Reviews

Simple Pleasures

Alison Brown

Pioneering banjo player, composer and a key leading lady of bluegrass, Alison Brown wears many hats of leadership. She grew...

Reviewed 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 in issue November/2024

Algo Nuevo

Juan Pablo Torres

The Brighton-based Mr Bongo has just released two Juan Pablo Torres recordings from the late 70s as part of its...

Reviewed in issue October/2024

Café

Café

Here’s another long-lost Latin/soul/rock rarity from the same era, but recorded for Fania’s Vaya imprint. Produced by Ray Barretto, it...

Reviewed in issue October/2024

Cosas Raras

Rolando Bruno y El Grupo Arevalo

‘I, who was born with Videla / I, who was born without power, I, who fought for freedom but could...

Reviewed in issue October/2024

Boarding Pass

Reginald Policard

Widely rated as the ‘most valued pianist in Haiti’s jazz scene,’ Reginald Policard’s long career has spanned some 50 years;...

Reviewed in issue October/2024

Fruta Madura

Conjunto Papa Upa

The Amsterdam-based Latin six-piece return for a second album of high tempo, impossible-not-to-love psychedelic electronica. Taking inspiration from retro Afro-Cuban...

Reviewed in issue October/2024

Iroko

Omar Sosa & Tiganá Santana

The Cuban pianist, Omar Sosa, has worked with artists and picked up awards around the world. Here, he partners with...

Reviewed in issue October/2024

Ritmo Satánico

Los Diablos Rojos

The Madrid-based label has assembled this collection of a cool dozen vocal and instrumental tracks from the late 60s to...

Reviewed in issue October/2024

Unbound

Bizhiki

Bizhiki are two Native American pow wow singers Dylan Bizhikiins Jennings and Joe Rainey from the Ojibwe people, whose ancestral...

Reviewed in issue October/2024