world Archive
15 Jul 2019
Carlos Santana: From Woodstock to ‘Supernatural’ to ‘Africa Speaks,’ Making Music with Intention (Part 1 of 2)
The venue is packed. The crowd is pumped. They’re here to see and hear guitarist Carlos Santana and his band. As the house lights dim, a giant projection screen at […]
08 Jun 2019
Album Review: Arouna & Biko — Bamanaya Sira
There’s a convincing argument to be made that so-called “world music” got its start when flautist Herbie Mann explored the ways in which American musical styles (predominantly jazz) could be […]
03 Jun 2019
World Music Dance Party
Two bands, each led by high-profile fixtures of the Asheville music scene, came together in March to present a unique night of music. Michael Libramento’s band, Coconut Cake, pays homage […]
03 May 2019
Taj Mahal’s American Epic
In addition to being an accomplished and often awarded musician, Taj Mahal established himself years ago as one of music’s foremost cultural historians. Not simply an entertainer and performer, he […]
05 Apr 2019
Free Planet Radio: Music from Alpha to Delta
For 17 years now, instrumental trio Free Planet Radio has been making its compelling brand of world music, suffusing jazz and pop forms with elements drawn from musical traditions around […]
24 Feb 2019
Young, Gifted and Irish: Young Irelanders
Under the auspices of the Irish Cultural Academy, musician and producer Eric Cunningham has assembled the Young Irelanders, a talented troupe of performers who present Irish music and dance. The […]
19 Feb 2019
George Harrison’s ‘Wonderwall Music’ at 50
In the wake of high-profile solo studio debuts* from John Lennon (Plastic Ono Band, released December 1970) and Paul McCartney (McCartney, released in April of that year), the first solo […]
06 Nov 2018
Notable Vinyl Releases, Part One
These three are reissues. Hank Jones – Arigato Jones’ recording career as a jazz pianist began in 1947 and continued until age 91 with the aptly-named Last Recording in 2010. […]
22 Oct 2018
A Few Moments with Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal (born Henry Saint Clair Fredericks) is equal parts musician, songwriter, folklorist and musicologist. But despite his impeccable credentials, the man has never taken an academic approach to music. […]
12 Oct 2018
Diali Cissokho’s Story Songs
When Diali Cissokho moved to North Carolina in 2010, he knew hardly anyone. The Senegalese musician didn’t speak English, and had no one with whom to play music. But with […]