Musician Joe Jackson has just released a new album called The Duke in which he reprises Duke Ellington tunes in surprising ways.  The following is his version of Caravan, using Iranian singer Sussan Deyhim whose haunting voice in Farsi gives the song a new dimension.  This rendition makes you feel as if you were really traveling through the desert sands of the Sahara, following a siren’s call.

I first heard this song on National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered” as I drove home after doing my bit to get Barack Obama reelected.  So I got to do two really great things today: work for Obama’s reelection and hear this song.