January/February 2019 (#144)

Our cover star this issue is the Indian percussionist Zakir Hussain who is coming to the UK to perform his tabla concerto with the Symphony Orchestra of India.

We also reveal our top ten albums of the year; the Latin superstar Celia Cruz is remembered through a new musical and exhibition; we report from Salvador in Brazil and assess the sentiments of the Afro-Brazilian artistic community prior to Bolsonaro taking office; a Beginner’s Guide to the Armenian duduk player Djivan Gasparyan; plus the latest CD, world cinema and live reviews. 

The exclusive 15-track Top of the World CD this issue includes Afro Celt Sound System, Dawda Jobarteh and Jeremy Dutcher, as well as a guest playlist from the writer, Robert Macfarlane, featuring music by Johnny Flynn, Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita, The Bookshop Band and others. This issue also comes with a bonus CD of music from the Basque Country.