Yo La Tengo

Fabulous cover by an immortal group. Studio version can be found on the 1997 EP, Little Honda.

Artie Shaw

A little big band from a man they call the King of the Clarinet.

Maurice El Medioni and Roberto Rodriguez

This is a long track, but take the time to listen to this instrumental jam by the Algerian pianist Medioni and Cuban percussionist Rodriguez. Their album, Descarga Oriental, was released in 2006.

Quizas, Quizas, Quizas

No matter what kind of day your having, this brilliant recording will make it slightly more relaxed. Both vocalists shine on this track, but Ibrahim Ferrer was an incredible talent.

Arthur Verocai: Pela Sombras

Enjoy this excellent live performance by this venerable Brazilian artist.

Over the Rhine: All My Favorite People

Off this Ohio-based husband-and-wife duo's 2011 album, The Long Surrender. Her voice is perfect for this kind of tune, don't you think?



Buy it here: Long Surrender

Download it here: The Long Surrender

Fela Kuti

Hailing from Nigeria, Fela Kuti was many things to many people and lived a very interesting life. Read more about him here.

This vintage live performance is an incredible production.

Vijay Iyer

Iyer is one of the most exciting jazz artists our there right now. Check out his website, here.

Zap Mama

This Belgian band's leader, Marie Daulne, states that she is driven by her goal of bringing Europe and Africa closer through music. It is a lofty goal, but somehow it is easy to believe that songs like this could help to achieve that goal. Let me know what you think.

Ozomatli: Fire Away

Ozomatli is a Los Angeles-based band that has around 10 members, give or take a few depending on the performance. The band uses turntables, brass, winds, all types of percussion, and nearly everything else to create an energy-filled sound that is reflective of the diversity of their bustling hometown. The song below is off their 2010 album, Fire Away.

Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra: Kiss the Sky

Shawn Lee is a multi-instrumentalist from Kansas. This song is off his album Voices and Choices.

Cesaria Evora

Some artists are good, and others are simply on their own level. The "barefoot diva" of Cape Verde is one of the latter. Below you will find a soulfully superior folk tune called Angola.

Club Des Belugas

You're going to love this smooth sounding German band.

Concha Buika

Spanish flamenco-infused-jazz. Her album, El Ultimo Trago was one of the best albums of the year.

Boris Vian: J'suis Snob

Writer, actor, poet, musician. Boris Vian (1920 - 1959) could do it all. While his anti-war song Le Deserteur is probably his most famous musical effort, I like the cutting humor of the song below.

Jose James: Blackmagic

American born London-based musician Jose James has a smooth voice and is creating some smooth sounding jazz. The song below is off his 2010 album Blackmagic.

Henri Salvador

Henri Salvador (1917 - 2008) was known for much of his long career as more of a comedian than a musician, but then he discovered bossa nova, and the result was lots of fabulous music and numerous accolades. Here's one of my Salvador favorites:

Lucienne Delyle: Mon Amant de Saint Jean

Here's a classic:

Dizzy Gillespie (1917 -1993)

The jazz legend would have turned 93 today.

Lucy Schwartz: Gravity

This is another artist that got her start by having the producers of a TV show feature one of her songs on an episode.  I think Gravity was on ER, but I could be mistaken.  This L.A.-based singer/songwriter is only 20 years old, but she writes pop with gravitas, if you'll go along with such a thing.  Check out her website here.