The Rhythm Atlas

08/14/2025

I hope you can tune in to this week’s show which airs on two NPR stations in the US, starting Thursday, August 14th:
> Thursdays - 8 pm (Central time US) on KAMU Public Broadcasting at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas
> Sundays - 6 pm (Central) on my home station Public Radio Tulsa in Oklahoma

I’m sorry to announce that Spokane Public Radio is no longer carrying The Rhythm Atlas after they have made major changes to their schedule and have dropped many of their music programs in favor of a more news/talk oriented schedule. Many thanks to them for supporting the show for the past 5 years. More info on this change soon. Spokane listeners: you can still hear the program online! See info below…

Go to the Listen page on our website for live-stream links to the station websites and the archived audio stream for each show on PRX:
https://rhythmatlas.com/listen/

ARTISTS - LABELS FEATURED IN THE PLAYLIST

Okavango African Orchestra - Batuki Music Society

Annarella&Django - We Are Busy Bodies

Herve SAMB - Euleuk Vision

Humazapas - AYA Records

Lebeha Drummers - Lebeha Drumming Center / Neuma Records

Lakou Mizik - Cumbancha

Milton "Bituca" Nascimento & Esperanza Spalding - Concord Jazz

Banda Kakana feat. Kim Alves - Putumayo World Music

Dom Um Romão - Mr Bongo

Grupo Lokito - Malecon Records

Adedeji - One World Records
..and others with artists represented in the playlist: Nadine McNulty / Ballantyne Communications / co-sign

07/31/2025

I hope you can tune in to hear these fantastic artists from all around the world on this week’s radio show!
—
The program airs on three NPR affiliate stations starting Thursday, July 31st:
> Thursdays - 8 pm (Central Time US) on KAMU Public Broadcasting at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas
> Saturdays - 7 pm (Pacific) on Spokane Public Radio in Washington state
> Sundays - 6 pm (Central) on my home station Public Radio Tulsa in Oklahoma
Go to the Listen page on our website for live-stream links to the station websites and the archived audio stream for each show on PRX:
https://rhythmatlas.com/listen/

ARTISTS - LABELS
Päivi Hirvonen - Fiddler With the Voice - Nordic Notes
Dafne Kritharas - Lior éditions
Out Of Nations - Riverboat Records / World Music Network
Bixiga 70 - MCD Records
Sidestepper - Real World Records
Sarangerel Tserevsamba & the Egschiglen Ensemble - ARC Music
Saz'iso Ensemble - Glitterbeat Records
Lemon Bucket Orkestra - Six Degrees Records
Sousou & Maher Cissoko - Jaliya
Msafiri Zawose - Hjerlmudamusic
Amadou & Mariam - Radio Bemba / Nonesuch Records
Bruce Cockburn - True North Records

07/26/2025

This week’s radio show begins with several women singers who combine their indigenous traditions with modern sounds. You’ll singer, multi-instrumentalist, and composer Mari Kalkun of Estonia; the mother-daughter duo Solju, who showcase their Sámi joik singing from northern Finland; and two First Nations women from Canada: Inuk singer-songwriter Elisapie along with Nunavik singer-songwriter Beatrice Deer. You’ll hear these fantastic artists as well as the others shown here. I hope you can tune in!
—
The program airs on three NPR affiliate stations each week; it has already aired on KAMU in College Station, Texas but you can hear it again Saturday night and Sunday night:
> Thursdays - 8 pm (Central time US) on KAMU Public Broadcasting at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas
> Saturdays - 7 pm (Pacific time) on Spokane Public Radio in Washington state
> Sundays - 6 pm (Central) on my home station Public Radio Tulsa in Oklahoma
Go to the Listen page on our website for live-stream links to the station websites and the archived audio stream for each show on PRX:
https://rhythmatlas.com/listen/

ARTISTS - LABELS FEATURED IN THE PLAYLIST

Mari Kalkun - Real World Records

Solju Official - Bafe's Factory

Elisapie feat. Beatrice Deer Band - Bonsound

La Caravane Passe (officiel) - Studio Tito / Budde Music France

Joseph Tawadros AM - Oud Virtuoso and Composer feat. Béla Fleck / Richard Bona / Jean-Louis Matinier

Genticorum - Genticorum

Quantic Music & Nidia Gongora - Tru Thoughts

GOTAN PROJECT Official - XL Recordings / ¡Ya Basta! Records

Minyo Crusaders / 民謡クルセイダーズ & FRENTE CUMBIERO - Mais Um

Oneness of Juju - Strut Records

Orlando Julius & Ashiko - HOT CASA Records

07/17/2025

The playlist for this week’s show features mostly new releases from this year. I hope you can tune in to hear these fantastic artists from all around the world!
—
The program airs on three NPR affiliate stations starting Thursday, July 17th:
> Thursdays - 8 pm (Central Time US) on KAMU Public Broadcasting at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas
> Saturdays - 7 pm (Pacific) on Spokane Public Radio
> Sundays - 6 pm (Central) on my home station Public Radio Tulsa in Oklahoma
Go to the Listen page on our website for live-stream links to the station websites and the archived audio stream for each show on PRX:
https://rhythmatlas.com/listen/

ARTISTS - LABELS
Donald WG Lindsay - Donald WG Lindsay
Rum Ragged - LHM Records
Cassie and Maggie - Cassie and Maggie
Zafarán - Zafarán
Charif Megarbane - Habibi Funk
Rastak - Rastak
Teiva Viaris - ThirdFish Music
Mário Lúcio Sousa - Maremusica
ESINAM & Sibusile Xaba - WERF records
Ilkka Arola Music Sound Tagine - Flame Jazz Records / Playground Music Oy
Wura Samba - Sambabe Entertainment / Ajazco Records ..and others with artists represented in the playlist: Art Menius Radio ; Daniel Rosenberg ; Dog Ranch Music PR ; Veev Com ;

07/16/2025

US friends, please contact your representatives NOW to protect access to public media for communities large and small everywhere across our country!

The U.S. Senate votes tomorrow on the bill that can potentially defund public media. If the Senate passes it, it will be signed into law by the President, and this funding will be gone for good. That means the threat is not only real — it’s urgent. Call your Senators today and urge them to remove this proposal from the rescission memo.

Visit protectmypublicmedia.org to learn more on how you can take action.

07/11/2025

⭐️ FAVORITE ALBUMS OF THE YEAR...SO FAR! ⭐️
Since we’re now halfway through the year, this week’s show features a baker’s dozen of songs from some of my favorite albums of 2025 so far. There’s always so much fantastic music being made that it’s very difficult to narrow down the list. I hope you can tune in to hear these wonderful artists from around the world! (The program already aired in Texas on Thursday, July 10th, but it airs live twice more this weekend; and you can always listen to the archived audio at the PRX link below…)
—
The program airs on three NPR affiliate stations starting Thursday, July 10th:
> Thursdays - 8 pm (Central Time US) on KAMU Public Broadcasting at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas
> Saturdays - 7 pm (Pacific) on Spokane Public Radio in Washington state
> Sundays - 6 pm (Central) on my home station Public Radio Tulsa in Oklahoma
Go to the Listen page on our website for live-stream links to the station websites and the archived audio stream for each show on PRX:
https://rhythmatlas.com/listen/ �

ARTISTS - LABELS featured in the playlist
Samba Touré - Glitterbeat Records
Trio Da Kali - One World Records
Votia - ajabu
Marina y su Melao - Lovemonk
Nidia Gongora - Positivo Records
João Selva - Underdog Records
Kazdoura - August 4 Records
Värttinä - Rockadillo Records & Production / Zen Master Records Oy
Flook - Flatfish Records
Spontus - Collectif Klam
Santrofiofficial - Outhere Records
Pambelé - La Ruche • Le Label / Musicaviva
The Rolling Stones & Steve Riley - Valcour Records
and others with artists represented in the playlist: Willwork4funk ; co-sign ; Daniel Rosenberg ; Sèverine Berger / Veev Com ; Joel Savoy / IVPR

07/03/2025

The playlist for this week’s show is full of fantastic music from Spain, France, Ireland, Colombia, and Mali - among other spots around the world. You’ll hear a Django Reinhardt tune, Irish fiddler Martin Hayes, the beloved Malian singer Oumou Sangaré, and much more. I hope you can tune in!

—
The program airs on three NPR affiliate stations starting Thursday, July 3rd:
> Thursdays - 8 pm (Central Time US) on KAMU Public Broadcasting at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas
> Saturdays - 7 pm (Pacific) on Spokane Public Radio in Washington state
> Sundays - 6 pm (Central) on my home station Public Radio Tulsa in Oklahoma
Go to the Listen page on our website for live-stream links to the station websites and the archived audio stream for each show on PRX:
https://rhythmatlas.com/listen/ �

ARTISTS - LABELS
Paco De Lucía with Carles Benavent - Universal Music Spain
Paris Combo - Tinder Music / Polydor (France)
Djangophonique - Djangophonique / Great Lakes Performing Artist Associates
Martin Hayes - Green Linnet / Compass Records Group
Solas - Shanachie Entertainment
Siobhan Miller - Songprint Recordings
El Balcón - elbalcón
Sam Reider & Jorge Glem - Guataca Nights Foundation
La Pacifican Power - Pacifican Power
Idrissa Soumaoro - Mieruba -ML
Oumou Sangare - World Circuit Records

06/29/2025

You can catch this week's show one more time live when it airs on KWGS 89.5 FM Public Radio Tulsa tonight at 6 pm CT! On this week’s program, we celebrate the extra long hours of sunlight around the summer solstice here in the northern hemisphere with some extra long songs. The playlist features only four long songs and tunes from Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Fanga, Afrobeat & Maalem Abdallah Guinea, Tulsa’s own Dylan Golden Aycock & Joshua Massad, and King Sunny Ade & The African Beats. I hope you can tune in for this special show! (NOTE: this is a re-broadcast of a program that aired last year; I wasn't able to produce a new show this week since I'm taking care of my wife who had knee replacement surgery!)

The program airs on three NPR stations each week:
* Thursdays - 8 pm Central time on KAMU Public Broadcasting in College Station, Texas
* Saturdays - 7 pm Pacific on Spokane Public Radio in Washington state
* Sundays - 6 pm Central on my home station Public Radio Tulsa in Oklahoma.

You can listen online and find archived audio of each show on our website:
https://rhythmatlas.com/listen/

Record Labels: Strut Records, Scissor Tail Records, Columbia Records, Atlantic Recording Co / Mesa Bluemoon Recordings

06/21/2025

Tulsans: this concert of Chamamé music takes place tonight at Belafonte with accordionist Alejandro Brittes in a trio performance. Don’t miss this unique musical and cultural experience!

Alejandro Brittes brings Chamamé to Tulsa
Prepare for a transcendent night of music and culture as Buenos Aires–born, Porto Alegre–based, award-winning accordionist Alejandro Brittes takes the stage at Belafonte on Saturday, June 21.

A pioneer ambassador of Chamamé—a UNESCO‑designated fusion of Indigenous Guaraní spirit and Baroque elegance—Brittes performs with his acclaimed trio, weaving soulful accordion melodies, seven‑string guitar, and contrabass into an immersive, dance‑infused set.

Guests will also enjoy locally curated Argentinian‑inspired flavors — first come first serve, making for a truly holistic cultural celebration.

Having dazzled audiences in the Library of Congress, Brittes now brings his hypnotic, heart‑opening music to Tulsa.

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to experience the magic of Chamamé live—tickets on sale now at Belafontetulsa.com

06/19/2025

The playlist for this week's program is full of songs from new or forthcoming album releases. The show kicks off with the brother-sister act of Caetano Veloso and Maria Bethânia - two luminaries of Brazilian music who have just released a 33-track live album recorded during their epic tour of stadiums and arenas across Brazil. In the second half of the show, you'll also hear a fantastic number from the new album from Gloria Estefan's new album 'Raíces / Roots.' I hope you can tune in to hear all of these wonderful artists from all over the globe!
--
The program airs on three NPR affiliate stations starting Thursday, June 19th:
> Thursdays - 8 pm (Central Time US) on KAMU Public Broadcasting in College Station, Texas
> Saturdays - 7 pm (Pacific) on Spokane Public Radio in Washington state
> - Sundays - 6 pm (Central) on my home station Public Radio Tulsa in Oklahoma
Go to the Listen page on our website for live-stream links to the station websites and the archived audio stream for each show on PRX:
https://rhythmatlas.com/listen/ �

ARTISTS - LABELS
Caetano Veloso & Maria Bethânia - Sony Music Brasil
Galamba - Galamba Music
Cecilia Villar Eljuri - Mano Vill Publishing
Charlie Chimi - Club Coco Label / Coco Maria
Didje Doo feat. Abou Diarra - Turntables on the Hudson
The Circling Sun - Soundway Records
Lagartijeando - Wonderwheel Recordings
Gloria Estefan - Sony Music Latin
Joaquin Nunez Hidalgo & Habana Safari - Lulaworld Records
Kadialy Kouyate - ARC Music
Nadir Ben - Joussour / InOuïe distribution
Maurice Louca - Simsara Music سمسارة للموسيقى
Şatellites - Batov Records ..and others with artists represented in the playlist: Distiller Promo ; Cheryl McEnaney ; Daniel Rosenberg ; Ballantyne Communications ; Veev Com

06/13/2025

On this week’s radio show, I’ll celebrate Juneteenth and Black Music Month with a playlist highlighting some of the vitally important African American musical styles that are woven into the fabric of our nation’s artistic and cultural heritage: spirituals, blues, folk and country roots traditions, zydeco, R&B, and more. It's the one show each year where I focus solely on musical traditions from the USA, but many of them are strongly influenced by traditions from Africa, the Caribbean, and other places around the world. You’ll hear a wide variety of great Black artists in recordings from the 1960s right up to this year: Mavis Staples , Taj Mahal and Keb' Mo' with Ruby Amanfu , Ruthie Foster , Linda Martell , Rissi Palmer , Miko Marks & The Resurrectors, Joy Clark , Ella Jenkins , Rhiannon Giddens and Justin Robinson, Clifton Chenier, Merry Clayton , Buddy Guy and Junior Wells, The Wild Tchoupitoulas, and Allen Toussaint. I hope you can tune in to hear these fantastic artists!
--
The program airs on three NPR stations each week; it already aired last night - Thursday, June 12th - on KAMU Public Broadcasting in College Station, Texas
You can also hear it on these days and times:
Saturdays - 7 pm (Pacific Time US) on Spokane Public Radio in Washington state
Sundays - 6 pm (Central time) on my home station Public Radio Tulsa in Oklahoma
Go to the Listen page on our website for live-stream links to the station websites and the archived audio stream for each show on PRX:
https://rhythmatlas.com/listen/

Record labels with artists in the playlist: Anti Records ; Concord ; Sun Records ; Invasion Merch ; Redtone Records ; Righteous Babe Records ; Smithsonian Folkways Recordings ; Nonesuch Records ; Arhoolie Records ; Ode Records ; Atlantic Recording Corp. ; Island Records

06/05/2025

On this week’s special program, I’ll celebrate the life and legacy of Dan Storper, the founder of the renowned Putumayo World Music label. He died in New Orleans on May 22nd, 2025 from pancreatic cancer, just two days after his 74th birthday. As it says on the Putumayo website, “Dan was a visionary who shared his passion for music and cultural diversity with the world, helping to make it a better place.” Putumayo has released more than 400 albums released since 1993 and they've been instrumental in bringing wonderful music from around the world to listeners ever since. I first came across Putumayo compilation albums in the 90s and have a collection of more than 60 of their CDs in my music library, and songs from those albums have been featured regularly on the program over the years.

I’ve always loved the Putumayo ethos and it has certainly helped shape my musical interests over the past three decades. From the start, Putumayo compilations have included extensive liner notes about the artists, their musical traditions, and sometimes even food and drink recipes from the regions explored on the albums. It seems like Dan surrounded himself with a great team of music lovers and experts over the years too. And early on, Dan hired the ethnomusicologist Jacob Edgar, who has been one of the main compilers, liner note writers, and heartbeat of the label alongside Dan throughout the years. The love and care that is put into the creation each album shines through brightly. The compilation albums have also included beautiful and vibrant cover art by illustrator Nicola Heindl from the very beginning, giving them a distinctive look which was easy to spot when browsing the CD stacks. I remember many record stores, book stores, and other shops that carried their music had dedicated sections for Putumayo World Music albums. In the photos included here, you can see the 60+ CDs I have on my shelves.

I hope you can tune in to the show to hear selections of fantastic music from the vast Putumayo catalog, beginning with the very first compilation they released in 1993. You can also read a bit more about Dan Storper and Putumayo on their website here: https://www.putumayo.com/about
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The program airs on three NPR affiliate stations starting Thursday, June 5th:
> Thursdays - 8 pm (Central Time US) on KAMU Public Broadcasting at Texas A&M University in College Station, TX
> Saturdays - 7 pm (Pacific) on Spokane Public Radio in Washington state
> Sundays - 6 pm (Central) on my home station Public Radio Tulsa in Oklahoma
Go to the Listen page on our website for live-stream links to the station websites and the archived audio stream for each show on PRX:
https://rhythmatlas.com/listen/

ARTISTS FEATURED IN THIS PLAYLIST OF SONGS FROM PUTUMAYO ALBUMS
Kotoja & Baba Ken Okulolo
Gilberto Gil
Strunz & Farah
Angélique Kidjo
Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh & Altan
HAPA (Keli'i Kaneali'i & Barry Flanagan)
Oliver Mtukudzi - Tuku Musik Official
Glykeria
Martinho da Vila
Helene Blum og Harald Haugaard
Bonny Abraham Ensemble
Ojo de Buey
Esney Morales