Judith Joiner's Picks for Best Music 2007

5 BEST CDS OF 2007

KILA, Gambler's Ballet (Kila Records) -- The latest from this wild, wooly, world band from Dublin. With Ronan O Snodaigh's Irish chanting and all seven musicians doing double duty on percussion, it's Irish trad gone tribal. And you have to love an album with a tune named "Electric Landlady."

MOZAIK, Changing Trains (Mozaik, self-release) Second CD from this mastermind global polyglot featuring Irish trad stars Andy Irvine and Donal Lunny, old-time's Bruce Molskey, Bulgarian charmer Nikola Parov and Dutch stringman Rens Van Der Zalm. Hungarian horos meet Appalachian hollers via County Kildare.

LINDA THOMPSON, Versatile Heart (Rounder) - English folk diva back with second solo album in twenty years, her voice relaxed but the lyrics are feisty and the styles versatile as her heart. Son (with ex-hsuband Richard) Teddy Thompson is a welcome cowriter and musical partner.

LEVON HELM, Dirt Farmer (Vanguard) - Southern soul survivor of the Band and throat cancer digs into the old songs of his Arkansas youth. He's growly and real, including songs by Stanley Bros, AP Carter and Steve Earle. Daughter Amy Helm (Ollabelle) sings sweet gospel/blues harmony.

SHARON JONES & THE DAP-KINGS, 100 Days, 100 Nights (Dap-Tone Records) - Soul music lives! For those of us wishing we'd been of age when Stax-Volt was in vogue, Jones and the Kings bring it on and bring it home with funk, soul and sass. Party!

BEST CONCERT OF 2007

HUGH MASEKELA & THE SOUTH AFRICAN ALL-STARS, featuring Tony Cedras (keys) and Morris Goldberg (sax), NYC September 2007, Highline Ballroom, Global Rhythm Magazine 10th Anniversary concert. This South African legend must be 70 years old, yet with humor, wisdom, and all the energy of a Gen-Xer. African grooves, jazz melodies, soul and R&B all mix in beautiful, meaningful, moveable music. >From his 1960s hit 'Grazin' in the Grass' to a plea for aid to Darfur (go to SaveDarfur.com and sign the petition), his clear trumpet playing and raspy passionate vocals are timeless.

NEW DISCOVERIES OF 2007

MACDARA -- A young singer from the Aran Islands, Ireland, sings in both English and Irish Gaelic with a sweet, gentle voice and fresh arrangements. His sister Lasairfhiona is also fantastic with her own best-selling CDs, and she joins him in amazing harmony on his 2006 self-released album, The Love Token. Look for him moving into the States.

LES YEUX NOIRS (The Black Eyes) from France -- world-beat funk meets Jewish melodies, passionate young musicians spreading the music and the message. Great live show in Danbury, CT in August