Raul Da Gama
Canadian writer. Based in Milton, Ontario, Canada, Raul is a musician and an accomplished writer whose profound analysis is reinforced by his deep understanding of music, technically as well as historically.
Yasser Tejeda & Palotré: Kijombo
In almost all musical systems sacred music is held separate from its secular variant. In the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, for instance, we...
Elio Villafranca: Revealing the Secrets of Slavery
In the newly-crowded world of Afro-Caribbean music, where instrumentalists have always reigned supreme, the singularity of the composer is suddenly in the limelight. We...
Calle Loiza Jazz Project: There Will Never Be Another You
The music on There Will Never Be Another You by the Calle Loíza Jazz Project begins with the thunderous report of the barriles -...
Eduardo Sandoval: Más Trombón Que Nunca
Editor's Pick · Featured Album
Of all of the brass and reed instruments played in music, somehow the trombone can be made to sound most...
Poncho Sánchez: Trane’s Delight
Editor's Pick · Featured Album
Poncho Sánchez continues his long tribute to the ancestors of the music he knows and plays so well with Trane’s...
Daniel García Trio: Travesuras
Frederic Mompou Dencausse (1893-1987) was a Catalan composer and pianist who composed some songs but whose work largely and masterfully explored the technical and...
Loz Speyer’s Time Zone: Clave Sin Embargo
Having spent close to ten years in Oriente, in Eastern Cuba, a province that is made up of Las Tunas, Granma, Holguín, Guantánamo, and...
El Comité: Y Qué!? (So What)
A fantasy of my own making: Truth be told, the Cubans and French have not got together to and create a wonderful musical take...
Alex Cuba: Sublime
If some of you, like me, devour a new recording even before you first play it, turning the package over and over in your...
Daymé Arocena: Voice of a Volcanic Heartbeat
When Jane Bunnett introduced a young Afro-Cuban vocalist Daymé Arocena as the first led singer of her seminal all-woman ensemble Maqueque we knew someone...
Roberto Fonseca: When the Fingers do the Chanting
The pianist Roberto Fonseca stands quite apart from the plethora of impressive young pianists to come out of Cuba since the era between Bebo...
Carlos Sarduy: Luz
Carlos Sarduy is a considerably decorated trumpeter, having won a Grammy, two Latin Grammys and a clutch of other awards for his inventive work...
Emilio Solla Tango Jazz Orchestra: Puertos – Music From International Waters
Editor's Pick · Featured Album
Reviewing music can be a vexing experience. Often recordings that bode well on paper disappoint somewhat in reality. And then...
Chick Corea – The Spanish Heart Band: Antidote
Editor's Pick · Featured Album
For young, aspiring pianists, Chick Corea and his music might easily be considered “essential study”. His breathtaking oeuvre offers so...
Negroni’s Trio Presents: Acústico
Negroni’s Trio is somewhat unique among piano trios. Bring culturally informed ideas not only by Afri-Caribbean music, but also – in its being influenced...
Chris Trinidad: Chris Trinidad y Con Todo
In the sonic scheme of things – not to get too wrapped up in similarities and differences between the sound of El Barrio and...
Sorte! – John Finbury ft. Thalma De Freitas
Editor's Pick · Featured Album
Two albums into his worshipful “Brasilian sojourn” John Finbury has written six new songs that further declare his abject love...
Kiki Valera: Vivencias en Clave Cubana
It’s odd to think that a recording in 2019 could be deemed to have become “historic” upon its release, but this one - Vivencias...
Carrera Quinta: Traslaciones
Ever since I can remember it has become commonplace for any music that combined Afro-Caribbean rhythmic tempi with the improvisational aspect of Jazz to...
Raquel Cepeda: Passion – Latin Jazz
There is a breathtaking array of music on this album Passion by Raquel Cepeda – music from an array of South American traditions as...