Putamayo Presents – Jazz Around The World

The fascinating global journey of jazz is one of music’s most remarkable stories. Putumayo’s newest release, Jazz Around the World, showcases the powerful influence of jazz on musicians across the globe. Featuring both well-established and newer artists performing extraordinary covers and originals, this collection incorporates a wide range of rhythms, instruments and melodies into a constantly evolving genre. With ancestral roots in Africa, jazz flowered into a dynamic force in the United States throughout the 20th century. And, over the years, it has borrowed from, influenced and blended with musical traditions around the world.

On Jazz Around the World,Texas-raised Heather Rigdon delivers a sophisticated performance on “Young and Naive” which has drawn comparisons to the music of Norah Jones and Diana Kral!. Quebecois chanteuse Chantal Chamberland’s retro-sounding interpretation of “La Mer” (the French predecessor of the Bobby Darin classic “Beyond the Sea”) sounds familiar yet original.

On “Quiereme Mucho,” Paris-based Niuver blends the trova music of her native Cuba with jazz and Brazilian bossy nova. Famed South African trumpeter and fusion master Hugh Maselcela offers an uplifting performance on “Open the Door,” effortlessly complemented by the beautiful voice of songstress Malaika.

The Kora Jazz Trio and Malian Keletigui Diabate, master of the balafon (an African marimba), both contribute exceptional reworkings of classic songs. The Kora Jazz Trio offers a soulful version of the Cuban standard “Chan Chan” while Diabate, (with Habib Koite & Bamada) gives an African twist to George Gershwin’s “Summertime?’ The album also features outstanding tracks by Cameroonian singer Blick Bassy, jazz fusion drummer Billy Cobham with Asere, New Zealand Maori musician Kataraina Pipi, Guadalajaran multicultural quartet Sherele and Spanish/Algerian singer Kad.