The daughter of two icons of Brazilian music, Elis Regina and Cezar Camargo Maria Rita, began her singing career at the age of 24. While her third album Samba Meu, was a tribute to her country's native samba, the concept for Elo was drawn from fan's song requests at live performances.

Cajun & Zydeco is the raw and riotous music that fills the steamy night air of Louisiana - from downtown New Orleans to the backwater bayou. Accordions and fiddles with a francophone edge meet drum kits, guitars and more on this handpicked Rough Guide.

A world-class Argentinean pianist based in Paris since the 1970s, Gustavo Beytelmann has composed many soundtracks for French and German cinema, toured with Astor Piazolla, and has his music regularly played all over Europe. Drawing from the tango of his native country, as well as jazz and classical music, he has created a unique sound, reminding us that tango is a musical language that is still very much alive.

Deutsche Grammophon's artist Anoushka Shankar is a musical aristocrat: Her father and teacher is Ravi Shankar. Embracing the heritage of flamenco from its origins in India to home in Spain, Anoushka Shankar creates a sound that is fresh, distinctive, and fascinating. Anoushka Shankar is established as one of today's leading performers - blending Indian and Western classical music, flamenco, jazz, and numerous other influences.

In Yasmin Levy's music there is an undeniable tension between the purity of Ladino (the Judeo-Spanish music of Spain) and the fiery heart of flamenco. As she explained to David Honigmann of the Financial Times, "There's a very traditional way of singing Ladino.I learnt it listening to women singing and it's beautiful, but I missed the passion. Flamenco is nothing but passion."