• 
  KG Omulo: Ayah Ye!: Moving Train
  
  A synergy of funk, rock, reggae and traditional African sounds from this inventive, young singer/songwriter.
• 
  Various Artists: Chief Boima Presents: Lone Stars - Hipco and Gbema
  
  
• 
  Mamadou Diabaté: Courage
  
  Mamadou Diabate, the kora master, takes a fresh look at Mali instrumental music with his new CD Courage.
• 
  Various Artists: The Kankobela of the Batonga, Vol. 2
  
  Mysterious melodies from a disappearing thumb piano tradition of Southern Africa.
• 
  Kiran Ahluwalia: Aam Zameen: Common Ground
  
  Indo-Canadian Songwriter Combines Folk Poetry with African Rock, Jazz and more
• 
  M.anifest: Immigrant Chronicles: Coming to America
  
  
• 
  Sona Jobarteh: FASIYA
  
  West African female kora virtuoso releases an album full of grace, warmth, and passion.
• 
  Sia Tolno: My Life
  
  Kissi singer releases a strong second album full of pop-infused star power over songs of strife and triumph.
• 
  Zieti: Zemelewa
  
  Eclectic blend of Afro-infused pop out of Cote d'Ivoire.
• 
  Guelewar: Halleli N Dakarou
  
  Re-released and remastered live CD from this 80's experimental Senegambian outfit.
• 
  Tinariwen: Tassili
  
  Touareg desert legends return with an offering that is meandering, sorrowful and proud.
• 
  Los Rakas: Chancletas y Camisetas Bordada
  
  Oakland/Panamanian rappers -call it "Panabay"-- return with good results.
• 
  Cheikh Lo: Jamm
  
  The unique Senegalese singer and multi-instrumentalist crafts an eclectically excellent record.
• 
  David Rudder: Random Notes
  
  Calypsonian David Rudder returns with an album that covers various styles with excellent results.

All Reviews >>

Juju Duarte is an unsung treasure of backstreet Rio de Janeiro. He sang for 20 years in samba clubs in Rio, but also at religious gatherings and street parties. His producer and collaborator here, American musical adventurer Beston Barnett, describes him as “an encyclopedia of Brazilian music.” That may be, but what makes this record so enjoyable, is its folksy, straightforward presentation, as if we, like Barnett, were invited into Juju’s funky home for an intimate music party. Most of these 19 tracks are tuneful bossa novas and gently loping sambas, backed minimally by acoustic guitar, bass, and light percussion, and featuring Juju singing fantastically beautiful melodies with joyful, informal ease.

Juju can croon like a bossa nova romantic (“Estrada Do Sol”) or make as samba funky with scratchy romanticism (“Deixa A Vida Me Levar”) or as moody and melodious as a Cape Verdean morna (“Trem Das Onze”). But there’s a street edge to Juju’s performance that separates these recordings from just about any acoustic-oriented Brazilian release you’ll find. The album works in a couple of a capella performances, short stretches of Juju reminiscing in Portuguese, and some great ambient sounds—lots of singing birds, bands marching by, street drums, partying voices. All this makes for a fast-moving, deeply satisfying flow. Barnett plays a variety of instruments here, and invites others to bring in a delightful array of acoustic sounds—cavanquilho, flute, berimbau, and on one track, what sounds like a bassoon. The accompaniment is tasty but never obtrusive letting this be truly Juju’s session.

There are a few familiar tunes here, two Jobim bossas, and a samba party classic, “Maria Baiana Maria.” But all but the best educated listeners will make discoveries in Juju’s “street of bones.” Two numbers, “Madelena” and “Ignacio” tilt towards Afro Cuban music, the latter even incorporating a clave pattern played on an African bell. If you long for the unvarnished, folksy side of roots samba—that magic mix of urban and rural—without a trace of artificiality or packaging, this one is for you.