Here are some of my all-time, favorite 'world music' -which can either be jazz, Brasilian, Latin, pop, rock, OPM, New Age, chill or, even classic -collection in the very popular MP3 format, for your listening pleasure only. Simply choose the desired song from the drop-down box below & click to listen! (please note: These are copyrighted materials & downloading is strictly prohibited)!

  Artist: Milton Nascimento (Jazz/World Music - Brasil) Song: VERA CRUZ

Featuring guest musicians Pat Metheny (guitar), Herbie Hancock (piano), Ron Carter (bass), Jack DeJohnette (drums), Wayne Shorter (soprano sax) and Nana Vasconcelos (percussion).  Listen closely and enjoy the brilliance of the all-star ensemble.

Artist: Burt Bacharach (Pop - America) Song: WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW

One of most brilliant composers in the world who made most of his masterpieces in the '60s.  Another version of the song featured here had been the 'anthem' to a short narrative which highlighted the events surrounding the JFK assassination.

Artists: Maria Monte, Carlinhos Brown & Arnaldo Antunes (MPB/World - Brasil)  Song: PECADO E LHE DEIXAR DE MOLHO (It Would Be A Sin To Leave You Idle)

Recorded just in 2002 in Rio de Janeiro yet, the nostalgic voice of Maria Monte and the whistling of co-composer Cezar Mendes (who also played acoustic guitar) in the background added a '50's to '60s texture to the song. 'Tribalistas' was the album.

Artists: Charlie Byrd: The Washington Guitar Quintet (Jazz - America)  Song: CAVATINA

The late jazz guitarist from Virginia, Charlie Byrd (1925-1999) with his rendition of the music theme -a John Williams composition - from the movie, "The Deer Hunter."  The Washington Guitar Quintet also included: Larry Snitzler, Phillip Mathieu, Jeffrey Meyerriecks and Myrna Sislen.

Artist: Gino Vannelli (Rock/Jazz - Canada) Song: WHERE AM I GOING

The last few lines of the song.."What am I saying? Don't I know myself from experience? I'll never change nor cease to sail the sky. Till the day I die.
I'll come to conclusion with fear or illusion. I'll live how I feel cause no matter how fast or how slow...Youth will go"  Who can't relate to such beautiful poetry in a song?  This was from the "Storm at Sunup" album released in 1975.

Artist: Sir Julian (Lounge/Jazz - France)  Song: A MAN AND A WOMAN

This Hammond organ version of the movie theme with the same title (composed by the super-talented Frenchman, Francis Lai) gave this already-beautiful piece a 'playful twist' without taking away the nostalgic feel from the original version.  Vibrant and lively yet still longingly melancholic. This track was from the 'Organs in Orbit' compilation.

Artist: Astrud Gilberto with Stanley Turrentine (Jazz/Samba - Brasil)  Song: WANTING THINGS

Just one of the standout cuts from this collector's album.  This original Burt Bacharach/Hal David composition stood out because of the fantastic arrangement done by Eumir Deodato (who also played piano/organ) as well as Ron Carter on bass and the brilliant drum works of Joao Palma towards the end of the track.

Artist: Jean-Luc Ponty (Jazz/Fusion/Electronic - France) Song: COSMIC MESSENGER

The rare blend of electric violin and the wizardry of keyboardist, Alan Zavod with studio session man Ralph Armstrong on bass, made Ponty's transition from his more 'classic' style of playing on his previous albums (like the 'Aurora' series), to a more appealing blend of jazz, funk and deft electronic orchestrations in this 1978 release.