Etnica & World Music is a collector's dream come true. Every selection is taken from a leading album. These selections present a widely diverse cross-sectional look at Native American music. They range in tempo, style, tone and number of instruments and singers and go from straight traditional vocal to modern world fusion and electronica.

"Ite" is a rambunctious, modern Native American style that borrows from rock, choral, jazz and a touch of reggae beat with traditional chanting and singing. The sound effects are fabulous, with a dozen instruments layered and moving in different ways. Even the birds and frogs at the end are layered and in opposition. Blue Chip Orchestra and Red Spirit Ensemble perform this one. It is from the album White River Red Spirit.

Peter "Wyoming" Bender is his usual far-above-ordinary self in "Spirit Mountain." This is another intensely layered piece with bells, heavy percussion, chanting and sound effects adding to the melodic flute. It is so easy to drift away to this one and find yourself on the apex of Spirit Mountain. The ending rip is so unexpected that you will jump.

My favorite selection is "When Eyes Meet" by Joanne Shenandoah with Peter Kater. It is from the album Life Blood. The flute work is only exceeded in quality by Joanne's awe-inspiring voice. This version is so full-bodied and layered. Kater's keyboarding perfectly complements Joanne's voice, seeming to empower her.

The songs included in this collection are: "White River Utes" (Peter Kater & R. Carlos Nakai), "When Eyes Meet" (Joanne Shenandoah with Peter Kater), "Ite" (Blue Chip Orchestra & Red Spirit Ensemble), "Spirit Mountain" (Peter "Wyoming" Bender), "As Tecka Moon Yekka" (Jackalope), "Birth" (Wil Numkena), "Dancing for a Vision" (David & Steve Gordon), "Intertribal" (Medicine Drum), "Eagle Soaring (Grand Canyon)" by Anhinga, "And He Taught Them to Dance" (Spotted Eagle), "Flute Song" (Marilyn Rife), "Red, White & Blue" (Judy Trejo), "Chokecherry Jam" (Cody, Wallace & Clipman), "Serpent Dance" (Warm Springs) and "Feather Clan Gathering" (Mesa Music Consort).

If you are looking for a CD with a sampling of Native American music in a diverse range of styles and tones, this is a great choice. It is like getting the best of the best in the Native American music world -- a total of 15 different persons or groups and more than an hour of music.