Unlikely combinations of cultures and traditional musics give a global perspective on this New Sounds program.  Listen to a musical portrayal of an imaginary Syria, "Syriana." It's a London-based ensemble with musicians from Syria and parts of the Near East, featuring the Pan-Arab Strings of Damascus.  There's also music by sax player Uri Gurvich from his forthcoming record, “BabEl,” a mixture of oud  and North African percussion with some saxophone, piano, bass and drums.

Hear the sounds of Fado creep into the original Klezmer tunes by the Portuguese band Melech Mechaya, as well as something from the Manchester-based quartet, Ducie, where a bit of flamenco is worked in to the lilting folk music of the British Isles.  Also, musicians from Belgium and Burkina Faso come together as the Zita Swoon Groupa and Ballake Sissoko collaborates on some music from a group out of southern Italy with Greek roots, Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino.  And more.

PROGRAM #3439, Musical Babel (First aired on 3/8/2013)