Customer Reviews

Espiritu Vivo

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Heartbreakingly beautiful performances abound on this new project from Susana Baca...

Its rare that a piece of music can affect me so profoundly so quickly. The production, individual contributions, and gorgeous material are simply sublime.. Word is that the tracks were laid down in front of a live audience right after Set. 11th in NYC; the music is at turns gentle, sensual, earthy, and never less than honest and captivating.

Releases such as this should should not go unnoticed, and I do hope that Ms. Baca receives the appropriate accolades that such a beautiful work of artistry deserves...

Highly recommended.

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.

I heard almost all these songs live in Peru before they were released. I was amazed with "Aparicion", an old peruvian creole vals, she didn't even need a guitar, just her voice, and it was magic. She is very good in this kind of melancolic song and also in black peruvian music, which is so rythmic that you can't stop moving your body (A good example is Afro-Blue/Zum Zum, my favorite).
Don't hesitate in buying this CD, it's one of Susana's best.
Medeski and Ribot gives this production a new dimension, its a different sound than former releases. But Susana is sticked to her roots.

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.

I hardly ever listen to this album, because in comparison to Susana Baca and Eco de Sombras I think it's not that interesting. It's nice, but just not as amazingly incredible as those two albums.

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.

This CD is so beautiful. The music and her voice is very soulful. I like what Ms. Baca has done to the Bjork's piece "Anchor Song". "Autumn Leaves" is exquisite. There are various influences in this CD but Susana Baca has made this her own. Because this CD was recorded during the week of 9/11, it takes on an extra poignancy that cannot be avoided. Go buy this CD at once. Open your hearts and listen.

Susana Baca's first live album, Living Spirit in English, was recorded in New York partly as a response to the attacks of September 11 and to the unauthorized release of one of her concerts, sold as Lamento Negro. It's a decidedly low-key, live album. Susana's voice sounds as good as ever. The music is mostly slow and sensual, but the energy level does come up for such danceable songs as "Caracumbe," "13 de mayo," and "Se me van los pies," which also appears on her self-titled album. There are traditional songs, and several covers, most notably the last two songs: "Los Feuilles Mortes (Autumn Song)" sung in French, and Björk's "Anchor Song," sung in Spanish.
I can't describe "Anchor Song" as a cover, because I'm not familiar with the original, but I think it's quite lovely and haunting. She writes in the liner notes about liking that minimal way of making music and feeling she could make it her own. And I definitely hear that in the song. It's pretty spare, there's a give and take between Susana's vocals and the instrumentals (I'm not sure what instruments I'm hearing: accordion? Cello? Or maybe keyboard?). There's a beauty in the simplicity of the sonic textures, the repeated sequence of falling notes at the beginning, which changes to rising notes after the vocals begin, has a subtly sensual quality. Like hips swaying in a long, loose skirt. It doesn't sound particularly Spanish or Latin, or particularly any other culture. The other instruments (guitar, etc) add some Latin hints.

This Peruvian sparrow has won my heart with her jazz
interpretations of traditional songs. The bass player
steals the show. Even the box player is excellent.
Stimulating and soothing music will make you move.
The notes provide lyrics and translations.

I think this will probably go down as one of a kind, and that means it is so special that anything like it might not happen again. The guest musicians make this very unique and hard to discribe. I can only say that I hope they all get together again! I highly recommend this but it is very unique and some may not enjoy that.