Roughly four decades after John Coltrane’s untimely passing at age 40, his musical heritage reverberates to this day. His compositions have been studied, deconstructed, and rearranged by countless performers. Yet in recent years, very little has been done as creatively to rework his tunes as the work of the Turtle…
On their latest release, this Tennessee-based sextet takes on several old-time jazz standards and adds a new dimension to the a cappella gospel ballads that have made the group famous for the past 15 years. A spirited rendition of “Sweet Georgia Brown” opens the disc impressively, and an exciting take…
The title of Gloria Estefan’s latest album, 90 Millas (“90 Miles”), alludes to the physical distance between her native Cuba and the mainland United States. It’s no surprise, then, that lyrically, she continues her peaceful activism in favor of democracy there. This includes beautiful ballads like “Cuando Cuba Sea Libre”…
After years of working behind the scenes as a composer and producer with many of Brazil’s new names in the pop scene (Zélia Duncan, CéU, and Pato Fu among them), São Paulo-based Beto Villares emerges with his first solo project, a sonic summary of the various genres he’s worked around…
Thirty-somethings who remember Nikka Costa as the child singer of tunes like “First Love” and “Candy Man” back in the early ’80s probably wouldn’t recognize the soul-infected, bluesy sound that is the base of Pebble To a Pearl, her latest CD released on the legendary Stax label. As the daughter…
Thirty-somethings who remember Nikka Costa as the child singer of tunes like “First Love” and “Candy Man” back in the early ’80s probably wouldn’t recognize the soul-inflected, bluesy sound that’s the base of Pebble to a Pearl, her latest CD released on the legendary Stax label. As the daughter of…
In many ways, you could consider this Madrid transplant a Latin pop pioneer. He was one of the first Spanish-language artists to play for arena-sized audiences in the United States (a feat accomplished during his 1997 Vivir tour) without the support of a crossover hit. In addition to that, his…
In spite of the fact that this legendary trio hasn’t scored a hit in the 30 years since “Used to Be My Girl” charted back in 1978, the O’Jays still have a huge following among soul-music aficionados around the world. They’re in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for…
It is little wonder this Miami-based 30-something has been getting a lot of attention since signing a national distribution deal through a major label. An experienced singer who has appeared on stages in Japan and France as well as at venues like New York’s Jazz at Lincoln Center, Henry is…
For Miami-based guitarist and bandleader DJ Le Spam (AKA Andrew Yeomanson), his band’s name, the Spam Allstars, has nothing to do with the famed meat substitute. Instead, what the moniker actually represents is this eclectic act’s mission “to blend improvisational electronic elements and turntables with Latin, funk, and dub to…
The mixed response that Nuyorican actor, singer, and songwriter Marc Anthony received for his role in last year’s El Cantante (the much-hyped biopic of tragic salsa pioneer Héctor Lavoe) does not do justice to Anthony’s real star power. As he reaches his 40th birthday, Anthony is still successfully crossing among…
Legendary guitarist, singer, and songwriter Lulu Santos can no longer bear to hear about the 50th anniversary of the bossa nova movement, an occasion that is being milked around the globe with an endless parade of concerts, documentaries, and special music releases. “Thank God I was never part of that,”…
Even though she has barely reached legal drinking age, the cute and spry Kate Voegele has already accomplished much more than most other troubadours of her generation. In addition to scoring a regular spot on the CW soap opera One Tree Hill (portraying Mia), she’s earned enough respect to share…
Among the young voices to emerge on the national jazz scene of late, Esperanza Spalding has the makings of a star draped all over her. The Oregon-born singer and acoustic bass player is only 23, but she’s already the youngest faculty member in the history of her alma mater, Boston’s…
Although the Puerto Rican-born “Caballero de la Salsa” has not yet achieved his dream of creating the world’s first salsa symphony, he has won the endearing respect and admiration of fans for keeping the tradition of salsa alive. He was initially influenced by the supergroup El Gran Combo while growing…
Since the release of her self-titled debut in 2003, Maria Rita has become one of the biggest stars in Brazil’s contemporary music scene. Backed simply by piano, acoustic bass, and drums, she made her mark by singing pop-flavored songs with a jazzy feel. Of course, it didn’t hurt that her…
It’s fitting that the classic Jamaican powerhouse of Sly & Robbie provides the backing for “El Aire,” the first track on Eljuri’s solid American debut album. The song shows that this Guayaquil, Ecuador-born multi-instrumentalist is comfortable playing different styles, going from reggae to Brazilian-inflected ballads to rock and Latin pop…
At 95 years of age, Mississippi Delta-born pianist Pinetop Perkins is still an active performer and one who is still able to hit his piano’s keys with amazing dexterity. The proof is on this beauty of a blues CD, in which the veteran shares the spotlight with an array of…
“I have a hard time with modern technology,” says Brazilian icon Gilberto Gil, describing the theme of his latest CD, Banda Larga Cordel. “I admit that I use it with moderation, but I am nevertheless fascinated by it.” This awe was the inspiration for his first disc of original material…
After making his name in the mid-1960s when he joined drummer Chico Hamilton’s band, Central Florida-based guitarist Larry Coryell went on to become a major proponent of jazz-rock fusion alongside the likes of Chick Corea and Stanley Clarke. In fact, he recorded and performed in the 1970s with both of…
One could say that Jamaican singer Papa Winnie had a serendipitous hand in the creation of O Rappa, the Rio de Janeiro-based reggae/funk-rock band that performs this weekend in Pompano Beach. In 1993, Winnie arrived in Brazil for an extended tour with no backing musicians. A pickup band was quickly…
Live performances are the way musicians prove their mettle, and this recording showcases the raw energy of this Louisiana-born singer and guitarist, who is at the top of his game both as performer and songwriter. Captured during a single night in Nashville in the spring of 2007, the set opens…
