Individual artists, even of Dorival Caymmi's seminal influence, cannot sum up Bahia past and present. It is the wellspring which endlessly replenishes Brasil's musical life, much like the endlessly vibrant musical scenes of North America that trace their lineage eventually back to the gospel and blues of the turn of the century. Because of the superb rhythmic innovations of Bahia, its music also lends itself particularly well to anthologies aimed at non-Portuguese speaking audiences. An abundance of terrific anthologies by North American and European record companies has been the result.