World Music

Mexico's 'Chente' Brings Music to the U.S.

June 19, 2007 · Singer Vicente Fernandez has long been Mexico's king of mariachi music. A new, bilingual boxed CD set celebrates four decades of his work, just as he makes his biggest U.S. tour ever.

CD Reviews By Milo Miles

From New York, Israeli Duo Serves Up Balkan Beats

June 27, 2007 · The cross-cultural crew that is the New York band Balkan Beat Box came together around two Israeli musicians, Tamir Muskat and Ori Kaplan. Their latest album is called Nu Med; world music critic Milo Miles has a review.

Refugee All Stars Return Home

June 12, 2007 · The members of the Refugee All Stars are all survivors of Sierra Leone's bloody civil war. Their music tells stories of survival, of living in exile, and of returning home. Members of the Refugee All Stars tell their stories of courage, song and return. Web Extra: Hear Songs from 'Living Like a Refugee'

Pop Music

For Shakira, an Emotional Homecoming Show

June 19, 2007 · Colombian singer Shakira has soared to worldwide fame with her sultry voice and swiveling hips. Latin America's most successful crossover artist recently returned to her hometown, to praise her birthplace and to express her concern about the region's poverty. Web Extra: Hear Shakira's Music

Nigerian Artist is a One-Man Body Beating Band

June 16, 2007 · Nigerian artist Joseph Omotoye, known as Jojo Bodybeats, uses his entire body — including his mouth, lips, shoulder, chest, stomach and a spoon beaten against his cheeks — to make extraordinary "body music."

Song of the Day By Claire Blaustein

'Pretty on the Inside' and the Ugly Truth

June 11, 2007 · The title of Ceann's "Pretty on the Inside" telegraphs the gag from the start, but there's no way of predicting exactly how far it's going to go. The chorus is the least of it: "You're pretty on the inside / It's just too bad I'm an outside kind of pretty guy."

In Performance

Slavic Soul Party: Heart and Feet Music

June 9, 2007 · Slavic Soul Party mixes the "messed-up" rhythms of the Balkans with gypsy music, funk and jazz for a sound that brings young hipsters and older immigrants together in the same room. Hear an interview with band leader Matt Moran, as well as a studio performance of new songs. Web Extra: Hear the Performance

World Cafe from WXPN

Pacha Massive: Latin Music Gets Big

June 7, 2007 · A Bronx-based duo, Pacha Massive blends the rhythms of bemebe, reggae, palo and meringue. The resulting mixture straddles the lines separating Latin music, drum-and-bass, dancehall and trip-hop. Hear an interview and in-studio performance.

Reviews

Teddy Afro, the New Reggae God of Ethiopia

June 7, 2007 · Though the late Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie was considered a god by Rastafarians, in Bob Marley's day, reggae music wasn't popular in Ethiopia. Now, though, reggae is huge in the East African nation, and there's no bigger star than Teddy Afro.

World Cafe from WXPN

Forro in the Dark: Beyond Tradition

May 30, 2007 · Forro in the Dark gets its name from a style of Brazilian dance music, but it doesn't conform to those limitations, instead drawing on influences from Enrique Iglesias to Beck. Hear an interview with the band, as well as a studio performance of its new songs.

Afghan Rapper Blends Traditional Tunes, Poetry

May 29, 2007 · Rap isn't exactly the kind of music that should find a following in Afghanistan, a place that aggressively shuns Western influence. But rapper D.J. Besho, known to Afghans as Bejan, has broken through societal taboos.

World Cafe from WXPN

Balkan Beat Box: An All-World Techno Explosion

May 23, 2007 · For Balkan Beat Box, accomplished underground musicians Ori Kaplan and Tamir Muskat assembled a diverse group to play intensely unpredictable, danceable music. Hear an interview, as well as a studio performance of songs from the new album.