Abdel Gadir Salim All-Stars

This Sudanese band first came to prominence in the 1980s when they played a series of concerts in Europe to raise money and awareness for the famine in Ethiopia and Sudan. Noble beginnings, but that philanthropic spirit isn't what's sustained them over the years -- they are, hands down, one of the most talented and interesting crossover groups to come out of Sudan. Translating traditional Arabic and nomadic music into electrified pop, founder and master oud player Abdel Gadir Salim never sacrifices the spare, emotional heart of Sudenese music, though he does breathe adde! d life into each composition with an instrumental mix that includes oud, violins, electric keyboard and sax.