Tao’s CD is Mapleshade's most extraordinary guitar session to date—and the best guitar sound we've ever laid down. A passionately committed player, Tao honed his scorching chops apprenticing for years under gypsy masters in Spain. For this session, Tao improvises brilliantly original arrangements on each of the five best-known traditional flamenco forms: bulerias, seguidillas, etc.
Brother Ah (Robert Northern), the most sought-after French hornist of the '60's gave up his horn in the early 70's to explore his vision of merging traditional music from all continents. Celebration! is the culmination of his group's spiritual 20-year journey: gorgeous all-acoustic arrangements of hand-carved African flutes, Afro-Caribbean percussion, woodwinds, guitar, and koto.
A "dream team" Irish trio plays traditional jigs, reels and airs with passion and originality. "It's no surprise that this is an album which elevates the senses. It brims with good humour and abandon. Three master musicians have chimed in to create a modern masterpiece," praises Aidan Crossey of Paythereckoning.com.
Wearing wrist, waist and ankle shakers, Asante danced and drummed the length of Mapleshade's studio—filled wall-to-wall with his hand drums, African xylophones, gongs, whatnot. All About Jazz praises,
"the sound on this record is wonderfully detailed, clear, and well-resolved...beautifully executed, colorfully textured excursions into polyrhythmic space..."
Playing classical sitar with pristine technique, Alif Laila sweeps the listener away with the new emotion, drama, and dynamics she brings to these centuries-old ragas. Tari, a world-renowned tabla master, frames her
sitar with beguiling percussion melodies, played with boggling dexterity
and heart-stopping expressiveness.
Irish America describes: “The Celtic Jazz Collective is stylish, sophisticated, and most importantly, swinging. This album is a must-have for jazz buffs who wish to explore music, for Irish music aficionados looking for a toe-hold onto jazz…ah, flip it: it’s a must-have, period.” Some of Ireland’s finest plus a smoking jazz rhythm section created a historic first. And, they made fun music.
Midnite's tight, hypnotic bass groove is the rootsiest, most spiritually pure reggae we’ve heard in decades. Not just another party band singing about dope and copping Wailers’ riffs, Midnite’s songs are brilliantly poetic and devastatingly iconoclastic. And they had the guts to record without electronic cosmetics-three mikes and no reverb, EQ, or overdubs.
Thirty-five years ago, Bey sparked Pierre's passion for the African drum when he heard Bey leading Olatunji’s Drums of Passion. Bey's work with Randy Weston and Art Blakey helped introduce the African drum into jazz.
The warm, reedy sound of a wood-case button accordion is one of the most joyful sounds in Irish music. And when the legendary Joe Derrane is behind the box, it's always a toss-up: is it time to dance or just sit back and revel in his blazing speed and endless inventions? "The Man Behind the Box is another gem from this living treasure who shows no sign of slowing down," according to the Irish Echo.
“…this CD can safely be called a landmark recording. Rarely has the sheer beauty and excitement of classic tunes been so brilliantly presented," according to Irish Music Magazine. Rooted in tunes of the early 1900’s, the button accordion-fiddle-piano trio pays homage to the classic years of Irish music in America with sound like no Celtic CD you’ve heard.
"A lively, unpredictable CD that will appeal to anyone who likes his/her jazz with a big dose of world music...", according to All Music Guide. Up front, Joe Ford, the Fort Apache Band’s alto sax star, stokes the fire alongside Benito’s effervescent piano. In back, nailing down classic meringue, rumba and mambo grooves, Asante’s thunderous five-foot carved drums lead his African hand drum congregation.
Bound For Sound said ,"Your basic eclectic combination of Latin percussion, South American rhythms, jazz brass and funk baritone sax...Wonderfully rhythmic and infectious...so sonically superior it's scary...Recording of Merit."
