Originally more of a collective than a band the Barcelona-based flamenco fusion group Ojos de Brujo which translates to Eyes of the Wizard came together in the mid-90s when guitarist Ramon Gimnez began playing with likeminded experimental musicians l…

This French band was formed in 1986 by Manu Chao (b. Oscar Tramor, 26 June 1961, Paris, France; guitar, vocals), his brother Antonio Chao (trumpet), and his cousin Santiago Casiriego (drums). Formed from the remnants of the Paris-based rockabilly out…

b. Oscar Tramor, 26 June 1961, Paris, France. A leading figure in the rise of the Latin Alternative movement, Manu Chao was born to Spanish parents (his father Ramon is a noted writer). Bilingual from an early age, he fell in love with the UK punk sc…

Regarded as one the leading fiddle groups of Finland JPP combines traditional pelimani folk music with more innovative forms The core of the group are the uncle and nephew fiddle partnership Mauno and Arto Jarvela along with harmonium player Timo Ala…

Kali began his professional music career in what many consider to have been Martiniques finest reggae band Sixime Continent which hit big with a 12-inch single called Reggae Dom-Tom In the late 80s Kali picked up a century-old family heirloom a banjo…

The Hawaiian duo the Kaau Crater Boys teamed Troy Fernandez and Ernie Cruz Formed during the mid-1990s they issued a series of LPs including Tropical Hawaiian Day Valley Style and On Fire before disbanding in 1997 The Best of the Kaau Crater Boys fol…

London, England-based ska punk unit King Prawn (aka King P) originally formed during the mid-90s, through adverts placed in a television magazine, TV Quick. Comprised of members Al-Farabi Rumjen (vocals), Aryan Devil aka Devil Hands (guitar), Barbar …

Throw together a pair of Bosnians a couple of Bulgarians three Americans and a bassist from Japan and youve got culture shock Or at least Kultur Shock the Seattle-based band who freely mix punk and metal with Balkan brass Leader Gino Yevdjevich becam…

A native of Calcutta India Sanjay Mishra mixes instrumentation from both the Eastern and Western Hemisphere with modern rhythms He has released several albums Blue Incantation includes the guitar services of longtime fan Jerry Garcia Crossing followe…

A mostly instrumental surfloungefilmbossa novapopswingrock combo from Allston MA Seks Bomba is somewhere between the frantic genre hopping of Brave Combo and the tongue-in-cheek kitsch of their fellow New Englanders Combustible Edison The group forme…

b. Rob Gallagher, England. Earl Zinger is one of several recording monikers employed by UK-based DJ Rob Gallagher, who has traversed a number of different music styles during his lengthy career. He began in the mid-80s as a new age rapper and jazz po…

b. Roberto Valentín, 9 June 1941, Orocovis, Puerto Rico. Valentín has, over a quarter of a century, gained the reputation as one of salsa's foremost bandleaders. In addition to having been one of the genre's top-of-the-range arrangers, he is known as…

Snakefinger was an appellation adopted by UK guitarist Phil Lithman (b. Philip Charles Lithman, 17 June 1949, London, England, d. 1 July 1987, Linz, Austria). A member of mid-60s' act Junior's Blues Band, Lithman subsequently moved to San Francisco f…