Speaking of Ry Cooder, I heard Ellades Ochoa's spin off from the Buena Vista Social Club, at a friends on Friday night. He does some incredible tradtional stuff on his solo album. If anyone is also looking for sheer humanity and musicianship, I highly recommend seeing the film the "Buena Vista Social Club" as well, but I don't know if the film receives the same treatment in the U.S. as Cuban cigars.

In the last year or so, I also heard a recording by a minority ethnic gentleman from southeast Asia or China that also pinned me, but I can't remember anything more about it, as I didn't write it down at the time. Anyone have any ideas?