Ian Nagoski’s stunningly and consistently impressive Canary Records releases a giant collection of songs from immigrants of the, by then, collapsing Ottoman Empire. These songs span the time period between the First World War and the Great Depression, and are lovingly transferred and curated by Nagoski, whom you can hear in tracks 54, 55 and 56.
Be they Christian, Muslim or Jew, the sons and daughters of the Empire brought so much incredibly good music to America’s shores. It’s a blessing to have these works preserved.