Music Review: Putumayo Presents Café Latino

 Putumayo Presents Latin Cafe, Putumayo World Music, 2013.

This is a compilation of Latino artists.  This C.D. has artists from France with exposure to Spanish musicians, Columbia, Cuba, Canada with a Mexican father, Cuban descent, Venezuela, Spain and Ecuador.

Mónica Giraldo from Columbia sings of waiting for someone to walk by.  Her song, "Por verte llegar" has a Latin beat with bluesy guitar and is very uptempo.  Amanda Martinez from Canada sings a song with a tango feel, and violin.  She sings "Alcoba Azul" with lots of passion.  "El Avion" sung by Jose Conde from the U.S. with Cuban parents, has a very catchy rhythm and accompaniment.  Sacha Nairobi plays the cuatro, a smaller guitar common in Latin American.  She sings of being frozen in time with her love.  Miquel Gil sings "L'amor es Déu en barco," Love is God in a boat.  I am not sure what that means but this song has an interesting sound, sort of like a southwest cowboy song.  He sings in Catalan.  Alex Cuba Band is from Cuba but now lives in Canada,  His song Café Havana has a definite Caribbean feel.  Soñando con Quito by Alex Alvear from Ecuador and Marta Gomez form Colombia.  She sings and he plays guitar.  Georgina Hassan is from Argentina but her song does not feel Argentine.  "A Primera Vista" (at first sight) is a Brazilian song which she sings in both Spanish and Portuguese.  This song has a very nice Jazzy sound.

Putumayo seems to produce very nice anthonogies.  I do not like this as well as Latin Lounge but it is still very nice.

Music Review: Putumayo Presents: Latin Lounge (2005)

 The latin rhythms get in your blood with this C.D.  It presents several artists.  Paola Fortuni sings to the moon in "Reflejo de Luna".  You can feel the tango beat.  Stefano Micarelli is on guitar and together they call themselves Alacran.  Natalia Clavier also sins over a tango sound in Simple.  "I just limit myself to my simple song."  Very nice voice.  Another song includes tango accordion, Caminhos de Cuba, sung in Portuguese.  Luiz de Aquina is from Brazil.  Ondine Darcyl sings "Besa Me Mucho".  Her voice has a mystrious quality that is very pleasing.  She is from Buenos Aires.  We get a different beat and rhythm in Folía which is song by Wagner Pá and his band Brazuca Matraca.  The ukulele comes through created a very different sound.  Federico Aubele is also from Argentina and plays guitar for "Esta Noche" while Gabriela Maiaru provides vocals, "Tonight I will sing for you again."  It again has a tango feel.  In "Dame tu querer" we get a Colunbian based song.  Sidestepper is a group put together by Richard Blair.  This song is actually vocalized by Cuban Ronald Infante.

I have very much enjoyed the lating beats and rhythms.  It seems to get in the blood.  

Music Review: Christmas Around the World

Putamayo Present: Christmas Around the World, 2001.
This is a nice selection of different musical styles and instruments, around the theme of Christmas.  I wouldn't say it is all inclusive of the world.  It is weighted heavily to Latin cultures, especially Cuba, and American Cajun music.  Instruments featured include violin, steel drum, accordion and banjo.  Styles include Twoubadou, Cuban nueva trova, CajunTrinidad steel drum, Cuban jazz, gypsy rumba Flamenco, Cuban campesino and banjo driven music.
I enjoy this different sounds and genres.  I am really attached to Latin sounds. 

Music Review: Julio Iglesias: Mexico

Even though this C.D. is entitled Mexico, the common theme of Julio Iglesias is "Love."  All of his songs are brimming with love, and his manner of singing expresses that feeling of love throughout.  I am talking of romantic love.  I really enjoyed the song "Jurame" "Promise Me."  "Promise me that even if a lot of time passes you will never forget the moment."  It has a section where there are some fascinating rhymes.  It also has a big "Besa me, con un beso enamorado."  "Kiss me with a kiss of love."  Who could not like that.
He follows with "Ella" another song just overflowing with love.  It seems all of his songs are brimming with love themes.
The song "Sway" has a big band feel.  He sings this song in English.  "Sway with me, stay with me, you have a way with me."  This is great dancing music.
Even when he sings of relationships, he does so with a feeling of love, "Echame a mi la Culpa" "Give me the blame."
"Y Nos Dieron las Diez" has a feel of Argentine tango with an accordion playing.
He does turn to Mexico in two verions of "Mexico Lindo" but still his songs are full of love.  "Mexico, beautiful and beloved, if a die far away from you, may they say I am sleeping and bring me to you."
Julio Iglesias has such a soft but vibrant voice.  I have always enjoyed listening to him since I was in Argentina on my mission and introduced to him.

Music Review: Victor Heredia: En vivo II

This is music from an Argentine composer and singer.  I really like the rhythms, and especially the Peruvian flute music which starts the first song, "Encuentro en Cajamarca.  My favorite song from this group is "Un Dia de Gracia."  The complete sentence is "One more day, one day more, a day of grace for me."  Heredia is very talented and can carry a tune, and write a good song.