An end of the year look back at some outstanding 2008 (and a few late 2007)
recordings. Done in full knowledge that a 2 hour program can't scratch the
surface of the best that the world's musicians offered us in 2008.

artist/ song/ album/ label
Buena Vista Social Club/ El Cuarto de Tula/ At Carnegie Hall/ World Circuit Nonesuch

Orchestra Baobab/ Ndeleng Ndeleng/Made in Dakar/ World Circuit Nonesuch
African Virtuoses/ Kan Kan Diarabi/ Classic Guinean Guitar Group/ Stern's
Ablaye Cissoko & Volker Goetz/ Domain Domain/ Sira/ Obliq Sound
Seckou Keita Quintet/ Mande Arab/ Silimbo Passage/ Worldartventure

Markus James/ I Won't Let it/ Snakeskin Violin/ Firenze Records
Justin Adams & Juldeh Camara/ Ya Ta Kaaya/ Soul Science/ World Village
Kasai Allstars/ Kafuulu Balu/ In the Seventh Moon the Chief Turned into a
Swimming Fish and Ate the Head of His Enemy by Magic/ Crammed
Seprewa Kasa/ Barima Ye Na/ Seprewa Kasa/ Riverboat

Natacha Atlas/ Ana Hina/ Ana Hina/ World Village
Miles From India Project/ In a Silent Way/ Miles From India/ Times Squarw
Sunil Ganguly/ Rote Huye Aate HainSab/ Bollywood Steel Guitar/ Sublime Frequencies
Chicha Libre/ El Borrachito/ Sonido Amazonico/ Barbes

Pepe Vasquez/ Raices del Festao/ Lo Mejor de Genero Afro Peruano/ Play Music
Milton Nascimento & Jobim Trio/ Trem de Ferro/ Novas Bossas/ Blue Note

Rupa and the April Fishes/ Poder/ ExtraOrdinary Rendition/ Cumbancha
Refugee All Stars/ Seconds/ In the Name of Love: Africa Celebrates U2/Shout Factory
Michael Franti & Spearhead/A Little Bit of Riddim/ All Rebel Rockers/ Booboo Wax
Manu Chao/Politik Kills (Prince Fatty Remix)/ Single/ Nacional Records
Dub Colossus/ Ophir Dub/ A Town Called Addis/ Real World

40 Thieves Orkestar/ Last Band Standing/ Global Local Festival Champions/Songlines
Monkey/ Monk's Song/ Journey to the West/ XL Recordings

Orchestra Poly Ritmo de Contonou/ Gbeti/ African Scream Contest/ Analog Africa