A wonderful representative cross section of songs from Israel.

Originating from Afro-American rhythms of the Caribbean and Latin America, salsa has become one of the world's most popular dance forms. This 'sauce' is hot and spicy, a mixture of ingredients which gives it great versatility. Salsa is an ever-changing sound that adapts to, but also creates, new fashionable styles. Elements of jazz, funk, rap, as well as further Caribbean influences such as soca and merengue, have recently been included, forming a newly distinctive and further adaptively resilient salsa. This collection highlights salsa music in some of it's most popular forms.

From the beautiful and mysterious equatorial African nation of Angola, a country which has had such a mixed and varied history, comes an album of supremely colorful music written, produced and performed by the veteran Angolan musician Manuel Diogo.Capturing the infectious sounds of traditional and contemporary Angolan gospel music, it blends various popular styles such as semba, rebita, mainstream Angolan folk, and northern Angolan Kintweni rhythms.

Bishwo Shahi presents a mix of contemplative, traditional folk songs and relaxing, meditative soundscapes from Nepal. This album includes original field recordings from Nepal, representing everything from Buddhist chants about happiness and liberation to the busy marketplace in the centre of Kathmandu.

A wide variety of excellent Tango music including two new pieces by Pablo Ziegler (Astor Piazzolla's pianist) and an outstanding new piece by Huw Warren. Contemporary Tango, jazzy and cross-cultural.

Classical Music

- The centuries' long historical tradition of flamenco and it's evolution shows a diverse background of cultural roots and influences including Indian, Jewish, Byzantine, Arabic and South American. - Taught to play guitar and sing by his father Juan el Minelva, at the time the best-known guitarist in the region, Andres Fernandez Amador, a gitano from the province of Almeria in Andalusia, southern Spain, sings and plays modern flamenco in the style of Paco de Lucia, Pata Negra and the Gipsy Kings, as well as traditional 'classical' flamenco ('cante jondo') and original compositions.

"• Hossam Ramzy's arrangements of some the best known songs of Farid Al Atrash. • Farid Al Atrash was famous across the Middle East for his virtuoso oud (lute) playing, magnificent musical films and warm voice. • He wrote the dance music for Egypt’s famed dancer, Samya Gamal. Farid produced 42 films in which he sang and Samya or Taheyya Karioka danced. • Mr. Ramzy is the Arc Music label's all-time top-selling artist. • Booklet notes in English and German. "

Salsa, of Cuban origin, is one of the most popular and adaptable of musical styles, reaching well beyond the Americas to include Africa, Europe and even, more recently, Japan. The Los Latinos play a jumping, rhythmical, hot salsa. The group “Mandingo” plays mainly dance music (salsa, merengue). The Latin Sextet aims to create music that combines the Latin American tradition with European and American styles, the exciting result of which they call “Latin Jazz”.

Paraguay has the most influential harp tradition in Latin America. It is Paraguay’s official national instrument and is featured in hundreds of ensembles (conjuntos). One of the country’s most renowned harp player’s, Oscar Benito plays and sings popular songs of his country on this Best of…collection. Among these songs is Sol del Paraguay, Cariñito mio, Mi serenata, Canto de pajarito, Dulce amor, Felicidades and many more. Guitar, accordion, occasional Andean flutes and percussion can be accompanying Mr. Benito.

•A selection of the Best Of Buena Vista, including tracks such as “El gallo de morón” and “Sonero de verdad” performed by old and new, featuring Pío Leyva, Rudy Calzado, Raúl Planas and original members of the Buena Vista Social Club.

An album of soulful compositions with heartfelt melodies, each piece highlighting a particular Egyptian instrument. Following Hossam Ramzy's high standard in dance pieces it washes onto the shores of world music with a hypnotic and exotic flavor. Includes four bonus practice tracks for dancers, and explanations to each of the songs.

Charming and elegant Swedish folk tunes played in a style that could be described as a kind of 'chamber folk music,' in a rare combination of 5-row freebass accordion, violin and 5-string cello.

Ayako Hotta-Lister presents exquisite and enchanting Japanese Koto music by Yatsuhashi Kengyo (1614-1685), Michio Miyagi (1884-1956), Rentaro Taki (1879-1903) and Mitsuzaki Kengyo (Edo Era 17th-19th Century).

"This first full-length album ‘Old Tunes, Dusted Down’ is dedicated to the work of father and son Hubert and Andries Boone. Hubert Boone (b. 1940), a Flanders/Belgium equivalent to Bert Lloyd, Peter Kennedy and Ralph Vaughan Williams in England, and Alan Lomax in America was, and remains, one of the pioneers of folk song collecting in his native Belgium. “ ...This Belgian one is a keeper... - folkworld.de I can’t imagine a more fitting tribute to Hubert Boone...” - De Smet (VRT Radio)"