Angelique Kidjo, Benin-born and Paris-based, has become one of the most popular African female artists in world music. This Best of compilation contains 18 tracks from the five CDs she released between 1990 and 1998. She's an electrifying performer fluent in French, jazz vocalese and her country's traditional zilin vocal techniques, and she also often sings in her native Fon/Yoruba language. Along with her husband, the bassist and producer Jean Hebral, she conjures up a zesty mix of funk, Latin, jazz, gospel, Caribbean zouk, Congolese rumba and Afropop grooves. She covers a lot of ground--from Afro-pulsed renditions of Jimi Hendrix's "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" to her indigenous take on George Gershwin's "Summertime". The rising hip-hop/gospel diva Kelly Price lends her sanctified sound to "Open Your Eyes" and Carlos Santana's bluesy guitar lines illuminate "Naima". The Tanzanian chant "Malaika" is dedicated to Kidjo's idol, Miriam Makeba, while "Senie" is a shout out to the great Togolese singer Bella Bellow. The collection also contains Kidjo's most popular dance hits, including "Batonga", "Agolo" and the classic "Aye". It's a fabulous package which shows why Kidjo's fans include Cassandra Wilson and Branford Marsalis. --Eugene Holley Jr