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14 April, 2024
“When that April with its candy showers…,” as waxed the poet Chaucer, with lyrical phrases to that impact. Certainly, when April cometh and music bubbles forth from all corners of the Latin world so as to add its candy chimes to the harmonious sounds of spring… Overlook it man, and get on with the music!
Claudia Meyer: La Negra – Tribute to Mercedes Sosa, The Voice of Latin America (Kobbiprod Productions)
Fairly proper. A lot to debate. Let’s begin with this delectable tribute to the late, nice diva from Argentina. Even though Spanish isn’t her native tongue and aside from some technological trickery that enables her to sing a duet with “La Negra” on “Siempre en Ti”, Claudia Meyer does it straight, counting on her acoustic guitar and different stringed devices just like the charango, her long-time collaborator Marc “Marquito” Benabou’s delicate percussion and a voice as pure because the pushed snow. Born in Morocco and raised in Marseille, that is the singer’s fourth solo album so far and it’s devoted to her good friend, the late Belgian singer Mourane, with whom she shared a love and respect for Mercedes Sosa. It comes over loud and clear on this pretty, easy and heartfelt tribute.
Los Guayabo Brothers: PsychoTropical (Self-released)
Whereas in France… These boisterous brothers aren’t birth-siblings, however Colombian expatriates primarily based within the Toulouse space (I imagine). Their musical raison d’être is to create a mix of their native folkloric music and devices with the guitars, synthesisers and brass of psychedelic rock. Pink Floyd are apparently an affect, however the ensuing stylistic combine jogged my memory (inevitably actually) of the Franco-Colombian group, Yapunto. The brothers might lack the je ne sais quoi of Alexandra Charry’s wonderful voice, however their music shares the same exuberance and joyful spirit. Gaitas and guitars a go-go!
Melissa Aldana: Echoes of the Interior Prophet (Blue Observe)
The identical expatriate theme, however an entire change of favor now. Melissa Aldana is a Chilean tenor saxophonist primarily based in New York. Her second album for the legendary Blue Observe label is simply out, following her 2022 debut which prompted my interview together with her for this web site. With echoes of Wynton Marsalis, the title and outline as “a musical voyage to discover the depth of the religious journey” counsel the sort of cerebral jazz to be discovered inside the cowl. Within the firm of guitarist, arranger and co-producer Lage Lund, Fabian Almazan on piano, Pablo Menares on bass and Kush Abadey on drums, the saxophonist pays tribute to Wayne Shorter on the title monitor. In actual fact, his affect pervades the album in its “use of area, the storytelling, the way you talk, the way you paint,” as Melissa suggests. Like its Grammy-nominated predecessor, 12 Stars, this album will repay many a hear.
Ivan Llanes: La Vida Misma (Vydia)
And whereas in New York… The younger Cuban expatriate has featured in no less than a few my singles round-ups, as he and his group The Syndicate purvey a really polished type of Latin jazz. The singer, songwriter and percussionist hails from Camaguey, Cuba, and earlier than relocating to the U.S., he toured with the nice Cuban flautist, Maraca. Subsequently, he has carried out and/or recorded with Arturo O’Farrill and Carlinhos Brown, and cemented a burgeoning status with jazz pianist Matthew Whitaker’s quartet and as lead vocalist of the Latin “supergroup”, Folks of Earth. Married to a Brazilian girl, his love for her nation and tradition is obvious within the monitor, “Cubahia”. It’s consultant of the vary of kinds and influences that make this each a promising and most rewarding album.
La Yegros: Haz (X-Ray Manufacturing)
Sufficient of the Latin diaspora. Right here’s the Argentinean artist who marries the sounds of Buenos Aires with the extra rural and folkloric genres she assimilated whereas rising up within the border province of Misiones (the polka-infused chamamé, for instance, and Andean carnavalito, in addition to good outdated Colombian cumbia). Do that wonderful sonic mélange on for dimension after which plunge headlong into an album that La Yegros describes as “a journey by means of love, heartbreak, celebration, and all the things in between.” It’s a brand new sensation/A wonderful creation…
Bruno Berle: No Reino dos Afetos 2 (Far Out Recordings)
It might not be probably the most imaginative title for a follow-up to the dreamy debut from this poetic minstrel from Maceió, the capital of Brazil’s Alagoas state – however hey, who cares. Anybody aside from a sociopath or a mass assassin will certainly welcome some extra tender, delicate songs from the “realm of affections”. Bruno Berle is a crucial voice in what appears to be a recent Brazilian motion mixing folks music, MPB and ethereal digital pop: Sessa, Tim Bernardes, Bala Desejo, Arthur Melo, Ana Frango Elétrico, they’re all busy beguiling us with the stuff of probably the most pleasant desires. This ravishing album opener actually says all of it.
Valebol: Valebol (Otherly Love Data)
Concern not, pop-pickers. Right here’s extra stylish pop music to tickle your fancy. Valebol have featured in a few latest singles round-ups and, reality be informed, one might argue that they’re right here below false pretences as a result of the duo’s aesthetic is way more worldwide pop than Latin music. It’s solely the truth that drummer Daniel Villareal is Panamanian by start. Properly, that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it, as a result of their debut “express-pop” launch is as succulent as a ripe mango. Villareal and multi-instrumentalist and singer Vivian McConnell (aka V.V. Lightbody) have whipped up a scrumptious chocolaty dessert of wispy, wistful songs hitched to digital keyboards and sung with the sort of ethereal, fragile voice recalling Elizabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins and Sarah Cracknell of Saint Etienne, with a touch of Donna Janssen of a now in all probability largely forgotten turn-of-the-century German trio, Donna Regina. How I really like chocolate desserts!
Salsa Suprema: En la Conquista del Mundo Latino (El Palmas)
Too many, nonetheless, have a tendency to present me mouth ulcers. Nothing {that a} little bit of salsa dura can’t treatment, although. Two fantastic reissues now from Venezuela by the use of El Palmas Music of Barcelona. The very first thing to say in regards to the Salsa Suprema launch is that it got here out initially in 1979. The second factor to say is that it in all probability didn’t conquer the Latin world, however not for need of some splendid brassy salsa and the notable voice of the near-legendary Caracas-based vocalist, Larry Francia (who poignantly died two days after Salsa Suprema signed with El Palmas). The Venezuelan music collector and archaeologist Miguel Ȧlvarez says of him that “he by no means stopped being a musician, though his dwelling situations have been by no means the most effective. And the legacy of Salsa Suprema is essential to Venezuelan standard music.” Take heed to “Tamborilero” and also you’ll in all probability agree that this outfit might have gone toe to toe with a few of their Nuyorican Fania equivalents.
Sexteto Caracas: Ritmo y Sabor de Fiesta Con El…(El Palmas)
Extra from Caracas and Barcelona. Hand in glove with the Salsa Suprema comes this slice of salsa con guitarra eléctrica from the Venezuelan capital circa the late ’60s. It’s nearly pretty much as good – in a extra stripped-back sort of means, with the emphasis extra on the sound and fury of boogaloo. Once more, you possibly can gauge the album’s vibe from this one quantity. And what a quantity! Roll over Barretto.
Numerous Artists: Ansonia Data Presents – Salsa Con Estilo – Dance Ground Gems From the Vaults: Nineteen Fifties – Eighties (Ansonia Data)
Right here’s my compilation of the month, nay the 12 months to this point. It’s a scrumptious dive into the vaults of “Ralph” Pérez’s family-run label, which helped – together with Alegre and Tico Data – to pave the way in which inside the Nuyorican scene for Fania. The nice power of this compilation is that the 26 tracks are divided between the dual classes “Roots of Salsa” and “Salsa Increase”, which implies that you could take heed to the way in which the style developed with out getting caught in a repetitious rut alongside the way in which. Right here’s one in all three numbers by Frankie Figueroa, simply one in all a number of lesser recognized artists to juxtapose with larger fish like Tito Rodriguez, Cortijo and Mon Rivera. A delight – and an interesting one at that.
Properly, that’s it for one more month. My head’s spinning with all these new sounds, and I’d higher make some area for the following batch. It’s just like the laundry, in that respect. However I wouldn’t have it every other means. A bee and a toe, as they are saying in France. Type of.
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