...is Lamento en Celinés by Fabiola Méndez, from her 2024 album Okantomi. I discovered this Puerto Rican singer-songwriter and cuatro player, naturally, thanks to the recent Tiny Desk Concert (30 September 2024).
Juan Maldonado: bass Miguel Martínez: percussion, güiro puertorriqueño William García: drums |
...is La tarántula é un bicho mú malo (zapateado) from La tempranica (1900), an one-act zarzuela with music by Gerónimo Giménez and libretto by Julián Romea Parra. This is a song of a Gypsy boy, Grabié (a breeches role), hence the lyrics has masculine adjectives when Grabié refers to himself: guapo, malito, seco, etc.
Long after decline of zarzuela, La tarántula remains a staple of operatic sopranos, most likely thanks to Montserrat Caballé. My favourite version, however, is the one by Marujita Díaz.
La tarántula é un bicho mú malo, |
...is La Reina del Norte by OKAN, from their 2023 album Okantomi. This song concludes the Cuban-Canadian band's recent Tiny Desk Concert (24 September 2024).
Magdelys Savigne: lead vocals, percussion Camila Cortina: piano, vocals Yissy García: drums Gerson Lazo-Quiroga: bass, vocals |
| Balthazar Aguirr: guitar Santiago Lizcano: drums Johanna Mercuriana: bass, vocals |
...is Quién me devuelve el tiempo by Julia Rodríguez, a singer-songwriter from Fuerteventura, recorded live at Sofar Gran Canaria.
...is Fandango Mediterrani by Carlos Coronado, from the Catalan guitarist's new album Flamenco Mediterráneo. Listen here to the Radio Clásica (RTVE) program from the cycle Nuestro flamenco dedicated to this recording.
Here is an alternative version of Fandango Mediterrani, a duo with violinist Montserrat Martos.
...is El Agua Hirviendo by Marta Solís and David Minguillón, recorded live at Sofar Gran Canaria.
...is Cha-Cha-Cha Pa'Ca by Orquesta Akokán featuring Carolina Oliveros. This song appears on the Cuban-American collective's new album Caracoles.
...is Tierra y Fuego by Barbara Calypso, a Brazilian-Italian artist and singer-songwriter based in Tenerife.
Tango del Emigrante by Ara Malikian feat. Diego Torres. This is the first single to be released from Ara's forthcoming album Intruso.
