Eclectic Vibes
by Andrew Frey
Putumayo Presents - Jazz Around The World
Putumayo PresentsJazz Around The World
Label: Putumayo World Music
Putumayo’s third jazz entry showcases jazz on a global perspective. Mali, France, New Zealand, South Africa, USA and Canada are all represented on this fun venturing into the influences and inflections intoned on the musical journey through cultures, boarders and time.
• Putumayo Presents WebsiteRoots Collective - Rising
Roots CollectiveRising
Label: Self Released
Patterned after the famously horn fronted reggae bands from the past, this Madison based outfit regales tales of love and unity with a soul felt altruism. By featuring a rotation of three vocalists (including one female) each of these 5 tracks bolsters a separate sound and vibration to be inspired by.
Slavic Soul Party - Taketron
Slavic Soul PartyTaketron
Label: Barbes Records
Meet the horny side of New York’s Balkan musical revolution which also includes Gogol Bordello and Balkan Beat Box. Brandishing a barrage of briskly driven Balkan rhythms the songs are funneled through their impressive 9 piece horn section formulating highly danceable jazz, funk and folk exercises.
• Slavic Soul Party WebsiteZiggy Marley - Family Time
Ziggy MarleyFamily Time
Label: Tuff Gong Worldwide
Bob’s eldest son switches gears and focuses his good grooving reggae melodies towards the youngsters. Friend and family guests here include Rita Marley, Paul Simon, Willy Nelson, Jack Johnson and more! Did you see him singing in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?
• Ziggy Marley Website • Ziggy Marley WikiMahala Rai Banda - Ghetto Blasters
Mahala Rai BandaGhetto Blasters
Label: Asphalt Tango Records
Warning: Listening to this could cause an Instantaneous Dance Infection! Balkan, Gypsy, and Rai styles coalesce into driving compulsions of neck wrecking horn breakdowns and contagious hip swinging parties. Very memorable.
• Mahala Rai Banda WikiRupa And The April Fishes - Este Mundo
Rupa And The April FishesEste Mundo
Label: Cumbancha Records
Tossing an entrancing musical salad filled with Indian ragas, French chanson, Colombian cumbia and a wild Gypsy panache. Headed by the mega-talented Rupa Marya, the multilingual sophomore effort from these San Francisco natives explores the concept of timeless human migrations finding voice through a range of musical emotions.
• Rupa And The April Fishes Website • Rupa And The April Fishes WikiT.U.G.G. - Slow Chill
T.U.G.G.Slow Chill
Label: Last Call Records
Tropical feelings pervade when these warm reggae vibrations envelope the melodies and happily bounce along with the wise minded values expressed. Featuring guest musician Pato Banton their jams continue to expand. Hard to believe they are from Wisconsin.
• T.U.G.G. WebsiteVandana Vishwas - Meera The Lover…
Vandana VishwasMeera The Lover…
Label: Self Released
Vandana’s gently gliding vocals are more entrancing than the tablas in this musical respinning of classic poems epitomizing specific life points in the famous story of Meera Bai. This beautifully delivered traditional Indian devotional music is available with or without story narrative.
• Vandana Vishwas WebsiteEli August - I Was Already Too Late
Eli AugustI Was Already Too Late
Label: Self Released
Fermata guitarist (aka Jon Koschorek) simplifies and strikes out on his own. Keeping with the melodramatic and introspective gothic time period music that seem to effortlessly stream from his musical muses, he stalwartly funnels forth a brief splash of somber memories and distant emotions for your inspection.
• Eli August WebsiteRobert Soko - BalkanBeats
Robert SokoBalkanBeats
Label: Piranha Music
Encapsulating the energy, excitement and amazing confluence of various Balkan dance grooves that erupt once a month at club Lido in Berlin thanks to this renowned DJ. A trailblazer since the early 90s, Soko hosts this international dance party friendly to both his fellow Balkan expatriates as well as the vibrant Berlin club crowds. Current and contagious!
• Robert Soko WebsiteSambaDá - Gente!
SambaDáGente!
Label: Self Released
Brandishing a percussive Afro-Brazilian music palette this 7 member Santa Cruz, CA spawned pulse pounding sensation emerged from a Brazilian dance group and has transformed into a wild and engrossing groove stomping treat. Further energized with musical elements of surf rock, funk, reggae and a variety of other tropical rhythms allows for the sweet interplay between the male and female vocalists to swing this party into epic form.
• SambaDá WebsiteSpy From Cairo - Secretly Famous
Spy From CairoSecretly Famous
Label: Wonderwheel Records
This Spy (aka Moreno Visini aka Zeb) is a prolific musician and producer with hundreds of songs and over 10 albums to his credit. Here, each song is smartly woven with a specific and concentrated Middle Eastern groove to represent the many facets of this wonderful musical panorama while being diffused through a danceable contemporary dub electronica template.
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