The soukous king Syran M’Benza
More powerful than a line of snow done the hard way, faster than a bottle of Ballantyne’s Finest taken with a straw and stirred not shaken, more exhilarating than deep … Continue reading
Bia – singer, composer, interpreter
Bïa Krieger, often known simply as Bïa, is a fascinating and beguiling singer with a voice of milk and honey who has released nine CDs over the past 18 years. … Continue reading
Mississippi John Hurt
The last few days I’ve been listening to the music of Mississippi John Hurt. It’s so rhythmic, so understated, it has an almost hypnotic effect, like voodoo drums. It’s good … Continue reading
Gianmaria Testa: sotto voce
I want to talk about the music of Gianmaria Testa, an Italian singer and songwriter whose work I am fond of, and don’t know how to describe it. True, I … Continue reading
A Black and White Night
I’ve been watching a film lately called A Black and White Night, a comeback concert benefit for Roy Orbison made in November 1988, the month before he died of a … Continue reading
The Songs of Ana Carolina
And the words of the prophet are written on the subway walls, and tenement halls A VOICE How do you describe a voice? Usually you don’t; you listen to it. … Continue reading
Singers from Brazil
In Brazil popular music can be an unexpected mix of jazz, folk, pop and rock, genres which are usually kept separate in American popular music. The big names, some of … Continue reading
