Putumayo

800/995-9588, www.putumayo.com

Musical traditions from all around the world have influenced the musical styles of North Africa, a fact captured on Putumayo’s fabulous North African Groove. For example, "Montuno Noreño," the opening track, brings together the Afro-Cuban and Arab-Andalusion sounds and lyrics of Havana native Joel Hierrezuello and Algerian Hamidou to create an amazingly original fusion. Some of the artists have carried their North African roots to other countries. Raised in France, 25-year-old Faudel Bellula brings his Algerian homeland’s raï style to bear on "Si Tu le Veux," a song about redemption and helping the less fortunate. In fact, raï is the overarching style embraced here, and Khaled (known as the king of raï) and Cheb Mami (known as the prince of raï, and a collaborator with Sting on the popular "Desert Rose") incorporate flamenco-influenced guitar, horns, and reggae-style rhythms on "Ya-Rayi" and "Viens Habibi," respectively. Feature North African Groove and its 12 delicious tracks among your African, Middle Eastern, and Muslim books and giftware.