Classical Music

2 CD compilation of the best music from Ecuador. Includes songs by Rosa Yamainch Mashiant, Pucara, Los Chagras, Estudiantina Quito, Esta Cultural Group and many more for a total of 41 tracks.

Import Hybrid-SACD pressing.

Raga Nova: A cross-cultural blend of sitar and saxophone

Marrabenta is music from the beautiful country of Mozambique, situated on the African east coast. Mozambique was a Portuguese colony from 1505 to 1975, and its music reflects many cultures. It also reflects the struggle for independence, the ravages of a long war, and portrays the many faces of this beautiful country, from its spectacular coastline on the Indian Ocean, to its rugged and evocative mountains and countryside. The present release is a dazzling representation of Mozambique’s very own musical tradition. A dash of exotic fun, and the heady spirit of Mozambique’s nightlife. These are exciting songs with lyrics in Shangaan, Ronga, and Portuguese. Travel to the sunny southeast of the African continent for this enjoyable summer music.

The Kinross & District Pipe Band was formed in the summer of 1946 to play at local galas, festival events and pipe band competitions. During its long history the band has been awarded at World Championships and ceremony galas. A truly Scottish, beautiful album of pipes and drums.

These masterful oud performances highlight the unrivalled brilliance of Alan Shavarsh Bardezbanian. Including folk music from Armenia, Greece, Turkey and the Middle East, beautifully accompanied on piano, accordion, violin, guitar, bass and percussion. “If you are looking for an overview of the oud, you can't do much better than this album.” – 4* AllMusic.com

Master of the Bandoneon: Tango Argentino and Baroque Classic

Ravi: Ravi's Afro-Indian Project

Vocal Baobab: Afro-Cuban Chants - Yorbua Dream

Adzido: Ritual Songs and Dances From Africa

AFRICA TODAY! BEST OF CONTEMPO

Modern Bellydance from Lebanon

Shimal: Turkey Modern Tradition

This release features authentic recordings from powwows in the United States and Canada. These ceremonial dances and secular music selections come from various tribes of native American Indians. Accompanied by singing in native tongues, these tracks are performed on ceremonial drums, water drums, rattles, and jingles. The field recordings make this one of the most genuine native American music listening experiences on the market today. Featured artists on this release include Northern Wind from Ontario Canada, and Eyabay from Red Lake, Minnesota, who are regarded as kings of the pow wow trail.

This new release is an entertaining display of exciting Yiddish songs and klezmer music. The album features a mix of jazzy arrangements of traditional songs, vivacious instrumental works, and a capella pieces. Booklet notes include information about each of the songs.

•A selection of the Best Of Buena Vista, including tracks such as “El gallo de morón” and “Sonero de verdad” performed by old and new, featuring Pío Leyva, Rudy Calzado, Raúl Planas and original members of the Buena Vista Social Club.

Classical Music

When we use the terms "Greek traditional," "Grek folk," or "Greek demotic" music today, we mean songs and tunes coming from the past, from areas that were home to Christian farmers, shepherds and sailors during the Byzantine and Ottoman periods. Mostly- though not exclusively- Greek speaking, these populations lived, as was normal then, in close proximity with other ethnic, linguistic, or religious groups. In these areas, some of which now form modern-day Greece, the oral tradition of folk song and ecclesiastical music were the only available forms of musical expression. This album is the highly anticipated re-release of the 1980 album of the same name, extended with tracks licensed from the Domna Samiou Greek Folk Music Association. Domna Samiou (1928-2012) was a charismatic and multifaceted personality who dedicated her life to a quest which is now synonymous with her name: the preservation, dissemination and teaching of Greek traditional "folk" music.

ENCHANTING VOICE OF BULGARIA

The first mention of calypso comes from a dance described by Abbe Masse in 1882. Otherwise, most scholars who have tried to trace the story of calypso agree that the word itself is not connected with the deity who lured Homer's Odysseus to her island. The origins of the word are unclear and scholars debate this with no definitive answer. The name possibly began with the French 'carrouseaux' and went through patois and Anglicization. There are also suggestions that the name originated with exclamations of encouragement to the singer by the chorus or audience or both. But whatever process brought the word into everyday use, the point is that calypso is here. Quick wit, knowing observation of human behavior, and comment on it's absurd aspects are the bill of fare offered in calypso, which probably prompted Time to label calypso "The Living Newspaper" in 1944. For eloquence and topical diversity, no other genre can approach the calypso of Trinidad and Tobago, for the calypsonian assumes a stance between editorialist, moralist, and satirist as scandal, disaster, politics, self-praise, sexual indiscretion and everything from local to international events prove as grist for the mill.

Ahmed Mukhtar is a master composer and virtuoso oud player known for his prolific discography and international performances. This album showcases his best work, presenting new visions rooted in the rich and complex Iraqi tradition and Middle Eastern music. Born in Baghdad, Mukhtar has been playing the oud and Arabic percussions since 1979. In 1983, he began studying both the oud and percussion at the Institute of Fine Arts in Baghdad. A few years later, in 1990 he attended the High Institute of Music in Damascus where he continued his studies of the oud and Western percussions. In 1999, Mukhtar earned an MA from the London College of Music, and in 203, he received a Masters Degree in Performance with a focus on Middle-Eastern and Arabic music from SOAS (the School of Oriental and African Studies), London.

The energetic rhythms and intricately woven melodies of traditional Iranian and Middle Eastern percussion get an exciting twist when paired with modern instrumentation. The complex traditional drumming wends through surprising elements like rock solos on electric guitar and permeates even remixes with Persian flavor.

Classical Music

Gypsy Rumba Flamenco, played by Manuel el Chachi and Spanish Gypsy, is an album of Gipsy Kings-inspired contemporary Flamenco. This is exhilarating, fast Flamenco guitars, palmas (clapping), zapateados (‘feet’), bass, bongos, drums and cante (singing). The late Manuel Lopez-Ruiz, ‘El Chachi’ was born into a very musical family, in Granada. He became a professional musician under the name ‘El Chachi’ at the age of twenty and began touring. Juan Plazuelo (el Gitanillo) founded Spanish Gypsy in 1990. Plazuelo is an excellent singer and guitarist and the author of many Canciones (Spanish songs).