Is there such a thing as too eclectic? Since his dynamic 1997 solo debut, The Carnival, the Haitian ex-Fugee has seemed out to prove his many and varied talents: He sings, raps, produces, plays guitar (and several other instruments), speaks English, French, Spanish and Creole (and a few other languages), has production credit on monster hits like Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie" and maintains a fat Rolodex. On this coda to Carnival, that last asset — the Rolodex — is more apparent than ever: A wildly diverse crowd — including Paul Simon, Mary J. Blige, Norah Jones and Minister Louis Farrakhan (!) — appears, making the affair feel like a hipper Epcot Center. The musical styles are just as diverse, from the raga-reggae mash-up "Welcome to the East," with Farrakhan on violin and a Sizzla verse, to the amped-up agit-rocker "Riot," with Serj Tankian, and acoustic-folk duet "Fast Car" (not Tracy Chapman's), with Paul Simon — all of them vibrant and few expected. It's a breathtaking, ambitious ride through a carnival of global music too rarely explored.

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EVAN SERPICK

(Posted: Dec 13, 2007)