Angelique Kidjo -- Djin Djin

When World Music artists pair with anointed Pop entities, it usually signifies either the desire of a desperate label to adorn Pop stars with some creative cred or a means to move extra units of a low-profile World artist. That formula doesn't apply to Angelique Kidjo. The Beninese chanteuse has been teaming with all manner of musical collaborator for most of her 25 year career, all without succumbing to the temptation to sell her musical heritage for the sake of anything as crass as a Pop duet hit. On Djin Djin, Kidjo returns to her traditional West African roots while appointing her sound with appropriate Pop touches. Kidjo's guests include a few World heavyweights, particularly Reggae scion Ziggy Marley on the slinky "Sedjedo," Malian superstar duo Amidou and Mariam on the propulsive "Senamou" and World Pop mastermind Peter Gabriel on the gently insistent "Salala." There are several tunes that come in the side door -- Kidjo's Reggae-flecked take on "Gimme Shelter" with Joss Stone, for example-- but in typical fashion, Kidjo's inherent feel for blending traditions overwhelms even the most seemingly calculated pairings. Any philistine can mash Pop into World or World into Pop, but Kidjo's genius is her ability to accentuate the beauty of ancient African musical tradition with contemporary Pop without compromising the art and appeal of either genre. (Brian Baker) Grade: A