Cape Verde music reviews

This is Afro-Ecuadorian music at its best!!! Carmen Gonzalez gives us the essence of what black music in ecuador is about!!

Cesaria is to this style of music what Ralph Stanley is to bluegrass. Both imbue their music with their life experiences and give us something more than mere musical recitation of words.

Her voice conveys the message of the lyrics so well: she sings with light and hope in "Tuda dia e dia" (Every day is a new day), and she captures the wistfulness of unrequited love in "Areia de Salamansa" (On the Sands of Salamansa). A great selection if you're in a thoughtful mood.

If you are one for latin music, then this CD is for you! It has a great sound, and the the voices of KARU will get you moving and a groovin'! They are sexy, spicy, and everything hot that comes with a latin group!! This is an awesome CD!!!

mucho amor~Tiffany

~*~Viva Puerto Rico!!~*~

Cesaria Evora is one of the best singers in the world. She sings from her corazon and has the strength and energy to bring you to you knees.

Imagine una mezcla de m�sica colombiana (cumbia, porro, champeta y otros ritmos de la costa); ritmos cubanos como el son; y soukous, la m�sica alegre africana que est� caracterizada por sus dulces y bailables melod�as de guitarra. El grupo Batata y su Rumba Palenquera tiene sus ra�ces en la historia musical que empieza con los primeros esclavos que se trajeron a Cartagena en el siglo XVI, unos de los cuales se escaparon y formaron el legendario pueblo de cimarrones llamado San Basilio de Palenque. Los palenqueros siempre mantuvieron muchas costumbres de �frica, y la m�sica sigue siendo un ejemplo vibrante de la cultura afro-colombiana. El disco Radio Bakongo da la oportunidad de apreciar una m�sica que es muy poco escuchada fuera de la peque�a regi�n donde naci�, pero a�n as� no suena nada extra�o. La uni�n de la m�sica colombiana, que tuvo gran parte de sus ra�ces en ritmos africanos, y la m�sica moderna de �frica es una conclusi�n natural, pues es como cerrar el c�rculo. Usted ver� que produce una m�sica que es a la vez tradicional y moderna, ex�tica y familiar; pero ante todo, �alegre y movid�sima!

Imagine a mix of Colombian music (cumbia, porro, champeta, and other rhythms from the coast); Cuban rhythms such as the son; and soukous, the joyous African music that is characterized by its sweet and highly danceable guitar melodies. The group Batata y su Rumba Palenquera has its origins in a musical history that began with the first African slaves that were brought to Cartagena en the 16th century, some of whom escaped to form the legendary village of runaways, San Basilio de Palenque. The people of Palenque have always maintained many of their African customs and their music continues to be a vibrant example of the afro-colombian culture. The CD Radio Bakongo provides us with an opportunity to appreciate this music which, although it is very little known outside of the tiny region where it was created, does not sound strange in any way. The union of Colombian music, which has may of its roots in African rhythms, and the music of modern-day Africa is a natural conclusion; it is like closing the circle. You will see that it produces a kind of music that is at once traditional and modern, exotic and familiar, but above all, guaranteed to make you shake it!

I was first exposed to Latin Jazz many years ago when I had fewer grey hairs, in another life. You may know what I mean. Machito, Chico O'Farill, guest appearances by Charlie Parker, maybe early Santana like the sublime "Abraxas". That music is mostly polite, I suppose.

Batata isn't too polite. He comes from a village in the Colombian countryside, in Pidgin I would say "bush tru", a village established by runaway slaves. And guess what slaves carried in their heads? Hmmm? The rhythms of Africa. The building blocks of Jazz, different sounds and tempos at the same time, collective improvatisation, something approaching Blues somehow. Make no mistake. There are blues players in Africa who have never heard blues, let alone Robert Johnson

So what happened when Batata and company(only 2 ladies involved as far as I can tell out of quite a horde) got into their groove thang in the studio? The resurrection of Africa. The union of Colombia and Congo. Sometimes, an accordion pokes its nose into the mix and the groove becomes some Parision soiree or a taste of the Colombian style known as vallenato. And to reiterate the africanisation of Colombia, the guitarists play in the highlife style of West Africa and two authentic African guitarists make their contribution in person.

The resulting concoction is African and Colombian, Colombian and African. I can't compare it to anything else with any justice. It has the free-thinking of the Material, but is not Material. One track begins with what sounds like an mbira or African tack piano, but no mbira is credited on the ample notes provided in English and French. It is a real credit to all concerned, something new under the sun, as new perhaps as King Sunny Ade was on his arrival in the West. It is, perhaps, not suited to the the genteel followers of Latin Jazz. That is up to them. It is more a sophistocated field recording putting you in the room with the cigar smoke and well-worn drums.

Best enjoyed at any volume, at any time.

The first time I heard "Danca ma Mi", I fell in love with the album. I've seen him in concert several times and must add that his stage presence is magical. His wonderful Band defines "harmony".

This cd is one of the cd's by Cesaria that I enjoy the most. The song "Distino de Belita" which is the title of th Cd, was written by my father and that is what makes this Cd so special to me. I also own a most of her Cd's and they are some of the most precious things i own because her voice is so beutiful that it will make you want to rise when your are having a bad day. To me, she is one of a few singers who posses a voice that makes people want to believe.

All I can say about this album is WOW!!! I love CESARIA EVORA'S voice and I have other albums by her and I just love them all. This album starts off a little different than the others. The song BIA LULUCHA has that 80's sounding pop sound to it that makes you want to get up and dance. The good thing about his song, is that even with all the rhythms, the music never takes away from her greatest quality which is her voice. No matter the musical arrangements, it is her voice that always stands out on her albums, and it does her also. When you listen to her sing, you can feel all the emotion that she is pouring out and also feel the despair and pain that she is singing about. I think that if you are a serious fan of music, then this is an album that you must add to you collection. I cant find any weak spots and I think all the songs are great.

I saw Echos at the Lilac festival in Rochester, NY, some years back, and bought their CD at the festival. This has brought me many many hours of enjoyment. The first track is a little frenetic, but most tracks are simple, beautiful melodies played with flute and guitar. A lot of heart went into making this CD. I have been looking for more from Echos. If you like this CD, you may like music from Oscar Reynolds, who is also very good, though this is better.

Excellent, Excellent, Excellent.

The music in this album makes your heart beat to the rythm of the ancients, with more imagination inspiring sounds than I dreamed existed. The best vacation you can take, and for only 14 bucks. Just turn it on, close your eyes and travel to Peru and the Andes, your heart soaring like a Condor.

So thrilled with this CD. Over the years, Illapu has done well. Impressing with a few songs on each CD. This is the one that did it. The songs, the emotion of the songs feed into each other. Taking you to new heights and then letting your spirit calm. Very well arranged and the instrumentation is wonderful. I am a long time Illapu fan but was realistic picking my favorite songs here and there - but this CD is just amazing. I feel that this is the one that they meant to create. If you only own one of their CD's, this is it.