Alma Beto Guedes

It's very difficult to listen to this posthumous album, reissued by EMI on CD in 1997 as part of its 100th anniversary series, without shedding a tear or two. Cogan's sense of release on the opening number, "Let Her Go," and her exuberant phrasing in front of an explosive, percussion-driven orchestral accompaniment, displays a glorious, tragic poignancy. Her version of "Trains and Boats and Planes" isn't much less beguiling, her radiant singing bringing an unexpectedly passionate joy to a song that's often tinged with sadness and angst.

Egberto Gismonti is one of the finest brazilian musicians ever. As well as a piano and guitar virtuoso, he's a wonderful composer and arranger. This CD, a release of his own label, Carmo, brings to us studio and live piano versions of some of his classics, like "Frevo", "Palhaco", "Loro", "7 anéis" and other true gems.

This is a rather different Chano from the one who first enthralled me with Hecho a Mano (Hand-made), his blazing flamenco/jazz mix recorded in Madrid in 1996 and released on Sunnyside a few years ago. On Con Alma he's replaced the handclaps and multilayered percussion with a traditional jazz trio, bringing on world-class band mates George Mraz and Jeff Ballard. But his roots are still very much in evidence from the first track, a dynamic take on a traditional song—my dictionary tells me "La Tatara" means "sound of a trumpet as a signal for action."

The project was born in 2016 with the artistic union between YANO, the superstar DJ and producer of New Afro Made in Italy (aka YANO PROJECT) and the Seismic, the very young singer. The common denominator of this project is the passion for Latin Pop / Reggaeton music that gives the light of a song from the current sounds, ideal for both the most excited Dancefloor and live performances.

Alma Afrobeat Ensemble was founded in Chicago in 2003 by guitarist Aaron Feder. In 2006 Aaron moved to Barcelona in search of a different sound for the AAbE. He quickly found a group of international members, from all continents of the globe. In a short time the band was reformed and headlined the Fiestizaje music and arts festival in 2008. The band then set about recording their first studio album, Toubab Soul which was released in 2010. Shortly afterwards, they released the remix album, Toubab Resouled, and opened the world music festival Cruilla de Cultures with Konono No 1.