Search - Susana Baca :: Espiritu Vivo

Espiritu Vivo
Susana Baca
Espiritu Vivo
Genres: International Music, Pop, Latin Music
 
  •  Track Listings (11) - Disc #1

Any recording by the celebrated Afro-Peruvian diva Susana Baca is an event worth waiting for. But the importance of this record goes beyond music. It was recorded in New York City during the fateful week of September 11...  more »

     
   
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CD Details

All Artists: Susana Baca
Title: Espiritu Vivo
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 1
Label: Luaka Bop
Release Date: 4/23/2002
Genres: International Music, Pop, Latin Music
Styles: South & Central America, Peru
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 724381194621

Synopsis

Amazon.com
Any recording by the celebrated Afro-Peruvian diva Susana Baca is an event worth waiting for. But the importance of this record goes beyond music. It was recorded in New York City during the fateful week of September 11, 2001, before a live-in-the-studio audience. Backed by her Peruvian combo, Baca is joined by two special guests: organist/keyboardist John Medeski and jazz guitarist Marc Ribot from Los Cubanos Postizos. Under Craig Street's guitarcentric production, Baca's angelic and atmospheric vocals float on Afro-Andean cajon, quijada, and festejo percussion instruments and dance rhythms. Along with some black Peruvian songs, Baca and company Peruvianize Caetano Veloso's Brazilian tune "13 de Mayo," Bjork's Nordic pop ballad "Anchor Song," and "Afro Blue/Zum Zum," a melding of Mongo Santamaria's hit and a traditional Cuban classic. In light of the horrible events surrounding this session, Susana Baca's music emerges as a powerful healing force. --Eugene Holley Jr.

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CD Reviews

A magnificent and bold cultural celebration
Sarah Atkinson Linville | Greensboro, NC | 08/07/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)

"Traditional Afro-Peruvian rhythms, religious chants, tribal drumming and waltz time signatures team up with smoky jazz riffs for a magical musical combination. Baca's rich, pleading vocals evoke pain, longing and joy in the same breath, while intelligent, poetic lyrics shake your soul harder than the ritual percussive thumping. The biggest surprise on the album is Baca's remake of Bjork's "The Anchor Song," a haunting musical rebirth that sets sail on the coast of Iceland and anchors down in Peruvian tradition. Baca offers a tribute to Mongo Santamaira with "Afro-blue/zum zum" and covers Caetano Veloso's "13 de Mayo." A magnificent and bold cultural celebration with an Afro-Peruvian soul at its core."
A good CD, but not her best
NY Lou | New York, USA | 01/06/2003
(3 out of 5 stars)

"Maybe I am judging this one a bit harshly, but it certainly isn't the best Susana Baca CD. If you had to go with one, I'd rank ECO DE SOMBRAS well ahead of it, and her self-titled Luaka Bop release is superior too. While Susana Baca has a wonderful voice, and she is to be commended for all of her fabulous research to help bring Afro-Peruvian folklore back to life, this effort seems a bit repetative. On the entire ESPIRITU VIVO CD, the stays within a very narrow range of mellow 'lando' and 'festejo' songs (slow to mid tempo Afro-Peruvian ballads). Occasionally, the dabbles with jazz-type improvisations, but there just isn't the magic from ECO DE SOMBRAS here. That prior album had a magnificent all-star lineup which included John Medeski (of Medeski, Martin & Wood), guitarist Mark Ribot (who, in addition to his recent solo albums, has worked extensively with Tom Waits), bassist Greg Cohen (Tom Waits and John Zorn), and producer Craig Street (whose recent works include critically albums of Cassandra Wilson, Meshell Ndegeocello, and K.D. Lang). Together, they gave Baca's Afro-Peruvian sound a magnificent flair, a moody and eerie environment, combined with Baca's luminous voice, that produced a truly classic Afro-Peruvian CD. Here, I just felt a little dissappointed in what seemed like an album that is the equivalent of a concert in Cincinnati - simply running through the motions. Granted, Baca's motions are still wonderful, but this isn't her best effort."
Varied, touching, what a singer!
valli | edwards, colorado | 07/08/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)

"Almost a 5. I also have the SUSANA BACA album. Esprito Vivo is a little rougher but still very broad and pleasurable. Some songs here are on her other CDs. In some cases I think the band is a minus, a little too Santana like, not that I don't appreciate Santana. In other cuts, it's just great such as in perfect Feulles Mortes and her classic folk Peruvian sounds. She must love to sing because she imparts much pleasure and style without strain. Great rhythm naturally and very beautiful and fun."