Espíritu Vivo

Performer: Susana Baca
Artist: John Medeski; Marc Ribot
Engineer: Danny Kopelson
Producer: Craig Street
Distributor: Alternative Dis. Alliance

Notes: Personnel includes: Susana Baca (vocals); David Pinto (arranger, bass, background vocals); Marc Ribot (acoustic & electric guitars, loops); Sergio Valdes (acoustic guitar, background vocals); John Medeski (melodica, piano, organ); Juan Medrano Cotito (cajon, background vocals); Hugo Bravo (percussion, background vocals). Recorded at Globe Studios, New York, New York. Includes liner notes by Susana Baca. Recorded in New York just after the trauma of 9/11, Esp�ritu Vivo marries Susana Baca's wonderfully airy vocals and her usual Peruvian backing band with the downtown N.Y.C. sounds of John Medeski and guitarist Marc Ribot -- and it proves to be a wonderful union indeed. Recorded before a small invited audience, this has the immediacy of a live album, with the benefits of the studio, a superb balance of instruments. As usual, most of the material comes from the Afro-Peruvian canon that's Baca's hallmark, but she does draw upon outsiders for three interesting covers: Mongo Santamaria's "Afro Blue," Caetano Veloso's "13 de Mayo," and most surprisingly of all, "Anchor Song" from Bj�rk. But she integrates them perfectly into her style, taking them all to a place they'd never imagined, where her voice can be dreamlike over a simple backing, as on the gorgeous "Si Me Quitaran Totalamente Todo" and "Les Feuilles Mortes," or more rhythmically lively, which she finds on "Caracunde" and "Se Me Van los Pies." Medeski and Ribot work well with the combo, Ribot especially, offering unusual atmospheric licks throughout, while Medeski's Hammond organ offers a warm bed a sound for Baca's voice. Given the time and place of recording, there's an astonishingly transcendental quality to the record, as if Baca is giving every iota of herself to the music, and the players are following her lead. Her best album to date, which is quite a claim. ~ Chris Nickson Peruvian singer Susana Baca has done much to raise the profile of Afro-Peruvian music. True to form, ESPIRITU VIVO brings to life the rich culture of black Peru with such bubbly songs as "Caracunde" and the reflective "Si Me Quitaran." Using a combination of native hand percussion and common instruments (guitars and organ), this album features a mixture of exotic flavors and readily identifiable sounds. ESPIRITU VIVO (and Afro-Peruvian music in general) is easily accessible because of its inherent tunefulness. Moreover, most of us are familiar with this genre's cousins. For example, the minor keyed "Toro Mata" suggests both the sleek Brazilian bossa nova and the fiery Cuban salsa. Yet, Baca's music is far from derivative. The exquisite refrains of "Afro Blue / Zum Zum" and "The Anchor Song" reveal unique instrumental harmonies, and in the case of the former, inventive rhythmical motifs. Further, Baca's own voice couldn't be more arresting. Her tone is silky-smooth and her delivery is both crafty and heartfelt.

Rolling Stone (4/11/02, p.134) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...Baca delivers a cleansing combination of passion and hope..." CMJ (5/6/02, p.10) - "...Inviting arrangements of Afro-Peruvian groove..." JazzTimes (6/02, p.85) - "...pure pleasure..." Vibe (5/02, p.158) - 4 discs out of 5 - "...A delicate, contemplative masterpiece..." Mojo (Publisher) (1/03, p.75) - Ranked #7 in Mojo's "Best World Albums of 2002" Mojo (Publisher) (5/02, p.106) - "...Still the top torch..."

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