Like so much world music, Sukay’s songs were neither archaic nor inaccessible, but they teased the ear with striking similarities to other folk cultures. The full throated vocals of group founder Quentin Howard brought to mind not only other South American music, but the music of Eastern Europe, North Africa and Southeast Asia.

The wooden flutes would probably have fit right in a Celtic wedding or a Renaissance fair. Even closer to home was guitar playing that revealed an obvious kinship to flamenco and mariachi, and a more unexpected one to our own bluegrass and zydeco traditions.

In fact, for all of the infectious dance music and haunting sounds from the five-foot panpipes and goat-hoof rattles, it was the guitar playing that most impressed, particularly when Navia made his miniature "charango" guitar sing like a dulcimer.