Black Music of Two Worlds: African, Caribbean, Latin, and African-American Traditions

This is essential reading for anyone seeking an introduction to and overview of the complex sonic wealth of musical forms from Africa and the African Diaspora. It is a fine orientation from an intrepid Brit who has been seeking these wonders since the early 1950's. It was hard enough to find recordings of compelling planetary noise for a kid in the 70's in provincial America. Roberts was discovering it all in its homeworlds before I was born. Roberts work helped me make sense of Merengue, High Life, Blues Shouters, Santeria Drummers and many other glistening things from the hearts and minds of Africa here and there.