Carrying on a new series of recommendations from an EMERGE-endorsed experts, this week we are featuring a selection of links to events, record labels and collectives devoted to exploring and exposing some of the most dynamic music and musicians from outside the Western pop music tradition. The links come courtesy of Bill Bragin, who currently serves as Director of NYC's famed Joe's Pub, which is part of the Public Theater, one of the most respected and influential off-Broadway performance spaces in the City.

Bragin has worked for the past 20 years "breaking down barriers of genre, style and geographic borders with a particular interest in hybrids and artistic cross-fertilization" via his current role at Joe's Pub, his previous job as music curator at Symphony Space and as founding GM of NYNO Records an independent label co-founded by legendary New Orleans composer, producer, songwriter and musician Alain Toussaint. An active DJ and member of the GlobeSonic Sound System, Bragin also introduces throngs of open-minded dancers to some of the most exciting sounds being made anywhere via his inspiring and eclectic sets at events in NYC, Massachusetts, Recife, Amsterdam, Berlin, Vancouver and beyond. Here are several websites devoted to the sounds and artists that Bragin has devoted his remarkable career to championing:

WOMEX: "The leading world music conference, festival and the single most important three days of the year in terms of discovering my new favoirte artists from around the world, from traditional Balkan brass bands, to desert blues to DJ-driven fusions."

GlobalFest NY: "The US's most
important answer to WOmEX (self interest alert - I co-produce it). Date, venue and line-up for Jan 2007 to be announced shortly"

Crammed Records: "One of the pioneering labels to blur the lines between world music and everything else, they are the force behind Konono No. 1 and Congotronics, Electric Gypsyland, Cibelle and lots of other recent faves."

Trama: "Home of some of Brazil's best contemporary, underground,
electronic, MPB (Musica Popular Brasileira) and more - filled with videos, mp3...artists like Nacao Zumbi, Otto, Caju and Castanha, Elis
Regina and more."

National Geographic World Music: "National Geographic's rich new world music site, fileld with artist bios, videos, music samples, guest DJ sets, etc."

DubMC: "Smart new world music news blog."

GlobeSonic: "More self-interest alert - This the DJ collective I am a part of...I am Acidophilus."

Look, Listen and Learn. And if you can make it to NYC, be sure to check out some of the mindblowing shows Bill Bragin is booking at Joe's Pub these days!

It appears you don't have Flash installed.