"This project represents a conceptual direction that merges an idea from the late 19th and early 20th centuries with the technologies of today to create a new, open-ended platform for musical composition, improvisation and performance," said Pat Metheny in November of 2009 about his latest musical project.
 
 "'Orchestrionics' is the term that I am using to describe a method of developing ensemble-oriented music using acoustic and acoustoelectric musical instruments that are mechanically controlled in a variety of ways, using solenoids and pneumatics. With a guitar, pen or keyboard I am able to create a detailed compositional environment or a spontaneously developed improvisation, with the pieces on this particular recording leaning toward the compositional side of the spectrum. On top of these layers of acoustic sound, I add my conventional electric guitar playing as an improvised component.

Sound Tracks: Music Without Borders, a new TV magazine show about the intersection of music with life, politics and culture around the world, premieres Monday, January 25, 2010 at 10 p.m. (check local listings) on PBS.

Dedicated to reporting unheard stories that reveal how music is transforming politics and culture around the globe, the one-hour pilot crosses three continents and serves up a diverse menu of Russian pop, afrobeat, Portuguese fado, and symphonic work. Says executive producer Stephen Talbot, “Americans love eating the food of different cultures. We want to give people that same exposure to the world’s incredible music with great stories that transcend cultural barriers.”
 

Tito Rodriguez

El Inolvidable (Fania 773-130-600-2, 2009)

Far from being simply the Latin music Tito whose last name wasn’t Puente, Tito Rodriguez was a supremely skilled singer and bandleader who, along with contemporaries Puente and Machito, used to pack ‘em in at New York City’s Palladium Ballroom when dancing the mambo was the preferred way of spending a night out. Rodriguez was already an in-demand singer in his native Puerto Rico when he moved to New York at 16 in 1939.

Dengue Fever starts the new year with a West Coast tour in support of the January 10 release of Dengue Fever Presents: Electric Cambodia (Minky Records), a compilation of fourteen of the band member's favorite classic tracks, from artists such as Sinn Sisamouth, Pan Ron, Ros Sereysothea and Dara Chom Chan. After that, it's SXSW, Bergenfest in Norway and other European and Asian dates to be announced shortly.

In a world where the news is constantly derived of tragic tales of war and devastating violence, it is a pleasant surprise to see artists from vastly different cultures, ethnicities and backgrounds working together to create truly beautiful and original pieces of music.

Idealistically, cross-cultural collaborations show that the people can work peacefully together to create something striking and harmoniously unique. It may be naive to think so, but music is an art form based on expression and emotion and surely it couldn’t seem more adequate than when two entirely different genres, traditions and societies are brought together to express a particular similar feeling of that time?

Nevertheless, this isn’t always as easy as it seems, Simon Broughton – Editor in Chief of Songlines Magazine makes a fair point, that the problem with most fusions is that they are in fact “extremely uninteresting, people somehow think that ethnic musicians plus beats will make something attractive.. That’s rubbish.” Broughton goes onto explain that “what makes it work is not the styles of music that are meeting, but the musicians themselves and how responsive they are to each other. It’s the fact that this is so difficult, yet so inspiring that made us devote an award to it.”

Thinking of rewrapping that purple and green striped sweater, the one with the arms in two different sizes, that Aunt Martha knitted and gave you last year? Are you wondering if you could get away with sticking a bow on that box of dried lentils you’ve had in your cupboard for the last two years to use as a gift for your office Secret Santa? Are you pining for the good old days, wishing the teenagers on your list would be satisfied with the big box of Crayola Crayons and a couple of Lion King coloring books? No need to worry because the 2009 World Music Central Gift Guide is here to help.
  
Times are tight, something we here at World Music Central know all too well. This year we’ve hit the pavements looking for good deals and great ideas to help you through the holidays. Now we have added some pricier items for those of you with rich relatives or those of you who are bankruptcy lawyers, pharmaceutical execs or banking bigwigs who have TARP funds you still need to use. We’ve also added some links to fun free stuff and craft ideas to do on those long winter nights.
  
Starting out the World Music Central Gift guide is our contributor’s picks for this year: Best World Music Releases of 2009.

The excited whispers of Dobet Gnahoré’s growing fame certainly aren’t far-fetched; it has been an astonishing year for the promising African artist with shows all over the world and an extensive tour of the U.S this summer. Her sensual but quirky afro-pop has appealed to people all over the globe and has clearly justified her award for Best Newcomer at the BBC Awards for World Music back in 2006.
 
 Born in ’82 on the Ivory Coast, Gnahoré has always had musical blood running through her veins. Her father, Boni Gnahoré, is a master percussionist who plays with the Ki-Yi Mbock Company directed by the Prince Claus Award-winning Werewere Liking. Since Dobet’s departure from school at the ripe young age of 12, she has always strived to follow in the pursuit of music.

SeattleIndian.com and the Pacific Jazz Institute at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley present the pioneer of Indian slide guitar Debashish Bhattacharya on September 29 – 30, 2009. Joining Debashish will be his brother Subhashis Bhattacharya on tabla. Show time Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:30pm. Doors open at 6pm.

Last year Debashish Bhattacharya won the BBC Planet Award for World Music and this year, 2009, his album Calcutta Chronicles: Indian Slide-Guitar Odyssey is nominated for a Grammy in the traditional world music category. As a resident of Calcutta, Debashish’s music reflects the sights and sounds of this culturally vibrant city. The album Calcutta Chronicles: Indian Slide Guitar Odyssey portrays the musical journey and autobiographical passages juxtaposed through a musical idiom that is refreshingly new and respectfully old. His latest album is O Shakuntala!.

¡Localquerque! will take place on September 20, 2009, 12pm - 8pm at The Pavilion at The New Mexico State Fair. ¡Localquerque! is a day of World Music from some of New Mexico's best internationally flavored music ensembles! 

After the ¡Localquerque! appetizer, ¡Globalquerque! will take place September 25 & 26 at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. ¡Globalquerque!  is New Mexico's 5th Annual Celebration of World Music & Culture. ¡Globalquerque!  includes 20 performances by 17 Acts from 5 Continents on 3 Stages over 2 Nights.

Lehera

Heartsky (independent release, 2009)

South Asia has always been a musical powerhouse, with rich classical and folk traditions. With so many excellent musicians around, it's hard to stand out. Lehera, however, has carved out a niche with its masterful mix of Indian classical ragas (also known as raags), contemporary acoustic, bluesy slide guitar and contained jazz improvisation. The project was put together by Bengali musician Prashant John, who met with two of India's most exciting young musicians, master Hindustani slide guitarist Prakash Sontakke, and virtuoso percussionist Karthik Mani.

On Heartsky, Lehera uses an innovative formula that brings together the fascinating Carnatic (southern Indian) konnakkol vocal style (which emulates percussion), with the western guitar, evocative Hindustani slide guitar and the fascinating ghatam (clay pot).