U.K.-based producers Etienne Tron and Johan Karlberg stumbled upon a tremendous talent when they discovered Malawian singer Esau Mwamwaya working at a second-hand shop near their London studio. After seeing success with a mixtape of cover songs last year, the trio known as The Very Best is now making their mark on the world music scene with their debut CD release, Warm Heart of Africa. While groups like Ladysmith Black Mambazo have popularized a kind of African music their repertoire is not the sort of thing you'll hear in hip dance clubs; The Warm Heart of Africa is. Tron and Karlberg are top-notch knob-twiddlers who've worked with all the biggies---Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Lily Allen and Santigold to name a few. The pair is a little heavy-handed with the synth effects on "Julia" and they delve into a Peter Gabriel-style world beat for "Ntdende Uli" but for the most part the production here is restrained, allowing Mwamwaya's vocals to work their magic. "Yalira" is a delightful mash-up of traditional Malawi music and Euro-pop that sounds a bit like an African take on the Psychedelic Furs while the highly danceable title cut (featuring Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend) demonstrates the style of music that eventually migrated to the Caribbean and became calypso. Mwamwaya's singing is seamless and welcoming throughout and simply stunning on a cappella numbers "Mwazi" and album closer "Zam'dzkio." Mwamwaya, Tron and Karlberg seem to be a well-balanced team and The Warm Heart of Africa proves that in The Very Best they have chosen a perfect moniker.

Get it here!

The Waitiki 7
Adventures in Paradise
Pass Out

If you're a fan of vinyl and do much "crate digging" at thrift stores then you've probably run across a shopworn Martin Denny album or two. Back in the '50s, way before there was chill-out music there was exotica---a light and laid-back kind of tropical-flavored instrumental jazz that's mostly associated with Hawaii because that's where Denny invented it. Floating along on vibes and xylophone solos and dressed up with bird calls, exotica became the hipster's soundtrack whether he was based in the islands or New York City. Now the Hawaii-based Waitiki 7 has revived and updated the exotica sound with this set that includes a couple of Denny compositions ("Manila," "Left Arm of Buddha") and a batch of new tunes written by Waitiki 7 members. The band's originals vary widely in style; bassist Randy Wong's "Her Majesty's Pearl" is as delicate as a lei petal while pianist Zaccai Curtis let's his "Craving" simmer in a sax-and-keys funk before bringing it to a close in a conga frenzy. Put Adventures in Paradise on and you're instantly transported to the coolest cocktail lounge on Earth; keep the CD booklet handy while listening because it contains recipes for equally-refreshing exotic drinks.

Get it here!

Rez Abbasi
Things to Come
Sunnyside

Guitarist Abbasi was born in Pakistan but at a very young age he moved to Los Angeles where he enjoyed a stereotypical SoCal lifestyle filled with surfing, motocross and the starting of a garage band. Abbasi was quite taken with the guitar gods of the day like Eddie Van Halen but when as a teen he discovered jazz guitarist Joe Pass, Abbasi found his true calling. Now relocated to New York City, Abbasi is an established jazz player and composer who wrote all the songs presented here. And while Things to Come is a versatile (a little near-fusion, a little bop) and intriguing release it wouldn't actually qualify for review in this column that spotlights international music if not for the presence of guest singer Kiran Ahluwalia. Ahluwalia is an India-born singer who is already a star in many parts of the world including Canada where she was raised. She also happens to be Abbasi's wife and the perfect vocal foil for his sinuous melodies. Ahluwalia adds sensuality to the slinky intro of "Air Traffic" with a Sargam performance; a type of Indian Solfeg that is an improvised singing of syllables. Like any precious commodity, Ahluwalia is used sparingly on the tune---just long enough to let sax man Rudresh Mahanthappa warm up for his searing solo and then duel with Abbasi as he retakes the spotlight. Ahluwalia guests on four songs overall and on "Hard Colors" she uses another Indian improv technique called alaap. Fans of acts like Return to Forever or John McLaughlin will love Abbasi and band and they'll also benefit from the very pleasant bonus of being turned on to a unique vocal talent in Ahluwalia.