Music Without Borders

For the sheer range and variety of artists on offer, world music is clearly an unbeatable genre. The BBC knows this, which is why it has created the Radio 3 World Music Awards, an annual celebration of music that transcends all cultural borders and differences.

Although the awards have been running for seven years now, they still possess the power to surprise; showcasing a diverse range of artists who receive a huge sales boost as a result of winning a prize. Past recipients include the wonderful Portuguese Fado singer, Mariza, the uber-cool Gogol Bordello and Manu Chao and the maestros Ibrahim Ferrer and Ali Farka Toure.

Although these are marquee names who have found mainstream success, the World Music Awards are great because they also provide a platform for fantastic newcomers like Balkan Beat Box, Bassekou Kouyate and Mayra Andrade.

This year's awards introduce a new awards ceremony, the first of its kind in the Awards' history. The event for which members of the public can apply for tickets via the BBC Audience Lines adds a new dimension to the Awards alongside the traditional celebratory Poll Winners' Concert in the summer.

The April awards event will feature all the regular trappings of an awards ceremony, with live performances, videos, winners announced on the night and presented with their ' Planets '.

The evening is being hosted by Mary Anne Kennedy (one of the new voices of world music on BBC Radio 3) and is being recorded for broadcast the following night in a new, expanded, prime-time slot on BBC Radio 3, from 7.00 - 8.45pm.

This should be a carnivalesque celebration of international music that speaks to all generations.

The Awards Winners' Ceremony will be held on Thurs 10 Apr at Dingwalls, Camden Lock, Camden, London, NW1 8AB.

By Diriye Osman

A New Musical Voice

Over the last decade or so, Cuban music has reached a huge international audience, largely due to the success of the late Ibrahim Ferrer and The Buena Vista Social Club. It is in this tradition of strong, vibrant performers that Jazz pianist, Roberto Fonseca found his musical voice.

Hailed as a star in the making, Fonseca's grooves are seductive and revelatory, recalling a young Herbie Hancock. After having delighted audiences with Buena Vista Social Club for the past couple of years, where he replaced the late great Ruben Gonzalez, Fonseca is now ready to step out on his own and forge his own musical path.

His album, 'Zamazu' is a jazz roots disc with a distinctive flavour. Gathering ideas from a rich jazz heritage and infusing them with a spiritual candour, Fonseca creates music that is playful and celebratory.

His sound doesn't fit into either world music or straight jazz, but it blends those disparate genres together to create something great and unexpected. His live shows are equally rousing and fun, all of which makes Roberto Fonseca a gifted artist to watch out for.

Roberto Fonseca's album, 'Zamazu' is out now. He will be performing on Sun 4 May at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Everyman Theatre, Regent Street, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 1HQ 7.30pm. Adm: £20. Info: 01242 572573; (Sun 11 May) at Ipswich New Wolsey Theatre, Civic Drive, Ipswich, IP1 2AS. 7.45pm. Adm: £7.95-£21.95. Info: 01473 295900; (Mon 12 May) at The Norwich Festival at Playhouse, 42-58 St Georges Street, Norwich, NR3 1AB. 8pm, Info: £20-£17, adv under-26 £5 Info: 01603 612580; (Tues 27 May) at Barbican, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS. 7.30pm. Adm: £10-£20. Info: 020 7638 8891.

By Diriye Osman