From its indigent roots, music from around the world has come into its own. In an increasingly globalized multi-culture, we have access to musical styles that in former decades would have required extensive travel to appreciate. During the eighties, pop stars like Sting and Paul Simon corroborated with musicians from around the globe adding depth to their individual sounds. With intriguing embellishments from third-world musicians, Western genres expanded.

With a varied geography and instrumentation, the indigenous roots are defying categorization as cultures assimilate. What may have once been a pure traditional form, is taking on nuance and variety as musicians access other styles from other regions. Musicians are going eclectic.

Appearing first in small venues, these international artists now fill large venues playing to increasingly sophisticated audiences. From there, CDs make their way into the record collections of an avid Western population intent of cultural enrichment. What was once an ethnic sound has become familiar with exposure.

Tibetan chants, Japanese koto, Indian raga, Eastern European folk have all been imported for a Western audiences. Tribal harmonies from the Middle East, Asia, Central and South America are now becoming familiar. The Celtic harp reached world-wide popularity in the previous decade. Reggae, perhaps the most well-known infiltration, is thoroughly saturated into the mainstream.

No longer strictly ethnic, it has a broader approach. This hybridization now requires new categorical labels. We have World Fusion, Ethnic Fusion, World Beat, Lounge, Global Fusion and Club Fusion. It now crosses over into new-age, jazz, country, soul and disco. It has grown its eclectic styling and it is only just beginning.

In Paris, always a cultural trend-setter, a large West and North African population has bestowed upon the city a diverse musical scene. Add in the Algerian and Moroccan influences and you have a lively mix. With strong support for the arts, Paris may be the world music capital as it was once the art capital. In the United States, Middle Eastern sounds are growing in popularity. South American rhythms are warmly welcomed. Sufi whirling dervishes tour regularly.

A great way to learn about what is being produced is by visiting the Internet. It is a great source of information on what is new and exciting as well as an archive of indigenous music. You can listen to a diverse collection of sounds, purchase CDs or MP3s, find out where the festivals are taking place this summer and expand your musical horizons in numerous ways. With stunning photography, you can do some armchair traveling.

If your sixties, seventies and eighties classic rock records are beginning to sound like, well broken records, leave your comfort zone and check out the exhilarating offerings from around the world. If you could use a new groove, find out what is happening in Peru, Ghana, North Africa, Bolivia, Brazil. Access to the global culture is definitely one of the perks of our ever expanding world.