[FA Worldmusic] categorically labelled

[Ian Menzies]

>But what are the essential characteristics of "world music"?

That's easy - broadly, it is folk music from "other" cultures or to steal
fRoots mag's by line "local music from out there" (and is therefor inclusive
and exclusive of certain things depending on where you sit). Does this
accurately define any and all music that might get included in the catagory?
Of course not, but as you observed, neither does jazz.

Anyway, whatever it is, world music brought us all to this list (as someone
already mentioned). It also gets thousands of people to WOMEX every year and
if I may be so bold Steve, it also seems to inform and provide a through
line for your articles at the Around The World blog.