In 1998 I traveled to Cuba to study guitar as part of my graduate studies in cultural anthropology. I was hoping to get a better grasp of the socially conscious Nueva Trova folk music movement, but within a few weeks I was itching to discover something more intense than the…
Most artists yearn to be recognized and admired by the public. But in the cutthroat world of Jamaican dancehall, fame can lead to serious trouble, particularly if you happen to be a member of the thriving Miami collective Black Chiney. “Back in 2002 someone sent us an e-mail,” says Supa…
Ex-Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr knows a little something about dealing with strong-willed vocalists (ahem, Morrissey), so it’s no surprise that his contributions to the poppiest Modest Mouse record yet are solid. But it’s still a treat to hear how focused Isaac Brock and Co. are on the lushly arranged Ship,…
Afrobeat is an often imitated musical form, but few bands approach it with the respect and creativity that Brooklyn’s Antibalas has over the years. When the band was created nearly a decade ago, its music picked up where the genre’s architects, Fela Kuti and his son Femi, respectively, left off…
There are certain instruments folks wouldn’t ordinarily associate with jazz music, and the steel pan (used in soca and calypso) is on that list. But on Andy Narell’s latest disc, Tatoom, the pan is taken to a different level, and the jazz tunes that are created here seem abstract at…
We can safely assume that Dionne, living legend that she is, looks forward to returning to Miami under brighter circumstances. Back in 2002, you’ll recall, the singer was busted at the airport for possession of marijauna — specifically eleven joints found inside a lipstick container. (Dionne, upon landing, allegedly asked…
If you’ve paid a recent late-night visit to the Krispy Kreme Doughnuts in North Miami Beach, chances are you’ve seen Bobby Washington in the parking lot. “This is when it gets really packed,” notes the 33-year-old R&B singer. Washington cuts an odd figure amid the SUVs and sedans circling this…
The sophomore album by hip-hop artist El-P portrays a world plagued by war and malevolent technology. Cities are burning under the noses of uncaring mayors. There are “rats tappin’ glass in a government lab.” It doesn’t sound happy. Then again, these aren’t happy times. “C’mon mom, can I borrow the…
Alright is a love-or-loathe proposition. Plenty of listeners will be enchanted by Allen’s defiantly casual singing, cool-girl vocabulary, and taste for hybrid pop, while others are sure to find these attributes irritating in the extreme. As for the MySpace phenom in the spotlight, she doesn’t appear to care what reaction…
Since putting their collaborative efforts on hiatus last year, the dynamic duo of Dubfire and Sharam, known more famously as Deep Dish, have each sought to create a stronger distinction between their solo recordings. While Sharam has adopted a free-wheeling aesthetic, Dubfire has taken a decidedly rootsy turn with his…
Anyone hoping that singer David Kilgour’s latest disc, The Far Now, would be a return to the streamlined, guitar-driven rush of his former New Zealand punk outfit the Clean will quickly be disappointed. Instead for this, his sixth album, he’s offering down-to-earth, contemplative jangle-rock with melodies and moods strong enough…
While many of his famous Brazilian contemporaries are reissuing hits from their lengthy back catalogs, 64-year-old singer Caetano Veloso stubbornly continues to push himself forward as evidenced on his newest album, Cê. The simple, stripped-down instrumentation here (guitar, bass, drums) is also a nice change from some of his larger…
John Digweed Long gone are the days when John Digweed needed the name of his erstwhile partner, Sasha, to draw attention to his talents. The DJ has been shining alone for a while and is now lending his skills to others, specifically Canada’s production duo du jour, MSTRKRFT. Digweed and…
Aterciopelados In the ten years since they released La Pipa de La Paz (“The Pipe of Peace”), this genre-busting duo has continued to break musical barriers, blending the folk traditions of their native Colombia with a melange of sounds picked up as they’ve toured the Americas and Europe. The pair’s…
The Cleveland Orchestra Miami has no pressing need to borrow cultural institutions from smaller cities. On the contrary, classical music fans in Phoenix, Seattle, and San Diego can only dream of seeing an orchestra of New World Symphony’s caliber. But The Cleveland Orchestra happened to have some winter downtime, so…
It sounds like an incredible, genre-defying jam that could only be conjured up in the wildest dream state. A week packed with parties and special events, where the collective lineup of talent features everything from classic goth-rockers the Cure to the current “King of Crunk” Lil Jon, with every conceivable…
While the American dance scene has in many ways cooled from the peaks of the late Nineties, it’s also adapted to fit into the fast-forward culture of today. With mix CD and especially 12-inch sales virtually nonexistent, dance fans have instead emphasized the experience. Just ask anyone stuck at the…
Some of electronic music’s most recognizable names are slated to appear at Ultra Music Festival, from Richie Hawtin and Fatboy Slim to Sasha and John Digweed. But the full lineup (available at www.ultramusicfestival.com) reveals a certain curatorial skill even beyond all of the star power, offering samples of house, techno,…
“Over the years, we’ve always had a great time in Miami. The Cure has a really strong following there. When we first started coming to America, we didn’t play there for years, because certain promoters told us that no one would like us in the city. But when we did,…
When it began in 2004, M3: Miami, Music & Multimedia was inspiring. The panel discussions, which featured future superstars like Danger Mouse alongside industry veterans like legendary British mogul Tony Wilson (who discovered New Order), were conducted in air-conditioned tents at the end of Washington Avenue, near the beach and…
Andrew Mason describes the experience of spinning vinyl records — as opposed to playing MP3s — in deeply reverential terms. “It’s the thrill of the needle on the groove and hearing the noise of the record and then the song starts. It’s this visceral thing,” says Mason, also known as…
We are certainly not the Oscars or the Grammys. Heaven knows there’s no budget for fancy statues — or pretty girls to stand behind the podium holding them, for that matter. But we do like to give praise where it is due, and there are lots of cool happenings set…
