Milo Miles

World music critic Milo Miles on the significance of Billboard magazine starting a world music chart.

World music critic Milo Miles examines the vocal music of South Africa, and he examines the career of the country's leading vocal group, "Ladysmith Black Mambazo."

Talking Heads frontman David Byrne featured Brazilian singer Margarich Menezes on a recent tour. World music critic Milo Miles says she blew Byrne out of the water. Menezes' politically-informed new album, Elegibo, is intriguing but uneven -- though Miles admits that, as an American listener, he may be missing something.

World music critic Milo Miles says that some of the first recorded black music in the United States was calypso, despite the fact that that the style originated in the Caribbean. Calypso, most often performed during Carnival, was known for being extremely topical -- performers were expected to improvise songs on the spot about current events.

World music critic Milo Miles returns to Fresh Air to discuss another popular genre from Trinidad and Tobago, called soca, which brought a faster, more danceable feel to calypso.

After a government decree that Indonesian musicians reject Western music and focus on local traditions, a new style emerged, called Jaipongan. It combines gamelan rhythms, a charismatic woman singer, and melancholy lyrics about jilted lovers. World music critic Milo Miles reviews two CDs featuring vocalist Euis Komariah.

Esteban "Steve" Jordan grew up partially blind in a poor family in Texas. Also known as El Parche, he became an accomplished accordionist playing conjunto and other regional styles. World music critic Milo Miles has this profile.

Vaughan recently died in a helicopter crash. Milo Miles joins Terry to discuss the late musician's legacy.

World music commentator Milo Miles turns to one of the newest countries in the world, Mozambique and discovers a local band called Eyuphuro. Their new CD, Mama Mosambiki is polished, with a skillful blend of acoustic and electric instruments, and a strong feminist message.

World music commentator Milo Miles reviews the career of the Afropop pioneer. Dibango grew up in Cameroon, played jazz in Paris, and later returned to his home country. He performs in a wide range of styles, from soul to smooth jazz.