A rich tapestry of Afro-Caribbean rhythms – and one of the most compelling albums we've heard in years from David Murray! The set features an expanded group of percussionists, vocalists, and other instrumentalists – fronted by lead solo stars David Murray and Pharoah Sanders – all jamming freely in styles that bring together bits of African, Haitian, and Cuban rhythms – forging them into a bold new sound for the project! Tracks are all quite longish, and given the previous skills that both Murray and Sanders have exhibited in such settings, they're more than up for the challenge of working with such a heady group of players! Titles include "Go To Jazz", "Gwotet", "Djolla Feeling", "La Jwa", "O Leonso", and "Ovwa". (Jazz, Global Grooves) CD

A treasure trove of work from the glory days of Congolese music – a time when local bands were really bridging a range of styles from outside, and managing to create their own unique regional hybrid! There's elements of jazz, Latin, and other modes at play here – but the sound is decidedly unique, too – given the way the rhythms come across and the guitars dance freely – often accompanied by these other-worldly vocals that captivate our ears far beyond the boundaries of language! The quality of the set is every bit as high as other African Pearls titles – with loads of great images, and full notes in English and French – and the 2CD set features 24 tracks that include "Kamiki" by Orchestre Kiam, "Mwana Mburu 002" by Verckys, "Tangana" by Dewayon, "Jaria" by Grands Maquisards, "Kanu" by Empire Bakuba, "Ya Limbisa Bijou" by Bavon Marie Marie, "Regina" by OK Jazz, "Dialogue" by Tabu Ley, "Camiya" by Cepakos, and "Maloukoula" by Sinza Kotoko. CD