REVIEW ‘Los Hermanos/The Brothers’: Cuban-Born Brothers and Musicians Collaborate for the First Time
Aldo López-Gavilán’s eyes open wide and round as he examines a vast gallery of vintage American cars in Detroit. On... Read Article
REVIEW ‘Epicentro’: An Idiosyncratic Eulogy for Havana
A burnished man, 40’s, wall-eyed, unshaven, his hair slicked down by the salt spray. He clamps his teeth on a... Read Article
Totó La Momposina Returns To The Roots She Never Left On New A Capella Song
I jumped at the chance to interview Totó la Momposina in 2005, on the eve of her New York Town... Read Article
REVIEW Ibrahim Ferrer – Buenos Hermanos [Special Edition]
The story of Buena Vista Social Club, the reunion of veteran Cuban musicians who’d found modest success in the 1950s... Read Article
REVIEW Roberto Fonseca – Yesun
Yesun, Cuban pianist Roberto Fonseca’s 9th release, is a work of vivid intricacies woven by a master hand. Scion of... Read Article
REVIEW Alex Cuba – Sublime
Twenty years in the sub-Arctic cold of Smithers, British Columbia, hasn’t chilled the tropical soul of Alex Cuba (born Alexis... Read Article
REVIEW Montoya – Otun
I write from my go-to café in Merida, Mexico. Ki’ Xocolatl has been a refuge since I discovered their music... Read Article
REVIEW Polo Montañez – Guajiro Natural / Guitarra Mia
The music of Polo Montañez is back in circulation after almost 15 years, thanks to LusAfrica’s reissue of his two... Read Article
Richard M. Shain – Roots In Reverse
During the nearly four centuries of slavery in the Americas, 2.5 million Africans were brought to the Hispanic New World;... Read Article
REVIEW Magos Herrera & Brooklyn Rider – Dreamers
Latin America has a tortured history of democracy deferred by brutal dictatorships that were nearly endemic on the continent until... Read Article
REVIEW Orlando ‘Cachaito’ López – Cachaito
World Circuit Records has been reissuing on vinyl various jewels from its trove of world music recordings. Their latest release... Read Article
REVIEW Mariachi Herencia de México – Herencia de la Tierra Mia
Mariachi is popularly known abroad as demi-monde taverna music, providing succor or battle fuel for wronged lovers, or the province... Read Article