Moods: Sprightly

Nothing pairs better with good weather than Latin jazz. Enjoy this playlist with the sun on your face and a mojito in your hand.

Bluegrass is a genre of country music that emerged from Appalachia in the 1940s as a faster, more complex take on traditional string band music. Listen to the songs that have helped define this rich, and surprisingly diverse, musical tradition.

Bouncy, upbeat songs from classic soul to '80s alternative and today's indie rock. Let this eclectic mix help you get through the mid-afternoon lul.

From the end of the '50s to the start of the '60s, the kids kicked off their shoes and started shaking all over the place. These were the sounds they moved to, back in the days when doo wop and R&B were just another way of saying "rock & roll."

Afro-Cuban dance music turns up the heat on the African influence present in most Cuban music, embracing it's visceral syncopation, polyrhythms, and shout and response vocals.

Often referred to as "Hot Jazz," "Early Jazz," or "New Orleans Jazz," Dixieland is the earliest form of jazz music.

Essential recordings from the 1930s and 40s Swing-era big bands, which featured upwards of 12 musicians. During their heyday, big bands produced America's most popular dance music.

In late '50s Britain, the young Beatles consumed a surprisingly eclectic mix of styles, including early rock & roll, pop, jazz, blues, folk, country & western, and swing. Here are the songs that inspired the 20th century's most influential band.

Listen to essential songs that have shaped the sound of contemporary South African music, from 1950s Zulu-influenced jazz to the traditional a cappella singing of isicathamiya music.

Western swing was developed in the dance halls of America's lower Great Plains during 1920s and '30s. Derived predominantly from swing jazz, Western swing laid the sonic foundation upon which country music was later built.

The best songs from the groups that pioneered that ultra-cool surfer sound. Guitar-heavy and full of reverb, these tunes are perfect for strapping your board to the roof of your woodie and cruising to the beach.

Listen to upbeat world music that will transport you and your guests around the globe.

Born in the slums of the Santo Domingo during Trujillo's dictatorship, Bachata tells the story of the Dominican Republic. Bachata songs cover themes about unrequited love, heartbreak, and sadness.

Salsa music originated in Cuba, but Puerto Rican "salseros" have helped make the genre a global phenomenon. This playlist includes essential recordings from salsa's best-known Puerto Rican artists.

Salsa Colombiana became popular in Colombia during in the 1980s and features faster rhythms than its Caribbean ancestor, while retaining its irresistible danceability.

Originating in Cuba and Puerto Rico, salsa has spread like wildfire across all Latin American countries. This playlist includes salsa's greatest artists and songs.

During the 1960s, multiple Puerto Rican and Cuban genres merged, creating what would later be known as salsa. This playlist includes songs that influenced and shaped the salsa sound.

Cuba is the birthplace of Salsa, one of the most popular genres in Latin America. Cuban salsa draws from a combination of many Cuban genres, thus featuring an eclectic range of sounds.

Johnny Cash called the Bristol sessions of 1927 "the most important event in the history of country music." This open-mike recording session for Appalachia's "hillbilly" musicians was the commercial debut of Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family.

Maverick country artists who changed the game in Nashville, from Tom T. Hall to Steve Earle.

Some of the heaviest hitters ever to hoist a bluegrass axe, from the old school (Bill Monroe) to the new crew (Chris Thile).

Listen to female rockers from the punk era to today's indie girl-crushes who use smarts, speed and sex appeal to get their point across.

Discover the authentic song of Spain from flamenco's most iconic artists.

For those who spent their university days hanging around the campus radio station during the heyday of college radio. Journey back to the time when all the best music could be found to the left of the dial.

Manhattan was the center of jazz in the 1950s and '60s, from post-bop to modal experimentation to the controversial "New Thing" of free jazz. Revisit that vibrant time and place.

A collection of songs featured on the popular country music blog, countryandwestern.tumblr.com. Listen to a mix of good ol' guys and gals, with a sprinkle of modern cowboys and cowgirls.

This playlist takes you back to a time when Sinatra was king, men wore suits, and everyone swilled martinis like the world was going to end in nuclear winter. Thankfully, it didn't, and the swingin' lounge music of the era lives on.

Rediscover The Nashville Sound: a lush, slick and often playful side of country music, popular between the late '50s and the mid-'70s, that brought easy-listening influences to traditional country in order to reach a wider pop audience.

In their 30 years together, R.E.M. helped shape the post-punk musical landscape. From the bands who inspired them to their contemporaries on the college radio scene, explore how the boys from Athens helped change everything

The yearning, country-tinged feel of Cajun music and the blues-based, party-starting grooves of zydeco are at the core of Louisiana's musical tradition. These are the old-school artists who built the sound.

The Gipsy Kings got this party started internationally, but there's much more to the Spanish rumba. Warning: playlist may cause exhaustion due to dancing on the table 'til dawn.

A collection of classics and lesser-known gems from the beginning of rock & roll, with an emphasis on country-leaning "hillbilly rock," or rockabilly

Franz Liszt was the superstar of the romantic period and his performances caused "Lisztomania" across Europe. His pyrotechnic virtuosity made him the sexiest composer alive and his works teased the senses with his devilish touch. Dare to indulge yourself.

During the late 1950s and early '60s, John Coltrane and many of his peers searched for a sound beyond bebop. This cool post-bop set, with saxophones aplenty, balances adventurousness and melody.

Mind if we spice up your Eggs Benedict? How about another Bloody Mary? Enjoy these jazz inspirations to help you waste the afternoon away.

After proving their pop sensibilities with the multi-platinum album Rumours, Fleetwood Mac released Tusk, an experimental double album of endless inventiveness. Here are songs from (and inspired by) the era when classic rock was morphing into new wave.

Sometimes all you need is a rousing song to get yourself out of a rut. Take inspiration from some of the all-time great pop vocalists and c'mon, get happy!

A genre that originated in Eastern Europe, electro-swing combines the classic swing sounds of the 1930s with house and electronic beats. This'll get your body moving, big daddy.

Musical styles come and go, but some songs will always sound great. This collection of upbeat pop and rock songs from the '60s, '70s and '80s is perfect for the workday or the weekend.

The term "indie" may conjure up thoughts of a scrappy aesthetic, but as these exceptional acts prove, there's plenty of room for a more refined sound as well.

One of the oldest instruments still in common use, the classical guitar first found its home in Spain. The Spanish guitar is the voice of an entire musical world, and to this day is still a distinctive sound in rhythm and character.