Andrea Tessa - Jazzy!

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:15
Size: 100,0 MB
Art: Front

(4:27)  1. Arthur's Theme
(3:58)  2. Comecar de Novo
(3:56)  3. You Can Leave Your Hat On
(3:26)  4. So In Love
(3:33)  5. Holding Back The Years
(6:06)  6. Caruso
(4:40)  7. I Just Wanna Stop
(3:16)  8. Sentencia
(4:20)  9. You Don't Know Me
(5:31) 10. Eu Sei Que Vou Te Amar

Singer Andrea Tessa debuted in 1979 while representing Chile at Viña del Mar's Festival with a song called "Decir te Quiero," composed by Scottie Scott. An appearance on a TV show called Lunes Gala performing "Lost Love Concerto" soon followed. Andrea Tessa's spontaneous and sparkling personality allowed her to get a deal hosting a TV show called Estudio 26 and in 1984, Más Música, becoming the first Chilean VJ. In 1989, the artist played a role in a soap opera called Bravo, acting along with Latin star Roberto Vander and local Bastián Bodenhofer. In 1994, following one of her priorities, Andrea Tessa recorded Páginas, an album produced by Juan Carlos Duque. ~ Drago Bonacich https://www.allmusic.com/artist/andrea-tessa-mn0002303239

Jazzy!

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Arturo O'Farrill & Jazz At Lincoln Center's Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra - Una Noche Inolvidable

Styles: Latin Jazz, Big Band
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:57
Size: 138,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:16)  1. Havana Special
(6:43)  2. Buscando La Melodía
(3:19)  3. Somos Novios
(3:23)  4. Estoy Commo Nunca
(5:59)  5. Volver A Los 17
(3:20)  6. Encantado De La Vida
(9:56)  7. Enseñame Tu & Piensalo Bien
(2:47)  8. Pianarabatibiri
(6:30)  9. Corazón Rebeldé
(3:43) 10. La Ley Del Guaguanco
(2:42) 11. Mi Amor Fugaz
(3:04) 12. Don Fulano
(5:07) 13. Avisale A Mi Contrario

It's never easy to replace a legend, especially when the legend happens also to be one's father. But Arturo O'Farrill, who doesn't want for courage or self-reliance, has seized the reins once held by his illustrious parent, the late Chico O'Farrill, and ridden the thoroughbred Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra into the winner's circle in the first-ever live recording from Jazz at Lincoln Center's state-of-the-art Frederick P. Rose Hall, an occasion that was truly Una Noche Inolvidable (an unforgettable night). Commenting on the marvelous acoustics in Rose Hall, O'Farrill writes, "...all the musicians were smiling that night. And listening to this album, believe it or not, you can almost hear them smiling which is enchanting, as the most pleasurable Latin music is always presented with a smile. The concert was billed as "A Celebration of the Great Latin Jazz Vocalists, and the ALJO set the stage for two of the contemporary music scene's most celebrated soneros, Herman Olivera and Claudia Acuña. Olivera is showcased on seven of the album's thirteen tracks, Acuña on three, and there is one charming duet, "Encantado de la Vida. The ensemble opens with the buoyant "Havana Special and also goes it alone on pianist O'Farrill's fast-paced feature, "Pianarabatibiri. As this was essentially the singers' night to shine, there are few other solos. Alto Bobby Porcelli is heard briefly on "Buscando la Melodia, trombonist Luis Bonilla on "Volver a los 17, O'Farrill on "Corazon Rebeldé. Aside from that, the spotlight rests squarely on Olivera and Acuña, neither of whom needs much help to captivate an audience. Even so, they are given unwavering support throughout by the ALJO, which has been scrupulously assembled by O'Farrill from among the New York City area's most accomplished musicians, including a handful who were members of his father's Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra. Rose Hall lives up to its promise, as does the ALJO and its inimitable guests, Herman Olivera and Claudia Acuña, who together make this an unforgettable night for anyone who appreciates the bold and breathtaking panorama of Latin jazz. Jack Bowers https://www.allaboutjazz.com/una-noche-inolvidable-afro-latin-jazz-orchestra-palmetto-records-review-by-jack-bowers.php

Personnel:  Producer – Arturo O'Farrill; Bass – Ruben Rodriguez; Drums – Vince Cherico; Percussion – Joseph Gonzalez, Milton Cardona; Reeds – Bobby Porcelli, Erica vonKleist , Ivan Renta, Mario Rivera, Pablo Calogero; Trombone – Douglas Purviance, Luis Bonilla, Noah Bless, Reynaldo Jorge; Trumpet – Joseph Magnarelli, John Walsh, Michael Philip Mossman, Michael Rodriguez; Vocals – Claudia Acuña, Herman Olivera

Una Noche Inolvidable

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Claudia Acuña - Turning Pages

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2019
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:55
Size: 87,1 MB
Art: Front

(4:17)  1. Aguita de Corazon
(3:19)  2. Hey
(4:52)  3. But Beautiful
(4:11)  4. Los Tres Deseos de Siempre
(3:56)  5. Futuro
(5:07)  6. Bird Alone
(5:29)  7. Silencio
(3:12)  8. Home
(3:29)  9. Tu Sonrisa

There's no sense in calling Claudia Acuña’s Turning Pages a comeback. Just in the past two years she’s collaborated with heavyweights such as Henry Threadgill, Susie Ibarra, Elio Villafranca and Billy Childs (singing on the title track of his 2017 album Rebirth, a tune based on her composition). But this is the Chilean vocalist’s first album in a decade after releasing five widely heralded CDs in the aughts, projects that documented her central position in the wave of Latin American artists who brought so much creative energy to the New York scene around the turn of the century. Turning Pages isn’t so much a comeback as a reintroduction to an artist who is stepping forward as a songwriter too. Working closely with Colombian-born string wizard, arranger, and producer Juancho Herrera (whose credits include collaborations with Lila Downs, Sofia Rei, and Marta Gomez), she co-composed five of the album’s nine tunes, including the graceful nuevo cancion-style “Aguita de Corazón” and the celebratory anthem “Hey,” both written with pianist Ray Angry. The other three co-writes are with Herrera, most memorably “Futuro,” a love song to her son. https://jazztimes.com/reviews/albums/claudia-acuna-turning-pages-defin/

Turning Pages

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Claudia Acuna - In These Shoes

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:01
Size: 112.2 MB
Styles: Latin jazz
Year: 2008
Art: Front

[3:36] 1. In These Shoes
[3:46] 2. Vida Sin Miel
[4:30] 3. Paciencia
[4:14] 4. Cuando Cuando
[3:55] 5. Agua
[3:37] 6. Comos Dos Amantes
[3:55] 7. Moondance
[4:29] 8. Willow Weep For Me
[3:15] 9. California
[4:18] 10. Jibarito
[4:52] 11. Dime
[4:28] 12. La Piye

Claudia Acuna: lead vocals; Arturo O'Farrill: piano, arrangements; Adam Rogers: guitar; Michael Mossman: trumpet; Reynaldo Jorge: trombone; Yosvany Terry: alto and tenor sax; Ruben Rodrigues: bass; Dafnis Prieto: drums; Pedrito Martinez: percussion, vocals.

Friends sometimes make the best partners. It's a good formula for Arturo O'Farrill and Claudia Acuna, who collaborated for In These Shoes. O'Farrill, a 2006 Grammy nominee as a pianist, composer and arranger, has put his mark on Latin and jazz styles, often mixing both. Acuna, a singer from Chile, also fuses Latin and jazz and counts among her influences, Sarah Vaughan and Celia Cruz. Together, O'Farrill and Acuna combine the best of their respective worlds. The sassy "Vida Sin Miel" fuses some Latin vibes with some funk. Ruben Rodrigues lays down the bass track, and guitarist Adam Rogers delivers a bluesy solo. Pedrito Martinez on percussion and background vocals offers an assist.

Acuna's ethereal voice gives the Spanish lyrics of "Paciencia" an elegant quality. This charming ballad features a subtle underscore by the supporting cast. O'Farrill's piano is little more than a bit player here, but the beauty is in the lead and the arrangement. The piano does get more involved on "Cuando Cuando," a straightforward Latin arrangement. The percussion, bass, drums and piano are the stars, although Acuna's lead is also a key element. The ensemble takes on more of an Afro-Cuban sound with "Agua," which has heavy emphasis on bass and percussion. The voices add a certain charm to it.

The goal of the recording is to bring the world together, showing that various cultures can, and often do, mingle. The formula works, as O'Farrill and Acuna present different styles of music, and merge them, such as with the Latin take on Van Morrison's "Moondance." In These Shoes is a pleasant listen throughout. ~Woodrow Wilkins

In These Shoes

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Claudia Acuna - En Este Momento

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 47:46
Size: 109.3 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz vocals, Latin jazz
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[3:19] 1. El Cigarrito
[5:05] 2. Te Recuerdo Amanda
[4:11] 3. Tulum
[5:44] 4. That's What They Say
[4:15] 5. El Derecho De Vivir En Paz
[7:36] 6. Contigo En La Distancia
[3:59] 7. Cuando Vuelva A Tu Lado
[3:27] 8. Vuelvo Al Sur
[2:51] 9. Sueño Contigo
[7:14] 10. La Mentira (Se Te Olvida)

Claudia Acuña's first effort for Marsalis Music and fourth CD overall -- the previous on Max Jazz and two for the Verve label -- is a subdued recording, much more introspective and thoughtful. Due to the presence of acoustic guitarist Juancho Herrera, the mood is more serene and wistful, with words sung in Spanish save a single track done in English. Electric and acoustic pianist Jason Lindner is also much more reserved, in the backdrop and less forceful than he usually is, but no less distinctive. Where bassist Omer Avital and drummer Clarence Penn have worked with Acuña and Lindner for several years, it is very clear from the outset they all know exactly what to do in their subliminal roles. It seems these sensitive and reflective songs have been on Acuña's mind for some time. The Chilean born vocalist taps classic sources and material she knew during childhood, including music from Mexico, Uruguay, Argentina, and Cuba. More specifically, there are lyrics from her fellow Chilean, the freedom fighter and poet Victor Jara, and tunes of her own. Classic works by Jara, "El Cigarrito" and "Te Recuerdo Amanda," kick off the set, the former with clockwork rhythms via Penn swinging and swaying about before an atypical steely electric guitar solo from Herrera, the latter a yearning modal song in 5/4 time. Slow and somber respectively, "That's What They Say" -- sung in English -- is a tune of confusion and not belonging, while Jara's "El Derecho de Vivir en Paz" has Acuña and Herrera conferring in a retreat of reorganization, while the drifting "Contigo en la Distancia" retrospectively observes life from faraway locales. Branford Marsalis joins the group, playing soprano sax on his sole cameo, "Cuando Vuelvo a Tu Lado," while the ensemble goes deep into the dark blue spectrum for Astor Piazzolla's sad tango "Vuelvo a Sur." It takes the band nine tracks to step up their energy as on the bouncy, much more spirited "Sueño Contigo." Lindner is always more than able to play individualistically, no matter the tempo, mood, or underpinning required, and should be listened to with rapt attention. Because of the personal nature of this music, Acuña herself is not as pronounced or bold as on previous dates, but delivers the goods in a deliberate yet subtle manner. This is mood and moody music, suited to be played under cover of darkness, not romantic, not sanguine, definitely heartfelt, and rewarding in many ways that are far less obvious on the surface. ~Michael G. Nastos

En Este Momento

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Juana Rodriguez - Speak Low

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:27
Size: 120,3 MB
Art: Front

(2:35)  1. I've Got You Under My Skin
(4:29)  2. Angel Eyes
(2:37)  3. What A Difference A Day Made
(4:14)  4. Le Sourire De Mon Amour
(2:36)  5. Summertime
(4:26)  6. Cry Me A River
(2:48)  7. Speak Low
(2:35)  8. All Of Me
(5:15)  9. Round Midnight
(3:21) 10. Desafinado
(4:58) 11. Lover Man
(2:52) 12. Love Or Leave Me
(3:52) 13. Taking A Chance On Love
(2:40) 14. Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me
(3:03) 15. Besame Mucho

A musical life had itinerancies jazz singer Juana Rodriguez, started very young in the circuit of Chilean folk music in the early '90s, before becoming a soloist in cosmopolitan places such as Barcelona (2000), where he recorded his first album of standards, Speak Low (2006) and New York (2006), where he continued his work of composition, arrangement and performance in vocal jazz. Juana Rodriguez worked on two lines. In classical singing techniques (with Patricia Herrera and Inés Delano ) and the skill of modern singing (with Arlette Jequier ). From singer Fulanofinally got weapons to get started in the jazz fields and before age 20 in Chile and participated in jam sessions in the jazz club, as well as collaborating with the group pop-soul Bluish or assembly Creole fusion.

The Marraqueta. In 2000 he emigrated to Barcelona, ??linked with musicians from all continents and formed his own Jazztet, considering the prominence Catalan soloists and baritone saxophone as a solo instrument. In her album Speak low Songbook visited parts swing, authors such as Cole Porter, George Gershwin and Richard Rodgers. Six years later travel to New York for further study of the scat (vocal improvisation) and become the third of the Chilean jazz singer in New York: Claudia Acuña , Alexandra Inzunza and Juana Rodriguez ~ MusicaPopular.cl  Translate by google http://www.musicapopular.cl/3.0/index2.php?op=Artista&id=1749

Speak Low

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Claudia Acuna - Wind From The South

Bitrate: 320K/s

Time: 56:07

Size: 128.5 MB

Styles: Latin jazz vocals

Year: 2000

Art: Front

[4:12] 1. Pure Imagination

[3:25] 2. Viento De Sur (Wind Of The South)

[6:26] 3. My Man's Gone Now

[3:29] 4. Prelude To A Kiss

[4:56] 5. Gracias A La Vida (Thanks For Life)

[4:01] 6. What'll I Do

[4:59] 7. Long As You're Living

[6:32] 8. Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered

[3:22] 9. Alfonsina Y El Mar (Alfonsina And The Sea)

[5:15] 10. I'll Find You

[3:02] 11. The Thrill Is Gone

[6:21] 12. Visions

For her debut recording, Acuna makes an impression that is hard to forget or dismiss. A native of Santiago, Chile, she has been living in NYC and working on her craft at the Blue Note and Small's. On this date she hooks up with peer-group younger musicians as pianist Jason Lindner, bassist Avishai Cohen, drummer Jeff Ballard, and some special guests. Acuna is clearly a gifted singer with a strong, flexible, attractive voice that can lilt or soar. Her resiliency and directness can be favorably compared to Roseanna Vitro, and she proves to be quite an arranger in her own right, charting this set of standards and Hispanic lyric songs. Acuna likes odd meters, using 6/8 on the dramatic "My Man's Gone Now," while adopting shades of Flora Purim (she facially resembles a young Purim) with soaring vocal overdubbing on her original, the title cut, which is supported and colored by Avi Leibovich's trombone. Saturated in percussion and Latin pulse, the horn-fired 6/8 arrangement of Cohen's design "Gracias a la Vida" has tenor saxophonist David Sanchez and trumpeter Diego Urcola swimming in this mix and trading figures during the bridge. A driving 5/4 pushes "The Thrill Is Gone" (not B.B. King's) into a free section, while that same rhythm, more patient in a shuffle style, conjures more drama during the poignant "Long as You're Living." Though in 4/4, beats of separated five and three with beautiful breezy piano chords from Lindner sets this version of "Pure Imagination" apart from any other you'll hear -- a real triumph. There's a hard-bop two-note vamp take of "Prelude to a Kiss" and a quick waltz version of "Bewitched" where Acuna stretches the lyric line. Pianist Harry Whitaker is Acuna's lone foil for the ballad "What'll I Do?" while the trio with Whitaker and Leibovich dances with the singer in wafting, wordless, childlike wonder for "I'll Find You." Cohen and Acuna go it alone in mysterious, deep, and tender moments for "Alfonsina y el Mar"; Stevie Wonder's "Visions" is replete with "Autumn Leaves" paraphrasings, sporting devices both free and modern with dramatic punctuations and stop-starts, with Sanchez on soprano sax. Not only is there promise, but potential too, which is realized; when you consider this is Acuna's maiden voyage, her lengthy travels have already borne the seasoned fruit of a more experienced singer. Recommended. ~ Michael G. Nastos

Recorded at Avatar Studios, New York, New York on November 17-20, 1999.

Claudia Acuña (vocals, background vocals); David Sanchez (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Diego Urcola (trumpet); Harry Whitaker, Jason Lindner (piano); Avishai Cohen (electric piano, acoustic bass, electric bass); Jeff Ballard (drums, percussion). 

Wind From The South

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