Highlights From a Year of Rich and Varied Sounds

If 1997 revealed anything in the world music arena, it was that there is no single arena, that the richness and diversity of music from around the world is virtually endless.

Sub-categories such as world beat, reggae, Afro-pop, Celtic, India pop, flamenco and gamelan-- to name only a few --barely break the surface of a vast body of music that ranges from the throat singing of the Siberian steppes to the dense percussion of sub-Sahara Africa, from the persuasive rhythms of Latin America to the ragas of India and the plangent sounds of China and Japan.

World music, after all, is simply the other 80% or so of the expressive sounds of the globe that are not Western pop or classical.

That said, picking the ten outstanding albums of the year becomes, at best, a quixotic task. Nonetheless, here is a highly personal compilation of recordings, in no special order, that provides an intriguing insight into the many pleasures available in the world’s music.

Zap Mama, “7” (Luaka Bop). Moving beyond the rhythmic, a cappella sounds of its first outings, the Belgian-African group, under the brilliant leadership of Marie Daulne, expanded into a controversial but compelling cross-cultural musical blend, simmering with touches of soukous, reggae, soul and hip-hop.

“The Music of Armenia” (Celestial Harmonies). A seven-CD box that reveals in stunning detail the extraordinary range of Armenian music, from soaring sacred choral music to infectiously rhythmic folk sounds.

“Buena Vista Social Club” (Nonesuch). Ry Cooder’s fascination with Cuban music resulted in several recordings preserving the work of some of the island nation’s most ebullient artists. Of special note here is the presence of the 77-year-old legendary pianist Ruben Gonzalez, and the 89-year-old son singer-composer Compay Segundo.

Gilberto Gil, “Quanta” (Mesa). Gil’s presence in Brazilian music reaches back to the radical tropicalia years of the late ‘60s, and he continues to be a significant creative force--- in this album peering into the complex interstices between art, philosophy and mathematics.

“Divine Divas: A World of Women’s Voices” (Rounder), “Holding Up Half the Sky: Women’s Voices From Around the World” (Shanachie), “Women of the World Celtic II” (Putomayo), “Her Infinite Variety: Celtic Women in Music and Song” (Green Linnet). OK, it’s actually four albums, but as a group these mostly multi-disc sets afford a stirring panorama of music performed by women, revealing both the similarities and the striking differences in music ranging from Ireland to Africa, from Asia to Central America.

Cesaria Evora, “Cabo Verde” (Nonesuch). The dark, soulful voice of the Cape Verdean diva continues to be one of the most irresistible sounds in music. Once again her mornas underscore the longing of saudade with sensual, African-influenced rhythms.

“Unblocked: Music of Eastern Europe” (Ellipsis Arts). An utterly mesmerizing three-CD survey of music from Latvia, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Albania and other countries once behind the Iron Curtain. The diversity of sounds is astonishing--church chorales, jazz-folk fusions, bagpipes, accordions, brass bands and vocals of every manner and style.

Marta Sebestyen, “The Best of Marta Sebestyen” (Hannibal). The Hungarian diva broke through to a wider audience with her atmospheric vocals for “The English Patient” This compilation reveals her versatility with vocals in Hungarian, Serbian, Hindi and English.

“I Am Time” (Blue Jackel). This attractively packaged four-CD set is a detailed survey of Cuban music. In addition to the continually enticing music, there is a 110-page booklet that is a virtual encyclopedia of information about Cuban music.

“Jali Kunda: Griots of West Africa and Beyond” (Ellipsis Arts). A highly personal selection of West African griot music by Gambia-born Foday Musa Suso. The combination of book and CD is an invaluable view of the work of a caste of itinerant performers who retain and transmit a region’s history through music and song.

Correction. Last month’s column gave an incomplete address for Wind Records. Information about the company’s catalog of Chinese music can be obtained at Wind Records, 513 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 359, Santa Monica 90401, (310) 393-1951.

Don Heckman can be reached by e-mail at djh@earthlink.net.