On 31 October 2000, Cuban jazz pianist Omar Sosa gave an extraordinary concert at Bremen's Schlachthof with a magnificent band, including US rapper and hip-hopper Sub-Z. Sosa's musical work covers an enormous range. Of course, his music is characterised by his musical roots and his Cuban origins, but the basis is formed by Latin jazz and Afro-Cuban rhythms as well as traditional North African music, which he likes to combine with elements of merengue, salsa, soul, funk, classical music and even hip hop. In other words: Omar Sosa is always exciting, especially live. This was also ensured by the superb backing band that accompanied Omar alongside Sub-Z at this concert from the Bremen Schlachthof: saxophonist Sheldon Brown, bassist Geoff Brennan, percussionist Gustavo Ovalles and drummer Elliott Kavee.

This is, perhaps, the one. Derek Trucks has been on an aesthetic quest for something since he began his own recording career in 1997 – apart from his membership in the Allman Brothers Band. Each record has gone further into establishing Trucks not only as a slide guitar wizard (that happened when he was still in his teens), but also as a serious songwriter, fine arranger, and bandleader. The Derek Trucks Band, as evidenced by the release of 2003's Soul Serenade, is a unit – a band – whose core has been together for eight years. They create an atmosphere, a sound, a musical sense of place and community.

The latest album by the Malian griot couple is centred around Bassekou Kouyate's adventurous lifejourney together with his wife, the worldwide praised singer, Amy Sacko. The Garana natives invites us onan intimate journey into their musical universe. It is also an invitation to travel to the source where it allbegan for Bassekou and his other long-time companion, his N’goni. Bassekou Kouyaté reveals the secretsbehind the beautiful love story between himself and his instrument. Amy and Bassekou chant to us abouttheir fears and hopes for the future, give philosophical advices and sing tributes to important people ofpresent and historical society of the Bambara Empire. New texts and re-interpretations of ancient texts,song in Bambara and Peul.

Santana Drum Legend Michael Shrieve To Release New Album “Drums of Compassion” on May 24, 2024 featuring Jack DeJohnette, Zakir Hussain, Airto Moreira, Trey Gunn & others!

A veteran of groups led by Herbie Hancock, Yo-Yo Ma, Laurie Anderson, Paul Simon, Phish, Sting and many more, Cyro Baptista continues to bring life, love and madness to every ensemble he works with. His own bands Banquet of the Spirits and Beat the Donkey tour the world to great acclaim and his CDs continue to be Tzadik best-sellers. Cyro’s latest project is a pop-infused psychedelic trip featuring Cyro with a huge lineup of all-star musicians. Three years in the making, this is groovy lyrical instrumental and vocal music that you will listen to morning, noon and night. A classic!

Kitaro's universally acknowledged as the founding architect of new age music. The Grammy and Golden Globe Award-Winning Kitaro has achieved global acclaim over a more than three decade long career with a signature sound and a pioneering fusion of cultures, techniques and spheres of consciousness that are truly his own.

“It’s probably fair to say that only Cyro Baptista could concoct a mix of music to include Brazilian, Mexican, and Afro-Cuban forms with hints of jazz, funk, and whatever else may fit, sometimes with multiple forms within the same song. Yet, even while you may not detect the particular style or have a total grasp on what he’s up to, he somehow makes it accessible and infectious.” Jim Hynes, Glide Magazine

Gambian kora virtuoso Dawda Jobarteh and Danish master drummer Stefan Pasborg join forces to release their exhilarating live album, ‘Live In Turku’. A captivating fusion of traditional West African sounds and contemporary improvisation, the record is set to release on April Records on May 17th.

In February of 2015, Grammy Award-winning band Snarky Puppy recorded Family Dinner Volume Two in front of a live studio audience with guest instrumentalists and vocalists from all over the world. A companion piece to the monumental album, this documentary/concert-film features exclusive candid interviews and acoustic performances from the guest artists. The project is a true testament for showing first-hand how music can be a bridge between diverse cultures from countries from all over the world to create a unifying musical statement for the average listener or the devout music-connoisseur.

Willie Bobo's 1965 LP, Spanish Grease, has been combined with his Uno Dos Tres 1-2-3 LP from 1966 on one CD reissue. One pass through the title cut of Spanish Grease and you know that Carlos Santana was listening. The easy R&B/Latin jazz shuffle on this Bobo original, with its mix of Spanish and English vocals, is an obvious touchstone to cuts like "Evil Ways" on Santana's first two albums. What a shame, then, that the rest of the record is primarily comprised of covers of pop hits of the day like "It's Not Unusual" (a vocal and an instrumental version!) and "Our Day Will Come." The timbales player and his band lay down respectable grooves, but "Spanish Grease" is the only original on the album, and by far the most rewarding number. Similarly, the toughest and most memorable track on Uno Dos Tres 1-2-3 is the one Bobo original, "Fried Neck Bones and Some Home Fries." Its creeping Latin soul groove was, like "Spanish Grease," an obvious inspiration for Carlos Santana. But on most of the rest of the recording, Bobo coasts through interpretations of period hits like "Michelle," "Goin' Out of My Head," and Jay & the Americans' (!) "Come a Little Bit Closer," with some jazz and pop standards as well.

The latest Album by OKAN. Fuses Afro-Cuban roots with jazz, electronica and pop, with contributions from stellar artists from the Cuban diaspora and other musical cultures.

In November 2022 world-renowned kora player Ballaké Sissoko and acclaimed guitarist Derek Gripper spend just three hours recording a wordless album together. The kora and guitar in the hands of masters - a session where New Ancient Strings meets One Night On Earth.