Festive folk music from the country’s Caribbean region, with four basic forms — the son, paseo, merengue and puya — played with three traditional instruments: the caja vallenata drum, wooden guacharaca scraper, and three-line, German-style button accordion. Here are some of its most celebrated performers, including Francisco ‘Pacho’ Rada, Nicolas ‘Colacho’ Mendoza and Victor Camarillo.

The sitar maestro recorded in 1986, performing two raga and a dhun in the classical style of the Senia Beenkar Gharana, with its focus on melodic and rhythmic elaboration.

The greatest singer of his generation presenting the classical music of Azerbaijan, accompanied on the tar lute and the kamancha viol by the Mansurov brothers.

Powerful, fierce free improvisation, crossed with avant-rock, bringing together Steve Noble, John Edwards and Alex Ward. A numbered edition of three hundred, on heavy vinyl, with thick, hand-assembled covers.

‘Cantu a chiterra’, in which competing singers take turns showing off vocal daring, breath control, endurance and style, in settings of nineteenth century poetry.

Mainly female vocal ensembles performing seasonal, child-bearing and wedding songs, with instrumental dance excursions by violin, reed-pipe, cymbalum, accordion and drum.

Virtuoso performances recorded in 1972 and al fresco in 1970, mixing together works from the nineteenth century heartlands of the instrument, and rocking Mande tunes of the 1960s and 70s.

The spell-binding Romanian gypsy singer, accompanied by cembalo, violin and accordion.

Live in August 2004.

Hats off to the Oslo lot, back with such fascinating, dauntless, new-broom musicality after the departure of their drummer — the trio grappling beatlessly, intently with Hammonds, in the deep space charted by Ra.

With new cohorts from Finland and Denmark — electric bass and guitar bringing a new tension and urgency — this is by turns fierce and hard, swinging and sparse, lyrical and mournful.

‘The quintessence of experience of sorts. It has some free playing, some reflection, and we also played Komeda’s Kattorna. Among my records this is the one I listened to the most after recording.’

Beautiful, balladesque quartet album — moody, blue and restrained.

Inspired by the great poet Wislawa Symborska, who died last year. Ace NY quartet. Full of dread and life, tersely sophisticated, imbued with Miles. Monk and Andrew Hill in the pianism. Always recommended, TS.

Leading his New York Quintet.