• 
  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 >>

Nation Beat’s marriage of Americana—from second-line backbeats to Hank Williams—with the funky folklore of northeast Brazil is inspirational. Loping, sensual percussion rhythms, searing bowed-string melodies, sweetly soaring slide guitar, and heart-tugging vocals are the band’s stock in trade. Brazil and the U.S. both feature hybrid, Afro-European music cultures and musical ideas transfer easily from one context to the other. That’s why Nation Beat’s blends and segues flow so smoothly and satisfyingly. “Nagô Nagô” is part Allman Brothers, part Little Feet, and all thumping Brazilian maracatu. “De Repente No Repente” starts out like an old-time guitar ballad with a Brazilian twist, and winds up as transcultural country boogie. And Williams’s “I’m So Lonesome I could Cry” gets a brilliant treatment that touches on all the band’s strong suits.

Drummer and percussionist Scott Kettner is the mastermind behind this delightful foray into Brasiliamericana. Since recording their first CD, Nation Beat has recruited Brazilian vocalist Liliana Araújo, whose rich, earthy voice brings a powerful shot of soulful authenticity to each of these 15 tracks. Two percussionists, a bassman, a fine fiddler, and a versatile guitarist complete the group, and that would be quite enough. But on Legends of the Preacher, the band joins forces with Frank London and the adventurously eclectic Klezmatics, adding the lyricism and transcendent melancholy of klezmer brass, violin, and even some Yiddish vocals to the mix. Why does an old world, Jewish wedding vibe work with all this new world, Afro-Christian culture? Couldn’t tell you, but it does. Threaded through these songs are the adventures of preacher, who ultimately meets a sad end. But after a journey like this, you just know he’s going to heaven.

Contributed by Banning Eyre for www.afropop.org