Anybody know World-Jazz

Joseph Zawinal (founder of Weather Report) is my favorite jazz artist that has some of what you are looking for, a world beat or sound. Dialects or World Tour (I think is the name) may be good to start with.

Jon Hassell is very good as well, he has made a number of CDs with African musicians. He plays trumpet and mixes it with their native music. Very interesting IMO...

1. Karim Ziad + afrika..great stuff
2. esbjorn svensson-piano trio
3. MIROSLAV TADIC INCREDIBLE CLASSICAL/JAZZ GUITARIST
4.TINARIWEN great mali group
5.ROKIA TRAORE FEMALE VOCALIST FROM MALI
6.DHAFER YOUSSEF OUD player + vocalist from TUNISA. GREAT
7.MARCUS STOCKHAUSEN-Karta group..trumpet
8.NICLAS SIMION
9.TERJE RYPDAL spacy guitar
10.NGUYEN LE'[GREAT VIETNAMESE GUITAR PLAYER]
11.NILS PETTER MOLVAER
12.CHRISTOF LAUER
13.HABIB KOIKE & bamada
14.JAN GARBAREK
hope this helps..some of my favorites.Do a google search to find samples..also towerrecords.com has some samples.
email off list if you'd like more names.janlar5@yahoo.com

The whole body of work by Anouar Brahem, the Tunisian oud player, is amazing.

The most accessible is 'Le Pas du Chat Noir' and it's a great place to start. From there, work your way through the others, 'Conte de L'Incroyable Amour,' 'Astrakan Cafe,' 'Barzakh,' and many more.