Best World Music Albums of 2010

Christina Jaspars

A project 14 years in the making, an artist who gathered force at home for two decades before finally getting international exposure, eccentric sounds that sat since the '70s and were ripe for rediscovery and two icons whose visionary prowess is only enhanced by experience – these were among the most-arresting 2010 world music releases. Not that there weren't a lot of noteworthy new talents arriving this year. And anyway, in a realm where tradition is measured in centuries and millennia, these are new talents.

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5. Tom Zé, 'Estudando a Bossa' (Luaka Bop)
The Brazilian eccentric's tribute/reimagining of the bossa nova form completes a decades-spanning trilogy of such "studies." Though the album was released in Brazil in 2008, it's finally gotten US issue both as a stand-alone CD and as part of a vinyl box of the trilogy with some nifty bonus materials. Read About 'Estudando a Bossa' here.

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4. Herbie Hancock, 'The Imagine Project' (Herbie Hancock Records)
The jazz piano legend has long explored the sounds of many cultures, but here he goes truly global. Sessions held from Mumbai to Rio to London to Bamako to Florida to Paris to Los Angeles. A vast roster of collaborators ranging from Pink and John Legend and Derek Trucks to Oumou Sangare, Konono No. 1 and Toumani Diabate to Wayne Shorter and the Chieftains. Dylan sung in Gaelic, Rilke sung in Hindi, juxtapositions galore and with them epiphanies. The possible highlight (of many): a weaving of Tinariwen's grooving 'Tamatant Tilay' with Los Lobos' smoldering take on Bob Marley's 'Exodus.' Never gimmicky, always gripping. Read About 'The Imagine Project' here.

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3. 'The Sound of Siam: Leftfield Luk-Thung, Jazz and Molam in Thailand 1964-1975' (Soundway)
No matter how diligent a world music fan you are, odds are you've never heard any of these electrifying rarities/oddities culled from Bangkok vinyl record stores by collector/DJ Chris Menist. Read About 'The Sound of Siam' here.

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2. Khaira Arby, 'Timbuktu Tarab' (Clermont Music)
A forceful, female voice from the Sahara, a wake-up alternative to Tinariwen's laid-back grooves in the Western debut from the Malian star. Read about 'Timbuktu Tarab' here.

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1. 'AfroCubism' (Nonesuch)
In 1996, English producer Nick Gold's dream of getting Malian musicians together with veteran Cuban stars in Havana fell through when the Africans couldn't get their visas in time – so instead he "settled" for recording the Cubans in what became the landscape-shifting Buena Vista Social Club. Now he's revisited the original plan, and not only was it worth the wait, but it probably exceeded the potential of the past with an infusion of some vibrant new talent from West Africa. Clearly, the world music album of the year. Read about 'AfroCubism' here.

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Special Mention: 'Africa: 50 Years of Music, 50 Years of Independence' (Discograph)
With 18 CDs (18!) organized in six geographical/stylistic sets of three, and an extensive and illuminating 60-page booklet, this is as comprehensive and bracing a survey of the vast spectrum of music from modern Africa. Even hard-core aficionados will find much of delightful interest. And the price (retailing for between $120 and $160, for the most part) is a relative deal.