Best Music of Tanzania
This program features traditional and contemporary African music, including Juju, Highlife, Soukous, Taraab, Marabi, Mbanqanqa, and Bikutusi.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"BEFORE THIS COLLECTION I HAD SOME JOHNNY CLEGG CD'S (GREAT) AND ANOTHER AFRICAN COMP WHICH WAS OK AND I HAVE TONS OF CUBAN MUSIC WHICH HAS AN AFRICAN ELEMENT TO IT, BUT THIS WAS MY FIRST BOX SET OF AFRICAN MUSIC AND I REALLY ENJOYED IT."
"I had recently returned to the U.S. after a nine month treck through Africa and, as a film student, needed to produce some great montages of the footage I had taken there."
"Not only is this one of the most fabulous and indispensable compendiums of music I have ever bought, I see the previous customer reviews are also wonderful to read."
"Great collection of phenomenal music and musical styles totally unknown to Western listener."
"This is my all-time favorite African music CD, and I found it so fantastic that after I bought it, I began my collection of some 200 CDs of African music that form part of my library."
"Africa is a vast continent, the second largest in fact, and home to an infinite variety of languages, cultures and ethnic groups; each with their own style of music. We get Arabic-tinged taarab from Zuhura Swaleh of Kenya, Zulu isicathamiyalmbube from Ladysmith Black Mambazo of South Africa, Nigerian Fuji music by Chief Dr. Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, Moorish dancing music from Mauritania's Dimi Mint Abba, Mbalax from Baaba Maal of Senegal, Malagasy music from Tarika Sammy of Madagascar, Algerian Rai from Bellemou & Gana el Maghnaoui, Ethio-pop from Seleshe Demassae and so much more. The focus is on pop, but you get a good helping of traditional and folk styles like the Mande music of Mali, polyrhythmic drumming from Ghana, Sufi music from the Gnawa musicians of Morocco and traditional dances from Uganda's national performing troupe. Its one of the few compilations that covers EVERYTHING, from the Arabic tinged music of the Sahara to the the neo-traditional songs of South Africa, from traditional drumming in West Africa to modern pop styles from the Congo and Swahili coast."
"I have maybe 25 CDs of music from the continent, and this is still far and away my favorite."
"If you're interested in listening to some African music and don't know where to start, you can't do better than this."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"as expected, sound is good."
"I call this Happy music."
"I nearly fell off my chair when I first heard Ongala's music; if you're a fan of any type of World, Soukous, African or Afro-Pop music styles, this up tempo cd is a MUST have."
"His wonderful blend of soukous (a common brand of East African rhythms akin to zouk music of the Caribbean) spearheads the LIFE that permeates this album. Ongala's lps are a great introduction to the music of East Africa, complete with the soukous guitar styles and horns- all commonplace in this part of the world."
"Remmy Ongala is just marvellous."
"The guitars on this album are exciting, and the drumkit / percussion blend is fantastic."
"This CD is one of my favorite African dance CD...if you know the language,you'll love this."
"i am a good listener of remmy ongala's songs."
Over an hour of non-stop dance and party music, featuring three very accessible styles of African music: Soukous, Highlife and Juju, from Nigeria, Zaire, Ivory Coast, Ghana, and elsewhere on the continent.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Yes I love it, I had it on the old cassette and was pleased to get it on a disc."
"You will certainly love this product."
"LP is gone but I just listened to the cassette for the first time again in maybe 2 decades, having put my hand on a cassette player."
"Lively and danceable, fun African music: Soukous (Zaire/Ivory Coast), Juju (Nigeria), Highlife (Ghana)."
Best Music of Mauritania
This program features traditional and contemporary African music, including Juju, Highlife, Soukous, Taraab, Marabi, Mbanqanqa, and Bikutusi.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"BEFORE THIS COLLECTION I HAD SOME JOHNNY CLEGG CD'S (GREAT) AND ANOTHER AFRICAN COMP WHICH WAS OK AND I HAVE TONS OF CUBAN MUSIC WHICH HAS AN AFRICAN ELEMENT TO IT, BUT THIS WAS MY FIRST BOX SET OF AFRICAN MUSIC AND I REALLY ENJOYED IT."
"I had recently returned to the U.S. after a nine month treck through Africa and, as a film student, needed to produce some great montages of the footage I had taken there."
"Not only is this one of the most fabulous and indispensable compendiums of music I have ever bought, I see the previous customer reviews are also wonderful to read."
"Great collection of phenomenal music and musical styles totally unknown to Western listener."
"This is my all-time favorite African music CD, and I found it so fantastic that after I bought it, I began my collection of some 200 CDs of African music that form part of my library."
"Africa is a vast continent, the second largest in fact, and home to an infinite variety of languages, cultures and ethnic groups; each with their own style of music. We get Arabic-tinged taarab from Zuhura Swaleh of Kenya, Zulu isicathamiyalmbube from Ladysmith Black Mambazo of South Africa, Nigerian Fuji music by Chief Dr. Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, Moorish dancing music from Mauritania's Dimi Mint Abba, Mbalax from Baaba Maal of Senegal, Malagasy music from Tarika Sammy of Madagascar, Algerian Rai from Bellemou & Gana el Maghnaoui, Ethio-pop from Seleshe Demassae and so much more. The focus is on pop, but you get a good helping of traditional and folk styles like the Mande music of Mali, polyrhythmic drumming from Ghana, Sufi music from the Gnawa musicians of Morocco and traditional dances from Uganda's national performing troupe. Its one of the few compilations that covers EVERYTHING, from the Arabic tinged music of the Sahara to the the neo-traditional songs of South Africa, from traditional drumming in West Africa to modern pop styles from the Congo and Swahili coast."
"I have maybe 25 CDs of music from the continent, and this is still far and away my favorite."
"If you're interested in listening to some African music and don't know where to start, you can't do better than this."
Best Music of Ghana
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"A great collection of seminal Afrobeat music from the 70's."
"This release will get you moving to the groove."
"I thought this well of funkalicious goodness would run dry, or that there would be a reasonable lowering. of the quality after a while, but Analog Africa just keep on pulling them in, buckets loaded with high. grade funk, afrobeat and highlife. Afrobeat Airways 2 is not as awe-inspiring as African Scream Contest, The Orchestre Poly-Rythmo. compilations or Legends Of Benin, but it's still very good and you'll find four great songs among the. first five tracks. Childeren Don't Cry by Ebo Taylor Jr. is a great reworking of one. of his fathers best tunes, and The Cutlass Band's "Obiara Wondo" is a fat and greasy cooker."
Best Music of Mali
Talking Timbuktu features Guitarist Ali Farka Touré singing in 11 languages and playing acoustic and electric guitar, six-string banjo, njarka, and percussion, while teaming smartly with an all-star cast that includes superstar fusion bassist John Patitucci, session drummer Jim Keltner, longtime roots music great Ry Cooder (who doubled as producer), venerable guitarist Gatemouth Brown, and such African percussionists and musicians as Hamma Sankare on calabash and Oumar Touré on congas.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I bought this because someone recommended it after I said the only thing I liked about "Wolf of Wall Street" was the chant Matthew McConaughy did before going out and ripping everyone off."
"very expensive album, and not some of Toure's best work in my opininion...if anyone of influence is reading this I suggest reissuing 'the River'!"
""Banga" - Ali Farka Touré is incredible here on the njarka. Side note: If you like this album, you should really check out Ali Farka Touré's son, Vieux Farka Touré."
"simply awesome CD, period."
"Wonderfully seductive and meditative album from two World music masters!"
"This colloborative effort between Ry Cooder and Ali Farka Toure is amazing."
Best Music of Uganda
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"shipped fast."
"Beautiful melodies and haunting rhythms."
"The music is fresh and raw, yet refined."
"Every song is amazing."
"For a listenner addicted to the raw guitar sounds of Mali (for example Habib Koite and the regal Ali Farka Toure) this more polished "Windam Hill," Africa-Merican album, (by a Ugandan who now calls the U.S. his home,) is a welcome surprise. I highly recommend it as a gift to a young child, or for anyone looking to open up to other worlds of music."
"Although purists may be put off by the Windham Hill Touch (a heavy touch) Will Ackerman, Philip Aaberg and Patti Cathcart add more texture to the music."
"at Christmas time and was so impressed with his music I had to go out and order it the next day."
"Unfortunately on this CD his distinctive sound gets swallowed up and lost amid all of the electric pianos, guitars and synthesizers."
Best Music of Zambia
Zambian Acapella.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I love African acapella music and this one is a great addition to my collection!"
"The Zambian Acapella Choir and also the Zambian Acapella Boys Choir are amazing!"
"They bring. their deep love for our lord and savior Jesus, in there. music."
"This CD will literally give you chills as you hear this group proclaim their love for Christ."
Best Music of Benin
Angelique shares the stage with several celebrity musicians including Brandford Marsalis and Alicia Keys("Djin Djin"), Carlos Santana and Josh Groban ("Pearls"), Joss Stone("Gimme Shelter") , Peter Gabriel ("Salala"), Ziggy Marley ("Sedjedo"), and African music legends Amadou and Mariam ("Senamou (C'est L'amour)").
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I have several of her CD's."
"Goodwill Ambassador for the UNICEF, four-time Grammy Award nominee, and worldwide renowned singer, composer, and performer, Angelique Kidjo came back with her new Album Djin Djin, produced by the maestro Tony Visconti and distributed by Razor &Tie Records/Starbucks Entertainment. From African-influenced hymns typically sung during traditional ceremonies in Sub-Saharan villages, to salsa infused tunes, to afro-pop sounds, to classical music resonance, Djin Djin is a beautifully harmonious integration of culturally diverse sounds. From the throaty and powerful melody "Papa," to the soft and salsa influenced tune "Alala," Kidjo's amazing performance was exhilarating as the fire exuding from the lyrics equaled Angelique's stage presence."
"Super mix of 'african beats.'."
"Because it is familiar, on first listen Kidjo's version of the Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter" stands out with its pulsing energy, the layered guitars and Joss Stone joining for the great "It's just a shot away" chorus."
"I am continually surprised, pleasantly i must stress, that she has the range not only vocally, but as a visionary as well, to weave a musical tapestry that expresses her unique style and imbues all of her music, and whatever music she is performing with a certain spirit that seems to come through more powerfully with each CD."
"A very popular production tool these days, letting top musical performers invite other artists to join in the making of a new album by contributing diverse talents, unique styles, etc."
"Angelique Kidjo is a wonderful artist, this a great album featuring a lot of talented artist from Alicia Keys to Joss Stone and Peter Gabriel."
Best Music of Sudan
The three tracks that comprise this disc, all lengthy improvisations, showcase El Din's remarkably fluid technique and his Nubian roots, whether on the traditional "Song with Tar" or "I Remember," which was originally performed by Egypt's greatest diva, Om Kalthoum .
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I could listen to it all day."
"I don't know anything about traditional Nubian music, nor do I know much about the oud, having only a few CDs of Arabic oud music in my collection; I just know I really like this recording. It has three songs: The title track "The Water Wheel" is a musical description of oxen turning a water wheel to irrigate the fields; the combination of Hamza El Din's playing and singing are enchanting."
"I suspect this rich and beautifully resonant tone is partly due to Hamza's amazing musical skills and partly due to a great recording engineer who just really knew how to capture Hamza's tone. Don't let that discourage you if you don't like tambourines, I think they make that comparison about the construction of the instruments because the tar doesn't really sound like a tambourine."
"The Nubians, who played a vital role in Egyptian history from pre-dynastic times into the Christian era, have long inhabited the lands in southern Egypt/northern Sudan for as long as anyone can remember, and cling fiercely to their proud history."
"The second track is lovely, but the (long) first track is terrific: a mini-drama of life in a village along the Nile, where a little boy is responsible for tending the oxen who turn the water wheel, but falls under the spell of its rhythm and loses himself in it."
"The winding and mysterious River Nile informs both music and musician on this wonderful exploration of sound and image."
Best Music of Gabon
This program features traditional and contemporary African music, including Juju, Highlife, Soukous, Taraab, Marabi, Mbanqanqa, and Bikutusi.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"BEFORE THIS COLLECTION I HAD SOME JOHNNY CLEGG CD'S (GREAT) AND ANOTHER AFRICAN COMP WHICH WAS OK AND I HAVE TONS OF CUBAN MUSIC WHICH HAS AN AFRICAN ELEMENT TO IT, BUT THIS WAS MY FIRST BOX SET OF AFRICAN MUSIC AND I REALLY ENJOYED IT."
"I had recently returned to the U.S. after a nine month treck through Africa and, as a film student, needed to produce some great montages of the footage I had taken there."
"Not only is this one of the most fabulous and indispensable compendiums of music I have ever bought, I see the previous customer reviews are also wonderful to read."
"Great collection of phenomenal music and musical styles totally unknown to Western listener."
"This is my all-time favorite African music CD, and I found it so fantastic that after I bought it, I began my collection of some 200 CDs of African music that form part of my library."
"Africa is a vast continent, the second largest in fact, and home to an infinite variety of languages, cultures and ethnic groups; each with their own style of music. We get Arabic-tinged taarab from Zuhura Swaleh of Kenya, Zulu isicathamiyalmbube from Ladysmith Black Mambazo of South Africa, Nigerian Fuji music by Chief Dr. Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, Moorish dancing music from Mauritania's Dimi Mint Abba, Mbalax from Baaba Maal of Senegal, Malagasy music from Tarika Sammy of Madagascar, Algerian Rai from Bellemou & Gana el Maghnaoui, Ethio-pop from Seleshe Demassae and so much more. The focus is on pop, but you get a good helping of traditional and folk styles like the Mande music of Mali, polyrhythmic drumming from Ghana, Sufi music from the Gnawa musicians of Morocco and traditional dances from Uganda's national performing troupe. Its one of the few compilations that covers EVERYTHING, from the Arabic tinged music of the Sahara to the the neo-traditional songs of South Africa, from traditional drumming in West Africa to modern pop styles from the Congo and Swahili coast."
"I have maybe 25 CDs of music from the continent, and this is still far and away my favorite."
"If you're interested in listening to some African music and don't know where to start, you can't do better than this."
Best Music of Kenya
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Listen to the interweaving of guitar riffs, the trade off between the rhythm and lead guitarists, that forms the heart of so many great African sessions."
"But the best way though is to have someone buy direct from the street vendors back home and send them over.Otherwise you might wait forever before you can get the chance to kick back, pop open a cold one and let these "carols" take you back to another place in time where life was much simpler and "Sigalame" was a household name."
"Keep pestering people in the business and maybe you'll find a copy of the the best Rumba record ever made from Kenyan artists in the USA. Find Robert from Worldtunes dot NET (go to his web site and email him) and maybe he is still ordering Sonodisc records from France. Also there are a couple of USA based African musican dealers but you are gonna have to find these yourself."
"This compostion of Les Wanyika is incredible.Anybody who's a solid fun of this group from it's humble beginnings until the release of this collection will agree with me that it reflects how talented they truly are.It's entertainment at it's level best.However,the only regret is leaving out the track "shida" out of this meaningful collection."
"Music of this quality knows no age."
"it is a good music but i have been struggling for weeks without success to make an order.How do i do it?"
Best Music of Angola
This program features traditional and contemporary African music, including Juju, Highlife, Soukous, Taraab, Marabi, Mbanqanqa, and Bikutusi.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"BEFORE THIS COLLECTION I HAD SOME JOHNNY CLEGG CD'S (GREAT) AND ANOTHER AFRICAN COMP WHICH WAS OK AND I HAVE TONS OF CUBAN MUSIC WHICH HAS AN AFRICAN ELEMENT TO IT, BUT THIS WAS MY FIRST BOX SET OF AFRICAN MUSIC AND I REALLY ENJOYED IT."
"I had recently returned to the U.S. after a nine month treck through Africa and, as a film student, needed to produce some great montages of the footage I had taken there."
"Not only is this one of the most fabulous and indispensable compendiums of music I have ever bought, I see the previous customer reviews are also wonderful to read."
"Great collection of phenomenal music and musical styles totally unknown to Western listener."
"This is my all-time favorite African music CD, and I found it so fantastic that after I bought it, I began my collection of some 200 CDs of African music that form part of my library."
"Africa is a vast continent, the second largest in fact, and home to an infinite variety of languages, cultures and ethnic groups; each with their own style of music. We get Arabic-tinged taarab from Zuhura Swaleh of Kenya, Zulu isicathamiyalmbube from Ladysmith Black Mambazo of South Africa, Nigerian Fuji music by Chief Dr. Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, Moorish dancing music from Mauritania's Dimi Mint Abba, Mbalax from Baaba Maal of Senegal, Malagasy music from Tarika Sammy of Madagascar, Algerian Rai from Bellemou & Gana el Maghnaoui, Ethio-pop from Seleshe Demassae and so much more. The focus is on pop, but you get a good helping of traditional and folk styles like the Mande music of Mali, polyrhythmic drumming from Ghana, Sufi music from the Gnawa musicians of Morocco and traditional dances from Uganda's national performing troupe. Its one of the few compilations that covers EVERYTHING, from the Arabic tinged music of the Sahara to the the neo-traditional songs of South Africa, from traditional drumming in West Africa to modern pop styles from the Congo and Swahili coast."
"I have maybe 25 CDs of music from the continent, and this is still far and away my favorite."
"If you're interested in listening to some African music and don't know where to start, you can't do better than this."
Best Music of Botswana
While traveling across Botswana in 1983, ethnomusicologist Elizabeth N. Wood captured music from Tswana-Sotho tribal descendants and Basarwa Bushmen, whose songs cover themes such as war, hunting, farming, school, and religion.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"If you find life a bit fast paced, order this item and visit the Kalahari for a few minutes."
"This CD really embodies the music we heard on a recent African safari in Botswana."
"This is the music that I heard in villages throughout Botswana in the 70s and 80s."
Best Music of Nigeria
Additionally, KFR will be giving the first official release to the entire Koola Lobitos catalogue--this was Fela's highlife band which he fronted through the 60's.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I bought this CD at a brick-and-mortar record store -- oddly, because someone had changed their mind on the way to the register and dumped it in the candy bin (ok, it doesn't take much to get me to buy a CD)."
"Bought this CD as a gift for my dad, he's a fan of Fela."
"This is an excellent compilation of Fela Kuti's "hits," lengthy reminders of what this musician and social activist could produce."
"As some have mentioned before, it is a good album to have to get many of his tracks without having to figure which of his 100 or so albums to purchase."
"Loaded with high intensity sub bass, horns,vocals and a song describing, one truly emancipated lady."
"Felas songs will forever be evergreen."
"I love this I wanna recommend this."
"Fela kUTI I lived in Nigeria for 4 years and I was there when Fela was at the top of his game Fela is a Nigerian who suffered the lost of his mother he play this in this CD."
Best Music of Guinee
In the Heart of the Moon is a summit meeting between two world music giants, guitarist Ali Farka Toure and master of the kora-the 21-string gourd harp-toumani Diabate. It is the first newly recorded work from either artist in five years and their first album-length collaboration.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I'd have to agree with the Producer, Nick Gold who wrote about his experience recording these artists: "A song would end and you'd realize you'd been holding your breath, hypnotized". These men instinctively held the music in their hearts and just let it flow out to us."
"My introduction was what most people's is: Ry Cooder's collaboration with Toure on "Talking Timbuktu.""
"The Kora instrument - it's hundreds of years old - but relatively new to me."
"Very lovely music."
"Beautiful album by two masters of their craft."
"This is an exquisite album from Ali Farka Toure that presents some of his best work."
"By far my most inspiring and uplifting musical discovery of the past year."
"Toure on the guitar and Diabate on the Kora."
Best Music of Burundi
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The drum ensembles were the basis of a whole English pop movement (and listen to Adam and the Ants and Bow Wow Wow for the usage that Malcolm McLaren made of them)."
"The male voices are the most protean earth music and the girls sing like locusts or angels."
"For you people who haven't heard the Burundian music, try this CD and you will let me know."
Best Music of Ethiopia
Largely the work of formidable musician-arranger Mulatu Astatqe, the 14 instrumentals here were originally issued on two LPs in 1972 and 1974 in Ethiopia, and represent a curious blend of soul-jazz and R&B with just a smattering of Ethiopian roots breaking up the stabbing horn lines, wah-wah guitars, and simmering electric piano. The grooves are long and laconic, the sound reminiscent of Miles Davis's "In a Silent Way" paired with Cannonball Adderly and Roy Ayers.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Soul and jazz get high in Addis Abbaba in the golden days of pre-revolutionary Ethiopian electric music."
"Bought this after viewing a standup paddleboarder on Scorpion Bay Mexico with his dogs on some ridiculously long mellow break."
"Every track is great, sometimes you only buy CD's for one favourite track but this one excelled."
"My wife and I were dining at an Eritrean resturaunt in San Francisco an this Cd was playing in the back ground."
"Long before Jim Jarmusch sampled the Ethiopiques in Broken Flowers, they were making their own brand of infectuous jazz music tinged with sultry East African rhythms that formed the base for contemporary Ethiopian sound."
"One of the best Mulatu Astatke albums of all time."
"Thanks to the eclectic tastes of the young dude at the local bottle shop I heard this album recently."
"A great record with a very unusual sound."
Best Music of Egypt
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"But since I rip the CDs onto a solid state hard drive (in lossless uncompressed flac format - no mangled mp3s please) so I can listen to the entire oratorio without interruption this has really become a non-issue and I mention it only so others will know, but I still urge you to get the set."
"It is even more regrettable, therefore, that Gardiner makes some substnatial cuts in *Solomon*, preferring to conclude the work with "Praise the Lord," (as was common practice from the time of Beecham's infamous recording), and omitting one aria apiece for the Levite, Zadock, Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. How any self-respecting Handelian could cut the Queen's entrance aria ("Every sight these eyes behold," so fetchingly done by Beecham) is beyond me, though perhaps Phillips imposed certain budgetary constraints (e.g., the entire work had to be presented on two CD's). That caveat aside, Gardiner's version of this work still stands as the criterion against which all newcomers shall be judged; he balances intimacy and majesty perfectly;, and that central panel of the Judgment Scene in Act II (omitted in its entirety by Beecham, who probably considered it beneath his dignity to countenance lines such as "Can I see my infant gored?"). Alistair Miles makes the central character chillingly believable--without overdoing the villany--and all of the other principals to complete justice to their respective roles (Ragin is a bit lightweight as David, but sings his harp aria with great tenderness). *Jephtha* bids fair to being the composer's greatest work--it is at any rate his most profound meditation on the human condition--and Gardiner's plumbs its depths more tellingly than any other (save perhaps for Somary's pioneering version for Vanguard, though in many respects it sounds dated from a stylistic point of view). The choral singing, as always with this group, is magnificent--fully responsive to Handel's kaleidoscopic changes of mood, tempo, texture and tonality (often within the same piece, as with the famous "O Lord, how dark are Thy decrees")."
"This budget set contains 4 previously issued CD sets: Händel: Israel in Egypt (and 2 coronation anthems Zadok the Priest and The King Shall Rejoice) (2CD). Jephtha (3CD). Händel: Saul (3CD). Handel: Solomon (2CD). However, it does not give too much price break, and the libretto is *not* included."
Best Music of Cameroon
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"As with most every one of their 23 releases over the past 11 years, Analog Africa comes through with stimulating artist and song choices, an entertaining booklet filled with great photos and critical writing, and solid packaging too."
"Vintage music."
"Product and picture description is a bit different."
Best Music of Zimbabwe
(Vinyl LP) Reissue of classic album from Yusef Lateef (sax, oboe, flute) recorded in 1961.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Good music!"
"Eastern Sounds is one of my favorite cd's by Yusef ."
"What a musician."
"Yusef's ability to offer a perfectly executed musical note, one that resonates to the depths of your soul, is in itself evidence of the Creator's handiwork."
""Chinq Miau" features Lateef's tenor as he makes use of the chinese scale lending it's name to the track's title, constructing another thoughtful effective solo with an eastern flair. The supporting cast is solid whith Lex Humphries on drums and Ernie Harris on bass and rabat, a stringed instrument which sounds like a plucked rubber band stretched around a kleenex box."
"I defy any jazz fan to find a more beautiful improvisation than Lateef's oboe flights on "Love Theme from Spartacus." The arrangments are all top-notch and progressive (tunes in unusual meters such as 5/4 and 6/8), the rhythm is often tabla rather than drums, bringing even more of an 'eastern' feel to the proceedings."
Best Music of Madagascar
The Americans' digital butterfly net caught master musicians such as Rakoto Frah, the John Coltrane of the sodina flute; modern salegy musician Roger Georges and his electric "tikita-tikita" rhythms; Voninavoko's prettily harmonized old-timey string music; virtuosos of the many-stringed valiha ; the amazing D'Gary, whose career has been spent translating the music of Madagascar's various stringed instruments to guitar; and many more.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Excellent quality!"
"It's a nice collection of Malagasy music."
"I lost my original CD so I made this MP3 purchase."
"World music at its best."
"Guitarists Kaiser and Lindley brought a digital recording deck to Madagascar and spent two weeks recording as many top musicians as possible, sometimes joining in with them. If you like this album (and you will), check out anything you can find by Rossy, Tarika Sammy, or Mahaleo."
"In 1991, guitarists Henry Kaiser and David Lindley brought a digital recording studio to Madagascar and spent 2 weeks recording as many top musicians as they could, sometimes playing along with them. The album opens with an accidental project by the recording engineer, who inadvertently taped a test drum machine recording onto a tape of lemur noises, and found they fit in perfect time together."
"I imagine the American Producers getting their first taste of Malagasy music, with Tarika Ramilison singing and dancing a dihy Gasy... cultural shock and all. But there are also the other artists: It starts with the beckoning calls of the Lemurs, followed by my all time favorite "O Isa" by Rossy& Rakoto Frah ( It makes me cry) Of course, it has to contain Mahaleo with "Tany Boribory" and a welcomed twist of a foreign song (I think American but I am not sure) by Rossy in "I'm A Lonesome Fugitive." Of course, no collection is complete without the famous "Afindrafindrao" played so wonderfully by Sylvestre Randafison & Germain Rakotomavo."
Best Music of Morocco
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I'm a musical tourist, not a million miles in mindsets from Paul Bowles, who recorded this traditional music."
"Live in Marrakech as an American and simply live classical Moroccan music."
"Yeah, it's in mono, but the recording is so well done you barely notice, and you only notice when you're right between the two speakers and hear the music emanating from a single point. But this makes it better insofar as the music has not yet adapted to fitting into a recorded medium: This was music that served a community and might easily go all night."
"Not for everyone, or even for most people, but worth the effort for anyone interested in an important aspect of North African culture."
"I gave this as a Father's Day gift and my husband really enjoyed."
"One of the Great Box Sets of recent years - and it's gorgeous."
"A wonderful introduction to the music of Morocco."
Best Music of Soukous
Released originally in the late seventies, before juju and fuji became Nigeria's predominant styles, the tracks collected on Aki Special collectively mark one of the most fertile periods of African music--with tribal rhythms and proverb-studded vocals combined with Western pop harmonies to create ecstatic dance music for both the body and, as suggested by "Free Education in Nigeria," the body politic.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I'VE BEEN LISTEN TO THISE MUSIC VERY LONG TIME AND I CAN'T STOP LISTING TO THEM."
"The honest, heartfelt lyrics of 'Sweet Mother' were initially rejected by the larger Nigerian record companies that dismissed it as a nursery rhyme. Nico voices what a naturally emotionally inarticulate gender always wishes it could say to mother, and he says it to an infectious, open and joyful dance rythm."
"Highlife music of West Africa is always a crowd favorite, but this one will also take you long distances in the car, and cheer you up on low days. I am a reggae collector and fan, and listen to jazz, blues, bluegrass, motown, nawlin's r&b, and various latin musics, but this thing slides right to the top of the pile, everytime!"
"Prince Aki's gift is that he captures the dynamic energy of Nigeria in a lyrical formate."
"The upbeat style of sound exhibited on this track, as well as the other tracks, forces you to get up and dance not knowing what has overcome you."
"A refugee from Africa whom I befriended brought this record over to my house."
"This is dense with exceptional tracks."
Best Music of Cape Verde
Cesaria Evora did not begin to record in earnest until she was forty-seven, but to hear her sing is to hear the voice of Cape Verde, her people and her history.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The two CDs are chuck-full of Evora classics I can listen to all day...and I do that most weekends."
"This 2 CD set is wonderful, there isn't a song on it that I don't like, and I find myself carrying it in and out so I can listen to it both at home and in the car."
"Something different from all the sound-alike stuff around."
"great artist with a soulful voice and beautiful stories to tell."
"Great product and service was remarkable."
"Incredible voice!"
"This woman has such a compelling voice!"
"This is an unbelievably great cd!"
Best Music of Ivory Coast
Young and old ears will delight in the magical sounds of mbira, balaphone, kora, a capella vocals, guitar, bamboo flutes, dundun, and talking drum. The lyrics sing of folklore, family, and village life in the traditional languages of the Ivory Coast, Mali, Senegal, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Guinea, Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia, and South Africa. Commencing with the bewitching Zulu harmonies of Ladysmith Black Mambazo , "Thula Mtwana" sets the tone, creating an atmosphere of warmth, safety, and peace, and is followed by a baker's dozen that reflect the gentle rhythms of an abundantly diverse continent.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Beautiful, soothing, and unique - I highly recommend this as a baby shower gift or for the parent looking for a good bedtime music choice for their infant/toddler."
"I buy this music for all my new mom and dad friends!"
"I have lived this album for almost a decade."
"Bought as a gift."
"Two for me - one to give my kids one day in the far future."
"One of the more profoundly underrated compilations in music history."
"Beautiful soothing music."
"I played this music for my children when they were babies and they continued to ask me to play African Lullaby tape at bedtime until they were 6-7 years old."
Best Music of Sierra Leone
Backed by the great British double bassist Danny Thompson and guitarist Alfred "Kari" Bannerman, Rogie conflates country, blues, and gospel in laid-back, deep-grain tracks such as "Koneh Pelawoe (Please Open Your Heart)," the country ballad "A Time in My Life," "African Gospel," and the dank title track.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I bought this when it was first released but lost my copy."
"Just great music overall....kinda like african folk. with hints of blues & rock...i like the fact that. lyrics are mixed english and other..."
"Musically, the album is also a pleasure, thanks to ace guest musicians such as Danny Thompson. Amazon's main review sums up the sound and influences on this album very succintly, but some songs have arrangements that remind me slightly of the magical Congolese sounds popularized by musicians such as Tabu Ley and Franco."
"Put on this CD, grab a beer and settle back in your hammock out in the yard."
"Although I do not understand one word that Rogie is singing, his sweet, knowing voice brings a smile to my face every time I hear it!"
"While looking for something to listen to on the radio, I came upon this station that was play one of his songs from his album."
"This record will break your heart as it fills it with joy.... every time."
Best Music of Senegal & Gambia
Young and old ears will delight in the magical sounds of mbira, balaphone, kora, a capella vocals, guitar, bamboo flutes, dundun, and talking drum. The lyrics sing of folklore, family, and village life in the traditional languages of the Ivory Coast, Mali, Senegal, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Guinea, Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia, and South Africa. Commencing with the bewitching Zulu harmonies of Ladysmith Black Mambazo , "Thula Mtwana" sets the tone, creating an atmosphere of warmth, safety, and peace, and is followed by a baker's dozen that reflect the gentle rhythms of an abundantly diverse continent.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Beautiful, soothing, and unique - I highly recommend this as a baby shower gift or for the parent looking for a good bedtime music choice for their infant/toddler."
"I buy this music for all my new mom and dad friends!"
"I have lived this album for almost a decade."
"Bought as a gift."
"Two for me - one to give my kids one day in the far future."
"One of the more profoundly underrated compilations in music history."
"Beautiful soothing music."
"I played this music for my children when they were babies and they continued to ask me to play African Lullaby tape at bedtime until they were 6-7 years old."
Best Algerian Music
Lebanese, Egyptian, Moroccan, and Algerian artists such as former Londoner Natacha Atlas (who has been featured with both Transglobal Underground and Jah Wobble) contribute 11 songs which lend themselves to sensual dance, exotic drink, and glamorous gatherings of multicultural hipsters.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The familiar beat allows me to feel comfortable while appreciating more and more that there are Eastern strains in the melodies - strains that evoke belly dancers or snake charmers, for instance. The songs, with a Western beat and Eastern words and melodies, are rather catchy and I often find myself "singing" along, even though I don't understand the lyrics."
"The production is also poor...some of the songs end abruptly, as if the producers weren't paying attention when they put together the tracks."
"Great Music, and great artist, truly enjoy this type of music, Amazon is great place to purchase."
"I can't understand the words but the music is terrific!"
"Loved the album but I knew what I was looking for as my troupe dances to one of the songs on this album."
"WE have had this CD before & we like the music, good to dance to."
"This has got to be one of my all time favorite funky music CDs."
Best South African Music
We didn't restrict ourselves to straight rock songs, and we were completely open to new ideas," says singer/guitarist Shaun Morgan. Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces is virtually interchangeable with any previous Seether disc, as well as pretty much anything by the likes of Nickelback, Shinedown, and other "post-grunge" rock bands. Witness the gauche "FMLYHM," which borrows from lyrical ideas that sounded novel when Trent Reznor sang them in "Closer" more than a decade ago but now just sound juvenile and unnecessarily angry.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It's a fantastic listen start to finish, with the highlights being the humorous (and rude) "Fake It," radio-ready relationship song "Breakdown," and memorable "Walk Away From the Sun." The cry for divine help comes out more honest and meaningful than any scripted spiritual regurgitation you'll find on a religious record, but such Christian sentiment feels out of place on a foul-mouthed album like this."
Best Congolese Music
Like the luscious drink itself, the tunes come in many intensities and flavors, ranging from a light-as-air ditty from Peru, to the more complex vocal stylings of Colombia's Claudia Gomez , to Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca 's earthy Afro-Cuban Congolese rumba.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"DO NOT PASS THIS CD UP!"
"This CD came and a host of other CD's via the Putumayo collectioncame in a timely manner and this one inparticular is simply lovely to listen to.I do not have a favorite due to all of the songs are great.For me to not understanding he language makes it even more interesting to listen to.The beats, rhythms, collaborations are simply EXCELLENT!!"
"Good Putumayo CD. Several very good tracks on this CD."
"CD was in great condition."
"My favorite CD."
"You will be hard-pressed to find such soulful, diverse, colorful sounds on a compilation CD."
"The cd was in very good condition, however the music wasn't what I expected it to be."