From street buskers in Dublin, Ireland, to international success, Rodrigo y Gabriela returned home to Mexico and played to a sold out crowd at El Plaza Condessa. They have just released their latest album 'Area 52' in which they have collaborated with an impressive array of international artists. About to start their U.S. tour with a Cuban band, they will also be in Austin for a taping of Austin City Limits on May 7.

Lila Down's latest CD, "Pecados y Milagros" is very definitely Mexican in flavor. 'Sins and Miracles' are based on a series of retablos, or Mexican votive paintings depicting a story. All the songs are sung in Spanish bar one, then sung in an indigenous language. A multitude of invited musicians also perform on this exciting, latest offering from Lila Downs.

“Brazilian Beat” from Putumayo depicts the exciting indie music popular in Brazil at the present time. Linking music from the past to now, Brazilian Beat captures all genres of music, from sambas to bossas and electronica, this is an imminently danceable serving of great Brazilian music.

“Wona Baba Maraire” is a compact disc of Zimbabwean music using the very traditional m’bira from South Africa and the Central American marimba. The songs are sung mostly in Shona with two in English. Baba Maraire, who is part of the hip hop ‘Shabaaz Palace,’ honors his family history with this unique collection of songs.

Nguyên Lê is a Parisian born guitarist with parents from Vietnam. He started his musical career playing both drums and guitar but received a formal academic education in philosophy. Fascinated by pop songs from the 1970’s, he assembled a group of international artists to perform these ‘world hits’ in his own inimitable style.

Loreena McKennitt has had a long and extremely successful career. She has a very distinctive presentation, and initially her recordings were Celtic in flavor. She then moved on to the Mediterranean and Middle East for inspiration. On her latest CD “The Wind That Shakes The Barley” she has returned to her Celtic roots with almost all, traditional Irish songs.

Kiran Ahluwalia is an Indian singer reared in Canada. Common Ground is her fifth album, and as she has done previously, she has collaborated with musicians from other countries. This time African Tuareg rhythms blend seamlessly with her hindu vocals to create an other worldly effect. She was ably assisted in the production by her husband Rez Abbasi, a very successful jazz guitarist.

Bob Belden assembled over thirty musicians to record his latest production “Miles Español.” The performers were also asked to create their own compositions, and many of them had also recorded with the master. The musicians came from North Africa, Andalusia and New York’s Latin jazz scene. Belden describes the music as 21st century jazz. Considering the multi ethnic make-up, Spanish, Latin and Moorish influences are evident throughout the CD. It is described, as an examination of the folk music that impressed Miles Davis.

Asa is an up-and-coming Nigerian artist, who composes songs about her every day life. Her latest CD, "Beautiful Imperfection" has songs in Yoruba and English. Asa got the name for her CD from a question about her own life ‘beautiful but also imperfect.’ She names Angelique Kidjo and Fela Kuti as two of the artists who have inspired her. 

Beata Palya started her performing career as a Hungarian folk singer but fell under the influence of jazz and various other Eastern European and Middle Eastern styles. Despite the CD title, “Adieu Les Complexes,” Beata sings only in Hungarian and English. Beata lists love, traveling and lonliness as the inspiration for her songs.  

Andrea Echeverri is part of the Colombian duo, Aterciopelados. Her eponemously titled CD deals with many aspects of motherhood., She delves into the ups and downs of a momentous episode in a woman’s life. The CD also includes love songs to her husband as she relies emotionally on his support. This CD was nominated for a Latin Grammy.  

Yahndawa is an album highlighting the music of the Wendat. This group of first people or Native Americans are scattered throughout North America and Canada. Francois Couture produced and performed on this CD with two native American singers. The juxtaposition of a string orchestra and the ethereal voices of the Wendat singers creates an other worldly sound.

Bombino grew up as a nomad in the Sahara desert. Part of the Tuareg people, his family were forced to flee from conflict and spent some time in Algeria. There he got his first guitar at age 12. When the family returned to Niger, Bombino, with an uncle's encouragement continued to play music and today is regarded as Africa's latest living legend. As the Tuareg continue to traverse the deserts of North Africa, Bombino in his own way continues the travelling tradition, except by plane with grueling travel schedules.

This double CD set has 35 tracks that capture the essence of the Brazilian Tropicalia movement in the late 1960s. The tracks recorded by established Brazilian performers and young international indie artists provide another chance to enjoy the revolutionary music, which infuriated the military government of the era. For lovers of Brazilian music and for anyone unfamiliar with the genre, this is a blast of exotica. Best of all, the album will raise money for AIDS prevention and treatment.

Max Raabe’s latest CD, "Ubers Meer" does not include the Palast Orchestra. On this CD, capturing songs made popular during the Weimar years in Germany, Max is accompanied by Christoph Israel, the pianist from the orchestra. These songs sung in a hauntingly beautiful delivery are both humorous and tragic, and they underscore the human tragedy of so many talented composers who were forced to flee their homeland. Christph’s accompaniment accentuates the unique voice of Max Raabe.

Le Trio Joubran are three Palestinian brothers who are the first, oud trio in the world. The oud is a very beautiful, Middle Eastern instrument, a precursor to the lute and guitar and has been played for over 4,000 years. The brothers come from a long line of professional oud makers in Nazareth. Their latest CD, "As Far," is aimed at audiences outside of the Middle East. It was recorded without any rehearsing as they wanted to create a live concert environment.

The latest album from Sergent Garcia is "Una y otra vez." This lively and upbeat music was inspired by the many styles found in Colombian music. All the songs with one exception are sung in Spanish. "To mi to mi," which Sergent Garcia describes as another sad love song, in sung in English, French and Spanish. It has been five years since his last release, and this one is filled with all the great music we've come to expect from this European performer.

Angelique Kidjo is one of the world's most amazing singers and philanthropists. The British newspaper, "The Guardian" lists her in their most inspiring Women in the World category. Winner of numerous awards, she has collaborated with artists across the spectrum from Branford Marsalis to Bono, her first album was released in 1991 and her most recent in 2010. Angelique Kidjo visits San Antonio for a performance at the Jo Long Theatre in the Carver Center Saturday May 28.

Tiempo Libre are seven Cuban musicians who've made Miami their home. During their youth in Havana, it was illegal to listen to American music, so with the impetuosity of youth, they defied the law. Making improvised radio antennas with clothes hangers and aluminum they were able to listen to the latest hits from Miami. My Secret Radio is their latest CD and captures that time in their lives.

Afrodita from New York is the brain child of Peruvian percussionist Hector Morales. Amarte is their debut CD and is an explosion of exotic sounds and rhythms from Peru to the Caribbean. Female vocalists Jean Rohe and Ileana Santamaria add a very attractive sound to this exuberant group. Each track unewsnique but skillfully held together by traditional Peruvian instruments.

The Divine Comedy is really one musician, Neil Hannon a composer/performer from Ireland. "Bang Goes The Knighthood" is his tenth CD, and the title says it all, a wry look at some subjects, not normally the themes of pop music. The music is light and breezy, except for one song, but the words are the main attraction.

Marianne Dissard started her career as a filmmaker but was encouraged by friends to also perform as a composer/singer. She now can add producer to her resume. 'L'Abandon' is a collaborative effort with an Italian composer Christian Ravaglioli and a multi-national band. Recorded in Italy and remixed in Tucson, Arizona this is an international album which features the inimitable voice of the multi-talented Marianne Dissard.

Bossa Nova originated in the late 1950's in Brazil, and it's popularity has never diminished. Bossa Nova Around The World has just been released and features artists from nine different countries presenting their interpretation of this lilting, samba inspired music.
Bossa Nova not just for Brazilians but a 'New Trend' for the rest of the world.

Luk Thung is Thai funk music that has a rather interesting history. It originated in the 1960s, but its popularity subsided from the late 70s until the mid-90s, when the genre experienced another resurgence of interest. The recent spate of popularity started in 1998 and has endured to the present day. This is the music of the masses and is heavily influenced by American movie and country music which makes it all the more palatable for western ears. The lyrics deal with the vicissitudes of daily life, and the album comes with a beautifully made bamboo woven cover, and includes a poster of all the original vinyl covers.

Sergio Mendez is no stranger on the world music scene, he's been producing his own very distinctive 'Brazilian Sound' since the 1960's. His latest, Grammy-nominated for 2011 awards, is Bom Tempo, previously released songs, but given an updated dance treatment to attract a new and younger audience.

Os Mutantes are one of the Brazilian music groups associated with the Tropicalia movement in that country during the late 60s. Their influence continues to the present day, with young musicians discovering their unique psychedelic rock style, which captured the imagination of Brazil's youth over forty years ago. Tribute to Os Mutantes: El Justiciero, Cha Cha Cha is a recently released album performed by many influential modern Latin artists capturing the essence and excitement of this monumental trio.

Nitin Sawhney is a pacifist who believes in 'fighting poverty, not war'. Born to Indian parents in London, England, he was profoundly affected by two incidents in London, 2005. A bomb in the London Underground and another on a bus killed and maimed many people. Then, an innocent man, was killed by the metropolitan police. These events inspired him to make a collaborative album, featuring a host of celebrities. He called it London Undersound.

The Sierra Leone’s Refugee All-Stars really are refugees from the civil war in Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. The former musicians met up in Guinea and formed their All-Stars group. After being the subject of a documentary film they continued to find recognition in the music arena and the album Rise and Shine rose to become number one in the European World Music Charts this year.

Seu Jorge started life in a favela or slum on the out skirts of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. At ten years of age, he repaired tires for a living but while attending his sixteen-year-old brother’s funeral, he met a friend who introduced him to music. From that he appeared in Life Aquatic starring Bill Murray and then went on to play a central character in the movie City Of God. Seu Jorge and Almaz Band is their first solo CD.

Max Raabe and The Palast Orchestra are the epitome of elegance and sophistication. Formed in Germany in 1986, they now have fans worldwide. Difficult to describe, they perform music of the Weimar years, especially songs of the Comedian Harmonists but also modern pop music in their own inimitable style. Their most recent album is Live In New York (Heute Nacht Oder Nie)

Altan are one of best traditional music groups in the world. For their 25th anniversary, they re-recorded some of their most popular pieces with the RTE orchestra. The CD is simply titled, Altan: 25th Anniversary Celebration and contains some of the most beautiful vocal arrangements sung by co-founder, Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh.

As a child, Isaac Delgado heard songs sung in Spanish by Nat King Cole. In the late 50s and early 60s, Nat King Cole recorded three albums specifically aimed at Latin audiences, all performed in Spanish. Isaac Delgado recorded eight of these and included four ‘classic’ Cole songs on the album L.O.V.E. On two tracks he’s joined by Freddie Cole, Nat’s youngest brother.

Joan Soriano from the Dominican Republic is "El Duque De La Bachata." Bachata is a form of blues music, and as performed by Joan, a combination of new and authentic. On his most recent release, El Duque de la Bachata, Joan Soriano also uses family members as back-up performers. Hear African, European, Latin American and of course Caribbean influences in this guitar driven music.

Carlou D was a member of Senegal’s first hip-hop group Positive Black Soul.  There he learnt to communicate via music the skill to expose social corruption and political problems.  Eventually he developed his own voice and created a style which he calls muzikr.  He composes and performs all his own works on his first eponymously titled CD.

Ana Tijoux, born in Lille, France, is not only a mother, but a young rapper from Chilean parents. Her first solo CD was released in 2007 and her next album, 1977, the year she was born, came out in Chile in 2009. She raps about her life and sings in French and Spanish. This year, the CD was released in the U.S. after her appearance at SXSW Austin.

Salif Keita is an albino from Mali, Africa. This medical condition has caused him to be ostracized by many in Africa, and for this reason, his latest CD is titled La Difference or The Difference. The first track addresses this situation by stating that his skin is white but his blood is black. All proceeds from this album will go towards his foundation for other African albinos.

Lero-Lero, which means "Hey, What’s Up?" is the first solo CD of a young Brazilian woman. Luisa Maita lives in São Paulo, the largest city in Brazil, a bustling, working class city of over 11 million citizens. With this album she says she wants to capture the essence of the huge metropolis, the peculiarities of everyday life.

Maya Beiser is a classically trained cellist who has brought her instrument into territory not usually associated with the cello. Provenance, her latest album has music she commissioned from such disparate composers, as Djivan Gasparian and Douglas Cuomo. Medieval Spain is the setting for this hypnotically beautiful collection.

Antena, a French trio, recorded their one and only record in 1980. None of the major record labels were interested in promoting this electro-samba gem. Fortunately their music was saved from obscurity by ‘Numero’ a label which finds and re-issues vinyl on CD.

Lila Downs is a Mexican singer who often suffuses her songs with socially uncomfortable subjects.Her latest CD is comprised of some of her most popular songs, all except one, sung in Spanish.This CD was recorded at a live performance for French Radio in Paris, France, and creates the feeling of being front row at a live concert. Lila Downs y La Misteriosa en Paris – Live a FIP is the tenth release by Lila Downs.