Search - Various Artists :: Mondo Beat

The roster of musicians on this CD reads like a who's who of modern percussion: Tito Puente, Airto Moreira, Babatunde Olatunji, and Mickey Hart are all here, along with some other excellent artists. While Mondo Beat is percussion-oriented, there's plenty of variety here: composer James Asher creatively mixes synth and acoustic instruments on "Ijeilu"; Tito Puente turns in "Ti Bon Mo,"an improvisation over a rhythmic base; the Musicians of the Nile's "Zahrafat Al Sa'ld" is a foot-tapping set of rhythms played with sensitivity and energy; Babatunde Olatunji's "Orere" is a passionate group performance of percussion and chorus. While not as comprehensive as such collections as The Big Bang: In the Beginning Was the Drum, there's something on Mondo Beat to appeal to everyone. --Genevieve Williams