Two rural Colombian states--La Guajira and Cesar--on the Venezuela border in the lowlands between two mountain ranges gave rise to "musica vallenata," or music of the valley, a late 20th-century Colombian pop phenomenon featuring rapid-fire accordion lines. Called by Grammy-winning Colombian singer Carlos Vives "Elvises of the Magdalena River," its players combine old folk traditions of the Magdalena river valley with decidely modern pulses, such as lightning-quick tempos, hollered melodies, and electric bass. Smithsonian-Folkways fantastic collection, AYOMBE! THE HEART OF COLOMBIA'S MUSICA VALLENATA, features 25 ace musicians from three different generations playing a variety of puyas, sons, paseos, and Colombian merengues.