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Romulo Froes Cão (YB Brasil) This young Brazilian singer uses the hushed articulation of bossa nova within the dance rhythms of samba on this stunning collection. Lovely harmonies, original arrangements, and wild dynamic variation—to say nothing of some killer lead guitar from one-time Tropicalia instrumentalist Lanny Gordin—suggest the emergence of a major new voice.
Boban Markovic The Promise (Piranha) The giant of Gypsy brass-band music returns with his best, most direct album in a decade, focusing on propulsive tunes written by him and his son Marko. No campy covers, no jacked-up beats, no celebrity guests—just full-on Rom soul music.
Vijay Iyer & Rudresh Mahanthappa Raw Materials (Savoy) This pair of Indian-Americans has been working together for 25 years now, so it’s natural that they anticipate one another’s moves as if they shared a brain. This striking, austere set of duets employs certain facets of their ancestral traditions, but ultimately they find a sound all their own.
