APRIL 15 2007

Ricardo Lemvo "Isabela"
(Mopiato Music / Congo)
Congo-born, Los Angeles-based singer-composer-bandleader Lemvo has been mixing the guitar-driven form of rumba he heard growing up in his homeland's capital city of Kinshasa, with its Cuban forebears--five-centuries-worth of Spanish melodies mixed with African rhythms--for a very long time. For his fifth album, which is named for his newborn daughter, he has wisely concluded that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." AMAZON.COM

The Mothers "Township Sessions"
(Rasa Records / South Africa)
The Philani Nutrition Project is a community-based child healthcare and nutrition organization operating in the township and squatter communities of Cape Town, South Africa, where poverty, unemployment, and violence are dominant. The Philani Mothers formed a choir and recorded a collection of songs with health and nutrition messages sung in Xhosa. English producer Peter Raeburn called on the talents of Kid Loco, Zero 7, Layo & Bushwacka, Tom Kenyatta, Nitin Sawhney, and many more to create their own productions around the voices and intentions of the Philani. The result is "Township Sessions", a collection of radically re-worked versions of the original public service announcements and a potent mixture of natural voices, electronic production, and consciousness-raising issues that create a powerful means of communication. AMAZON.COM

Brian Lynch / Eddie Palmieri Project "Simpatico"
(Artist Share Records / USA)
On this 2007 Grammy Award winning CD, arranger and composer Brian Lynch created a multigenerational multicultural musical document likely to gain in importance for years to come. It features Phil Woods Mario Rivera, Donald Harrison, Conrad Herwig, Boris Kozlov, Greg Tardy, Edsel Gomez, Robby Ameen, Dafnis Prieto, Ruben Rodriguez, Little Johnny Rivero, Giovanni Hidalgo and more. AMAZON.COM

Bebel Gilberto "Momento"
(Crammed Records / Brazil)
Three discs into her acclaimed solo career, it's a no-brainer that the Brazilian pop charms of Bebel Gilberto will conjure a slew of beach-inspired adjectives. "Refreshing," "wind-swept" and "sun-kissed" spring to mind. Momento continues Gilberto's trend of crafting sultry scenes of afternoon delight via tunes that both adhere to traditions and sound ultra-modern. AMAZON.COM

Haale "Morning / Paratrooper"
(Darya Records / Iran & USA)
On her two latest EP releases, 'Paratrooper' and 'Morning' (both self-releasd), Haale works a panoramic blend of luscious rock, heady bass, and brilliantly produced rhythms. POPMATTERS