Jun 7th, 2007 · Though the late Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie was considered a god by Rastafarians, in Bob Marley's day, reggae music wasn't popular in Ethiopia. Now, though, reggae is huge in the East African nation, and there's no bigger star than Teddy Afro. Commentator Banning Eyre gives us a listen to his music.
Oct 25th, 2006 · Hazmat Modine is a New York band fronted by two harmonica players. Their repertoire starts with blues and branches into various genres of Americana, but always with a difference: tuba bass lines, lacings of Eastern European hammer dulcimer, or Tuvan throat singing. The group's debut CD is Bahamut -- reviewer Banning Eyre says its charm lies in how it lends an air of mystery and other-worldliness to familiar sounds.
Apr 12th, 2006 · Cuban music, African folklore, jazz, and hip-hop all collide on a new recording by Cuban percussionist Miguel "Anga" Diaz. Diaz, commonly referred to as simply Anga, has played congas in many projects, Cuban and otherwise. His new CD, Echu Mingua, marks his debut as a bandleader. Reviewer Banning Eyre says it's a landmark recording.
Oct 25th, 2005 · Sudanese Christian, Muslim Unite for 'Ceasefire' October 25, 2005 · Ceasefire is a new musical collaboration between a young Christian rapper and an elderly Muslim singer and bandleader, both from Sudan: Emmanuel Jal and Abdel Gadir Salim. Banning Eyre has this review.
Sep 19th, 2005 · Blindness No Barrier: Music of Amadou and Mariam September 19, 2005 · Malian performers Amadou and Mariam met during the 1970s at the Institute for the Young Blind of Mali. The husband-and-wife team have overcome numerous obstacles, from blindness to living under a military dictatorship. Banning Eyre reviews their CD, Dimanche a Bamako. They began a U.S. tour this week.
Jul 12th, 2005 · African musicians Thomas Mapfumo and Oliver Mtukudzi have dealt with Zimbabwe's political upheaval in far different ways. They explore their differing views on two new CDs. Banning Eyre has a review of both.
Jun 27th, 2005 · Khaled is Algeria's best-known singer. He has become internationally known for singing Rai, the music of Algeria's shantytowns. His new album, Ya Rayi, features collaborations with a wide variety of musicians and producers, including guitarist Carlos Santana. Banning Eyre has a review.
Jun 21st, 2005 · Pakistani singer Faiz Ali Faiz pays homage to the late great Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan with his new CD, Your Love Makes Me Dance. The five pieces on the album were either composed or performed by Nusrat. The genre is called qawwali, a kind of Islamic religious music. Banning Eyre has a review.