The Library CD Shelf
Sonnet Love Songs
Deborah Anderson and Richard DeRosa
Classics Music Publishing
www.classicsmusic.net
$14.99 CD / $8.99 MP3 www.amazon.com
Sonnet Love Songs is an album that sets classic literary sonnets (written b
y William Shakespeare, Alfred Tennyson, Louisa Sarah Bevington, Elizabeth B
arrett Browning, and Christina Rossetti) to contemporary classical, jazz, a
nd soft rock music. A beautiful marriage of word and song in celebration of
life's greatest joy, Sonnet Love Songs is highly recommended. The tracks a
re "Shall I Compare Thee To A Summer's Day?" (4:14), "How Do I Love Thee?"
(4:08), "Make War Upon This Bloody Tyrant Time" (3:08), "As an Unperfect Ac
tor on the Stage" (3:30), "Weary With Toil, I Haste To My Bed" (3:23), "Sur
prised by Joy" (5:17), "If I Were Loved As I Desire To Be" (4:33), "Am I To
Lose You?" (4:07), "My Letters!" (2:56), and "Love Me, for I Love You" (4:
35).
Everything is Music
Atash
Ars Mundi Productions
c/o Press Junkie PR
9901 Brodie Lane, Suite 160, PMB 221
Austin, TX 78748
$TBA www.amazon.com
Although the world music band Atash is based in Austin, Texas, their inspir
ation comes from traditions spanning the ocean - including sound and rhythm
s from Persia, Turkey, India, West Africa, Cuba and the Middle East. Everyt
hing is Music is their glorious creation that includes aid from the talente
d Naga Valli for Indian vocals, Uzbki percussionist Abbos Kosimov, jazz fus
ion guitarist Fareed Haque and chorus singers from the Haitian group Les Pe
tits Chanteurs. Atash's reputation earned their album a generous amount of
support from patrons of the crowdfunding website Indiegogo; now, the genera
l public can (and should!) readily enjoy the fruits of their adventurous ta
lent. The tracks are "Mistereph" (4:11), "Sajdeh (Ravish)" (3:51), "Baaraan
(Rain)" (6:09), "Talangor (Flick!)" (4:35), "Tanguillo" (5:00), "Manaman K
oli" (3:38), "Amshab" (7:12), "Sahara Spring" (9:21), and "Eshq" (8:16).
The Spirit Speaks
The Jones Family Singers
Arts + Labor
c/o Press Junkie PR
9901 Brodie Lane, Suite 160, PMB 221
Austin, TX 78748
$9.98 www.amazon.com
The Jones Family Singers are a gospel group whose music is as graceful as t
he faith. Their new album, The Spirit Speaks, is rich creation of fervent s
ongs from the soul, powerful and emotionally moving. A treasury of love and
joy, The Spirit Speaks is highly recommended. The tracks are "Down On Me",
"Going Home", "Bones in the Valley", "Made up my Mind", "Leaning on You",
"I am", "You Woke Me up this Morning", "Preacher man", "Through it all", an
d "Try Jesus".
Whatsnext?
Mehmet Ali Sanlikol
Privately Published
c/o Rock Paper Scissors
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2
Bloomington, IN 47404
www.rockpaperscissors.biz
$TBA www.amazon.com
Whatsnext? is a jazz album by Turkey-born composer Mehmet Sanlikol, who fus
es elements of world music with the rich heritage of jazz, and synthesizer
flair. The result is a standout creation that reflects Sanlikol's passion f
or bold experimentation with music's mystery. Whatsnext? is intriguing, sou
l-sweeping, and highly recommended! The tracks are "What's next?", "Better
Stay Home", "A Violet Longing", "Palindrome", "On the edge of the extreme p
ossible", "The Blue Soul of Turkoromero", "Kozan March", "N.O.H.A.", and "G
one crazy: a noir fantasy".
Futureworld
Thomas Blondet
http://thomasblondet.com
Rhythm & Culture Music
www.rhythmandculture.com
c/o Press Junkie PR
9901 Brodie Lane, Suite 160, PMB 221
Austin, TX 78748
$16.81 CD / $9.49 MP3 www.amazon.com
The debut album of DJ and producer Thomas Blondet, Futureworld is a rhythmi
c, pulsating album that draws upon Jamaican and Indian musical traditions,
with smooth Spansih vocals and melodies that owe inspiration to the Middle
East. Eclectic, adventurous, and uniquely organic, Futureworld is a choice
pick for connoisseurs seeking to broaden their musical palate. The tracks a
re "Chan Ve", "Un Amor", "Check One", "Dil Da Jani", "Beyond the Balkans",
"Tu Va Partir", "Curry Flava", "Savo Vodo", "In This World", "Dil Da Jani (
Reprise)", "Supreme (Dub)", "Son of Fakir", and "In This World (Dub)".
Libation
Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars
www.sierraleonesrefugeeallstars.com
Cumbancha
413 Carpenter Road, Charlotte, VT 05445
www.cumbancha.com
c/o Press Junkie PR (publicity)
9901 Brodie Lane, Suite 160, PMB 221, Austin, TX 78748
$15.98 CD / $8.99 MP3 www.amazon.com
Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars is a musical performance group who celebra
te their African cultural heritage while taking stand against tribalism, re
gionalism, and divisive violence in their latest album, Libation. The title
refers to a common African custom of pouring a small amount of drink on th
e ground as an offering to gods, spirits, ancestors, or departed loved ones
. Brimming with rhythm, enthusiasm for life, and the will to build a better
world, Libation is a choice pick for international music collections. The
tracks are "Chaimra" (3:50), "Can't Make Me Lonely" (3:29), "It's So Sorry"
(4:24), "Gbaenyama" (4:38), "Rich But Poor" (4:34), "Ghana Baby" (3:05), "
Manjalagi" (4:18), "Maria" (3:43), "Money No Do" (3:58), "Treat You Right"
(4:11), "Min Do Sin Tay" (3:48), and "No Feel Bad O" (3:48).
Gypsy Dream
Ferenc Illenyi with Andrew Leinhard, Erich Avinger, Chris Maresh, and guest
s
MesaBluemoon Recordings
c/o Rock Paper Scissors
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2
Bloomington, IN 47404
$TBA www.rockpaperscissors.biz
Hungarian-born violinist Ferenc Illenyi presents Gypsy Dream, an instrument
al odyssey. Accompanying Illenyi are expert jazz pianist Andrew Leinhard, E
rich Avinger on the guitar, Chris Maresh playing acoustic bass, and other c
ontributing musicians. Gypsy Dream especially delves into the ever-evolving
legacy of Hungarian "Gypsy music", which has a long tradition of being ope
n to improvisation or additions. Soulful, invigorating, and rewarding, Gyps
y Dream is a gem for any international music collection. The tracks are "An
do Beco" (4:30), "Tears" (4:06), "Boabdit, Bulerias" (3:50), "Gypsy Caprice
" (4:33), "Indifference" (5:54), "Oblivion" (3:33), "Tortura" (5:14), "A Mi
nor Swing" (3:18), "Gloomy Sunday" (3:19), "Birds of Santa Maria Novella" (
5:51), and "Sonata in F Minor K466" (4:30).
Faya
Joe Driscoll & Sekou Kouyate
Cumbancha Music Publishing
413 Carpenter Road, Charlotte, VT 05445
c/o Press Junkie PR
9901 Brodie Lane, Suite 160, PMB 221
Austin, TX 78748
$15.00 CD/ $9.99 MP3 www.cumbancha.com
US-born, England-based rapper/beatboxer/singer Joe Driscoll and Guinean kor
a (a West African stringed instrument similar in sound to a harp) master Se
kou Kouyate combine their musical talents in their smash debut album Faya.
Though Driscoll and Kouyate do not share a common language (Kouyate speaks
French and very little English; Driscoll speaks English and no French at al
l), music enables their flowing communication, and introduces listeners wor
ldwide to an international fusion of stellar talent. Highly recommended! Th
e tracks are "Tanama" (3:29), "Passport" (3:47), "Faya" (3:37), "Lady" (3:3
8), "Ghetto Many" (4:10), "Birnakely" (3:18), "Wonamati" (3:11), "New York"
(3:25), "Zion" (3:30), and "Faya (Gentleman's Dub Club Remix)" (3:50).
Up.Rooted
Gina Chavez
www.ginachavez.com
Privately Published
c/o Press Junkie PR
9901 Brodie Lane, Suite 160, PMB 221
Austin, TX 78748
$TBA CD / $9.99 download www.cdbaby.com
Award-winning Austin singer and songwriter Gina Chavez presents Up. Rooted,
her sophomore studio album about reaching out to her Latin roots. Chavez,
who is of Mexican and Swiss-German descent, has traveled from Austin to do
community work (living with Catholic nuns and teaching English at a girls'
school) in El Salvador. In the process she learned more about Latin America
n culture and music, and elements of her transformative journey enrich her
mellifluous stylings. Highly recommended! The tracks are "Save Me" (4:31),
"Gotta Get" (4:09), "Like an Animal" (4:37), "Maiz" (3:54), "Siete-D" (4:01
), "The Sweet Sound of Your Name" (4:38), "Soy Quien Soy" (3:56), "Fire Wat
er" (3:12), "Will You Love" (3:39), "Miles de Millas" (4:16), and "Todo Cam
bia" (5:00).
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