Luz

The delicious voice of soprano María Luz Álvarez may in itself be enough reason to purchase this album for those who have encountered it before. It's a stunning instrument in small-group Baroque chamber music, with impressive control over both pitch and dynamics, all combined with a good deal of Spanish smoke. If that were not enough, Álvarez here takes up a repertoire that remains almost unknown outside of Iberia: the so-called tonada humana, which was the first generation of Spanish Baroque song to show Italian influence, departing from the strophic and semi-popular songs associated with the venerable zarzuela genre. The music here, by Sebastián Durón and a variety of still more obscure composers, is a gorgeous fusion of Spanish and Italian (although all of it is in the Spanish language).

This fascinating programme is a homage to the literary genius from Madrid, Miguel Cervantes, on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of his death.

This album marked Djavan's association with American producers. After signing with CBS, he recorded this album in the U.S.A. (in Portuguese), which was produced by Ronnie Foster. For that occasion, Quincy Jones acquired the publishing rights of many of his songs through Djavan's own publisher Luanda. The album is divided between a romantic section and swinging tunes. "Pétala" and "Açaí" (pop ballads), "Nobreza," and "Banho de Rio" (orchestral canções) take charge of the romantic part. "Luz," "Capim," "Sina," "Samurai," "Esfinge," and "Minha Irmã" are the swinging segment. The interesting harmonies/melodies and the jazz-like arrangements of this section aroused interest for Djavan's music in the U.S.A. and some of these songs and others were recorded by Manhattan Transfer, among others.

A new and fresh musical project has just arrived from the heart of Mexico. Luz de Riada offers more than only music, their compositions share a concept which makes the listener create their own images and stories. Their musical style may be difficult to define and label due to the richness of sounds, in Luz de Riada you will listen to a wonderful mixture of jazz elements, experimental music, avant-garde and progressive rock (among others) that create an eclectic and very original sound. In 2011, they released their debut album entitled "Cuentos y Fábulas", which has received positive feedback from Mexican press and fans.

Richard Galliano has recorded several tristesse fests in his time, but at his best he's a creative composer and improviser who has a gift for non-generic orchestration and who is at home with a variety of atmospheres and emotions, including the happy and the optimistic. Luz Negra, recorded with his Tangaria Quartet and his first studio album since 2001's Face To Face (Dreyfus Jazz), presents Galliano at his very best, and anyone with an aversion to accordion music would do well to check it out.

Chronos Mundi was an apparently little-known Brazilian trio that released just the one album, Luz e Trevas, in 1999. This band admits influences of Pink Floyd, Yes, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, King Crimson, Premiata Forneria Marconi, Jade Warrior and Genesis. They perform a refined, colourful and lyrical Progressive sung in Portuguese and English but there aren't many vocals. Their music has a largely pastoral feel and is highly melodic, much in the tradition of the many fine symphonic bands from Brazil.

La Morra - Luz del alva (2012) {Ramée RAM 1203}
XLD rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 307 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 159 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 80 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2012 Ramée / Outhere Music | RAM 1203
Classical / Early Music / Renaissance

La Morra is among the leading formations specializing in late Medieval and early Renaissance European music. The group redefines itself according to the requirements of the projects it undertakes. For Luz del alva, Corina Marti and Michal Gondko join forces with Catalan singer and harpist Arianna Savall, Norwegian singer Petter Johansen, and Swedish historical bowed instruments player Tore Eketorp.