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The cumbia is Colombia's greatest musical export, and vocalist
Totó la Momposina is its most accomplished ambassador. This CD abounds with indigenous gouache gourds and flutelike
gaitas, Spanish guitars, and African
tambor/bombo drums. With the addition of the Afro-derived
marimbula thumb piano and Papa Noel's Congolese guitar fills, Momposina's music is a beautiful blend of old and new worlds. The tracks comprise cumbia classics and original compositions. The horn-driven "Reparala" swings with a Cuban flavor, while the midtempo "Acompanala" rings with heavenly harmonies from Momposina and her vocal chorus. "Chambacu" is an awesome ancestral voice/percussion tribute to a historic black quarter of Cartagena de Indias, and "Bozaa y Media (La Acabacion)" is an instrumental laced with Amerindian woodwinds. This passionately performed and beautifully recorded work will do for the cumbia what Astor Piazzolla's
Tango: Zero Hour did for the tango.
--Eugene Holley Jr.