Toumani Diabate

100 Unheralded Albums from 2010

Among the thousands of under-appreciated or under-publicized albums that were released in 2010, hundreds became our favorites and were presented in ALARM and on AlarmPress.com. Of those, we pared down to 100 outstanding releases, leaving no genre unexplored in our list of this year’s overlooked gems.

AfroCubism

World in Stereo: AfroCubism

Each week, World in Stereo examines classic and modern world music while striving for a greater appreciation of other cultures.

AfroCubismAfroCubism: s/t (World Circuit / Nonesuch, 11/2/2010)

AfroCubism: “Jarabi”

[audio:http://alarm-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/06-Jarabi.mp3|titles=Afrocubism: “Jarabi”]

It was 1996 when British producer Nick Gold and American guitarist Ry Cooder arrived in Havana, intending to make a certain record that placed Malian and Cuban musicians together to explore the roots of Afro-Cuban music.  But as passport and visa problems stranded the West African musicians in Paris, Gold and Cooder made the decision to move on and revamp the project because the studio in Havana was already booked.