Reviews

Nay’ Indaba

Marthe x Pilani Bubu

In the Xhosa language, indaba refers to an authorised meeting, such as a conference of chiefs, called to discuss a...

Reviewed by Doug Deloach in issue: May/2024

Songs of My Land

Chiyomi Yamada & Baobab

A classical soprano with a decades-long career in early music, Chiyomi Yamada moved back to her native Japan in 2022,...

Reviewed by Charlie Cawood in issue: May/2024

Vrindavan – 1982

Zia Mohiuddin Dagar | Zia Mohiuddin Dagar & Pandit Taranath

Presented as a double LP and in digital form this is an outstanding, although previously unheard, recording of the rudra...

Reviewed by Jameela Siddiqi in issue: March/2024

Ngélar

LAIR

Formed in 2018 in the city of Jatiwangi, West Java, LAIR (pronounced ‘lah-eer’ – taken from the Indonesian word meaning...

Reviewed by Charlie Cawood in issue: April/2024

NRTYA

SAICOBAB

NRTYA is an easy record to celebrate but a difficult one to enjoy. The album fully realises its mission of...

Reviewed by Liam Izod in issue: May/2024

Collab

Hamilton de Holanda & Gonzalo Rubalcaba

Afro-Cuban pianist Rubalcaba and Brazilian mandolinist Hamilton de Holanda combine to play this impeccable hour of Afro-Cuban and Brazilian jazz,...

Reviewed by Andy Cumming in issue: November/2024

Cuba & Beyond

Chucho Valdés & Royal Quartet

It's hard to put into words the impact of Chucho Valdés’ 60-year career in Cuban music, but his 13 Grammys...

Reviewed by Charlotte Algar in issue: November/2024

MARÉ

MARÉ

Fishermen and their special connection to the sea have always had a pull on literature and music. Maybe it's because...

Reviewed by GonÇalo Frota in issue: November/2024

Abu Kenda

Akram Abdulfattah

Palestinian-American violinist Akram Abdulfattah returns with a first release since his 2022 EP From Here. Abu Kenda (Kenda's Father) is...

Reviewed by Yousif Nur in issue: November/2024

Kanzafula

Ahmed Moneka

This album is more transnational than the subtitle (Afro Iraqi Sufi Music) suggests. The instruments used include a synthesiser, saxophone...

Reviewed by Mu Qian in issue: November/2024