the Netherlands. She tells Robert Rigney her reasons for leaving Turkey and her mission to keep Kurdish songs alive
