Raul Da Gama
Based in Milton, Ontario, Canada, Raul is a poet, musician and an accomplished critic whose profound analysis is reinforced by his deep understanding of music, technically as well as historically.
Doug Beavers: Sol
You can always count on Doug Beavers – one of the creative mainstays of the formidable Spanish Harlem Orchestra – to surprise you with...
Chico Pinheiro: City of Dreams
Chico Pinheiro’s album City of Dreams – so appropriately entitled for 2020 – is spectacular and proves that even in a very crowded field...
Joe McCarthy – The New York Afro Bop Alliance Big Band: Upwards
A rare, albeit singular feeling of joy while living under a lockdown due to the pandemic is the receipt, in the mail, of a...
Robby Ameen: Diluvio
The drummer Robby Ameen’s 3rd recording Diluvio explodes with atomic energy right off the blocks with the celebrated rhythmist striking a particularly pose with...
David Broza: en Casa Limón
David Broza’s declaration that the internationalism of humanity lies in music – no matter the extent of numerous Diasporas across the universe – has...
César Orozco & Kamarata Jazz: Rooted Forward
Any recording by the inimitable César Orozco & Kamarata Jazz would be one to look forward to, but his 2020 release Rooted Forward is...
Papo Vázquez Mighty Pirates Troubadours – Chapter 10: Breaking Cover
Raw energy and elegant frenzy have been abiding concepts that drive the music of Papo Vázquez, who has thrown, together with his singular ensemble...
José Rizo’s Mongorama: Mariposas Cantan
Inside the highly evocative cover of this CD package - Mariposas Cantan - is also contained some of the most evocative music ever made...
Talking Sensorial with Mafalda Minnozzi
Earlier this year – in July to be precise – I critiqued an amazing recording by Mafalda Minnozzi. The album was entitled Sensorial, a...
Diego Urcola Quartet ft. Paquito D’Rivera: El Duelo
Featured Album · Editor’s Pick
The juxtaposition of two major musicians – without a piano to bind them harmonically and only a bassist and drummer...
Estrella Acosta: Noche Cubana
With this extended play of five songs on Noche Cubana the Cuban-born, Amsterdam-based vocalist Estrella Acosta covers an impressive array of classic Cuban music...
Lauren Henderson: The Songbook Session
You will realise just how much you missed listening to the eloquence of classic standards from the very first bars of Lauren Henderson’s recording,...
The John Santos Sextet: Art of the Descarga
The singular scholarship of John Santos has never been in any doubt. Though the Introduction to Art of the Descarga delves into the details...
Pablo Ablanedo: Chistreza
Featured Album · Editor’s Pick
The most remarkable aspect of the music of Pablo Ablanedo is the compositions themselves. As an artist Mr Ablanedo has...
Aruán Ortíz with Andrew Cyrille and Mauricio Herrera: Inside Rhythmic Falls
The culture of the Caribbean – entrenched, as it is in the indigenous populations of the various islands – is also dominated by two...
Adrien Brandeis: Meetings
The young pianist Adrien Brandeis has taken an extraordinarily challenging step on Meetings, which is just his second recording as leader. He has chosen...
Gonzalo Rubalcaba & Aymée Nuviola: Viento Y Tiempo – Live at Blue Note Tokyo
The African Diaspora spread rather evenly throughout the Caribbean and it is manifest in many aspects of culture from the Gulf Coast of...
Felipe Salles Interconnections Ensemble: The New Immigrant Experience
During the course of your mission as a music critic you might come across numerous recordings that are really good – even great. But...
Tony Succar: Percussionist with a Big Bang Theory
Tony Succar could have been a professional sportsman – a football player to be precise. Two things kept the Peruvian-American from making his...
Tony Succar & Pablo Gil: Raíces Jazz Orchestra
Featured Album · Editor’s Pick
A big band project with Tony Succar and Pablo Gil at the helm has probably been in the making for...