CD Review: Amanda Homi's 'Till I Reach Bombay'

Amanda Homi
Till I Reach Bombay
Self-Release

London-born and New York-based, Amanda Homi's Indian descent and world travels shines through on her latest release, Till I Reach Bombay. The danceable elements of "Dancing Girls" is very fitting and addictive. The classy pop-infused "Samba Feliz" brings to life a tropical and Latin medley. The upbeat "Shoes" is a marvelous and quirky Latin-themed composition with comedic lyrics. The South Asian-infused, "Till I Reach Bombay," is a dance-themed track with contemporary elements. There are Latin, Middle Eastern, Central Asian, and Mediterranean elements throughout. Vocally, Amanda has an operatic side, but there are plenty of pop, dance, and neo-classical components. Nothing is awry here. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Danny Rivera and Nelson Gonzalez's 'Obsesion'

Danny Rivera and Nelson Gonzalez
Obsesion
Marmara House Records

Puerto Rican-singer, Danny Rivera, and tres virtuoso, Nelson Gonzalez, bring us a page out of a Latin American songbook that is filled with great singing and great percussion. The eleven-track release contains jazzy, Latin-inspired songs with laid-back compositions and bolero-esque elements. "Obsesion," "Cristal," "Franqueza," and "Capullito De Aleli" are some of the album's highlights. The classic ballad sound is prevalent throughout, but the vocals are full of life, wisdom, and desire. The historic connection is very relevant. The heartfelt vocals are prominent and mature. There are cinematic strings and classical elements, which provides a dramatic and emotive result. Fans of classical jazz, Puerto Rican music, and Latin music will find Danny and Nelson very intriguing. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Habib Koite's 'Soo'

Habib Koite
Soo
Contre-Jour

Mali's Habib Koite releases a stunning album, Soo, which means "home,"  that brings to life the music of North Africa and Mali in particular. Habib is the lead vocalist and guitarist on the album, but he is joined by other instruments, including bass, keyboards, calabash, kora, n'goni, doun doun, djembe, banjo, and others. The eleven-track release traverses the Saharan spectrum of musical ingeniousness. The rhythmic tunes combine with Habib's soulful vocals in Bambara, Dogon, Malinke, and Khassonke, to provide a fascinating listening experience overall. The poignant and catchy "L.A." is an excellent example of trans-cultural musical exchange with the banjo taking center stage with Afro-Latin percussive elements to boot. The sounds emanate in a beautiful delivery without fault. Anyone familiar with Habib Koite's previous works will love this new, adventurous release. Fans of Malian contemporary music will be pleased, too. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Mehmet Sanlikol's 'whatsnext?'

Mehmet Sanlikol
whatsnext?
Dunya

Hailing from Turkey and based on the East Coast of the U.S.A., Mehmet Sanlikol takes a cinematic side of jazz-inspired, lounge tunes with lively trombone, trumpet, sax, piano, bass, drums, and Central Asian/Middle Eastern percussion. The instrumental tracks are long, varied, and very moving. The edgy percussion, horns, and dramatic overtones resemble the suspenseful spy film soundtracks of the 1970's. The album contains nine diverse tracks with varying degrees of jazzy ambiances that possess avant-garde nuances and swishy, percussion-heavy interludes punctuated by punchy horn-driven arrangements. The swirling melodies and rhythms are energetic and engaging without a lack of direction and substance. All of the tracks are instrumental in form. The jazz-noir melodies are poignant and creative without negative side effects. Anyone with an interest in instrumental jazz and Turkish fusion will love Mehmet's compositions. The entire album is dedicated to Aydin Esen. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Various Artists' 'Sembeh Ma Fa Fe: Roots Volume'

Various Artists
Sembeh Ma Fa Fe: Roots Volume
Stronghold Sound

The San Francisco-based label, Stronghold Sound, continues to pump out some great African tunes on Sembeh Ma Fa Fe: Roots Volume. The new album continues in the tradition of Guinean folk rhythms in a contemporary context. The sixteen-track album contains music by Guinea's great, including Blondi, Saran, Bosta, Aisha, Alassane, MyBaby, Cissoko, Captain Planet, J-Boogie, Dub Snakkr, and Balandougou Kan. The contemporary music is Afro-pop-based with killer percussion moments, rippling guitars, and crooning vocals. Fans of Stronghold Sound already know about this album. Anyone with an interest in Guinean music, West African music, and African music in general, will find it very fascinating and ear-friendly. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Boris Kovac & La Campanella's 'Eastern Moon Rising'

Boris Kovac & La Campanella
Eastern Moon Rising
Riverboat Records/World Music Network

Balkan jazz artists, Boris Kovac & La Campella, know how to entertain the masses with their latest release, Eastern Moon Rising. Steeped in Balkan rhythms and gypsy melodies with jazz music at its core, Boris Kovac brings to life his Serbian roots on a marvelous quasi-classical and folk product. The album incorporates indigenous rhythms and melodies with equally-relevant instrumentation to create a truly remarkable world music recording. The folks at Riverboat/WMN know a thing or two about world music and the result is nothing short of spectacular. Eastern Moon Rising is a Balkan jazz and European music winner with vibrant strings, horns, percussion, and miscellaneous instrumentation. However, the loud, energetic, Balkan music most people know and love are not really found here. Think of the lighter sounds of the late-Cesaria Evora's band. Nearly an hour of music marks the album's eleven tracks. Fans of Balkan music, jazz, gypsy music, and world fusion will love the mostly instrumental tunes. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Mighty Mystic's 'Concrete World'

Mighty Mystic
Concrete World
VP Records Music Group

U.S.-based reggae musician, Mighty Mystic, gives us a fresh, Jamaican-inspired groove that contains a bit of rock, hip hop, and urban elements. The reggae-infused beats saunter with such deliciousness that it is impossible to dislike. The jazzy, reggae, and urban-infused "This Train" and "Cali Green" are two of the best tracks on the new fourteen-track album. "Concrete World" adds a reggae-dance dimension to the mix with great guitar stylings and blurby electronics. "Next Generation" continues a little dance ambiance with a pop-rock-infused song. It seems reggae is only one type of music that graces the tracks on Concrete World. Fans of dance, electronica, urban, hip hop, and rock will find something to love about here. ~ Matthew Forss