Ethno Jazz, a form of Ethno Music, is sometimes equaled to World Music or is regarded as its successor, particularly before the 1990s. An independent meaning of "Ethno Jazz" emerged around 1990 with globalisation and later the Internet as well as the commercial success of Ethno groups and musicians. From the American and European view, interpretations from developing countries, particularly the developing southeast Asia and the People's Republic of China, became important.

Whereas global regions like India, Latin America and Africa had been reached already before 1990, they regained importance in the form of Ethno Music, and Ethno Jazz in particular. Notable examples are the emergence of jazz through the interaction between New Orleans and Cuba, the Afro-Cuban jazz in the 1940s and 50s, Arab influence in Jazz in the 1950s and 60s and Indian influence through The Beatles and Rock Jazz of the 1960s and 70s.

Ethno Jazz, particularly from the 1990s, meant Jazz was in accordance with the more American and European view, but realised with the typical musical differences of non-American and -European regions, particularly the expanding centres of Southeast Asia and China. Superficially, and out of an American and European view, Ethno Jazz is sometimes not as Jazz, but probably something similar missing a more suitable classification.

John Berberian (b. c.1941) is an American musician known for his virtuosity on the oud, the Middle Eastern stringed instrument.

Berberian was born in New York City; his parents were Armenian immigrants. His father was an accomplished oud player, as well as instrument maker, and oud masters of Armenian, Turkish, Arabic and Greek heritage frequented his family's home.

He first recorded traditional oud music with violinist Reuben Sarkisian, when a student at Columbia University in the mid 1950s. He subsequently recorded for a variety of labels including MGM, RCA, Roulette, Verve and Mainstream Records.

He expanded beyond the ethnic music market in the mid to late 1960s, decades before "world music" became fashionable, with a series of LPs which explored fusions between traditional Middle Eastern music, psychedelic rock and jazz. These included "Expressions East" (1964), "Music of the Middle East" (1966), and "Middle Eastern Rock" (1969) with guitarist Joe Beck.

Berberian has commanded the respect of musicians worldwide. He has been featured in numerous concerts and dances throughout the USA, Canada and South America, and is one of only a handful of musicians worldwide given the title of Udi (oud master). He now lives in Massachusetts and maintains an active performance schedule.

Lizz Wright (born January 22, 1980) is an American jazz/R&B singer and composer.

Wright was born in the small town of Hahira in the US state of Georgia; one of three children and the daughter of a minister and the musical director of their Church. She started singing gospel music and playing piano in church as a child, and also became interested in jazz and blues. She attended Houston County High School, where she was heavily involved in choral singing, receiving the National Choral Award. She went on to Georgia State University in Atlanta to study singing. Since then she has studied at The New School in New York,^{[citation needed]} and in Vancouver. She currently resides outside Hendersonville, North Carolina.

Wright joined the Atlanta-based vocal quartet In the Spirit in 2000, which soon achieved critical acclaim, and in 2002 she signed a recording contact with Verve Records, where her musical compositions and vocal style led her to be compared to that of Norah Jones.

Her first album, Salt, was released in the spring of 2003 (and reached number two on the Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz chart in 2004). Her next release was not a follow-up of her debut, but this record maintained the jazz and pop blend, while incorporating folk music to her musical blend.Dreaming Wide Awake in June 2005 (which reached number one on the Top Contemporary Jazz chart in 2005 and 2006). In 2008, Wright released The Orchard to positive reviews.