Known for his distinctive "fourth world" style, ambient pioneer Jon Hassell blended together rhythms and melodies from around the globe. Trained as a trumpeter, he began playing with minimalists like Terry Riley and La Monte Young in the early '60s, and they inspired him to dive into the traditions of Asian, South American and African music. By the late '70s, Hassell had developed his genre-bending approach to modern composition, and whether solo or in collaboration, he continued to craft otherworldly soundscapes from elements of jazz, classical, avant-garde electronics and world music.