World Music: Great Suggestions, please?


Recently I listened to a french BMG cd ("The Voices of this World" in loose translation) that astounded me by the beauty of the tunes.

I'm known as a classical guy, ready to discuss the best performance of Mahler 8, Bach Passions (take yr pick), etc. I also love the blues and jazz. So, you'd say, "mainstream". Lip service to world music.

Now, I *do* know artists such as A. Rodrigues, A.F. Toure, C. Evora, Khaled, Y. N'Dour, and a few of the Buena Vista S. Club artists... But had never before heard names such as: Ladysmith Black Mambazo (w/ P Simon), Radio Tarifa, Bevida, Mammas, Geoffrey Oryema...

Can anyone offer suggestions to a world music "newbie" -- i.e., me?

Thanks,
Greg
gregm
Hi Greg: Our CD's are very disorganized right now, but here are a few that I was able to locate.

1. "Georgian Voices", The Rustavi Choir, Elektra/NoneSuch
2. "Robert Burns, the compete songs, Linn Records
3. "Forever Tango, the Eternal Dance", InterAmerica
4. "Bella Ciao, Cansons du peuple en Italle", HMA
5. "Meli Melo", Haitian choral music on Kradel1
6. "Tibetan Trance, Happy China", Prophecy (Tibetan Dance:-)
7. "Last Forever, Trainfare Home", Nonesuch (New Bluegrass)

There is also a French Techno group named "Uman" that is killer and for something fun, the Modern Mandolin Quartet "The Nutcracker Suite" (perfomed on mandolins of course).
"world music" has so many roots that it's almost impossible to limit. a couple of "must-haves" are "juju music" by king sunny ade and "gipsy kings," a euponymous album. i also suggest some robert crumb (of zapp comix, etc); his latest is "world musette" done by les primitifs du futur. -kelly
Anything on the Putumayo label.They all have distinctive brightly painted cover art.They are to world music what Rhino records is to re-issues.If it's bween a Putu and another label GO Putu.At least that's what we do at the record store I work at.