Here are this week's notable new releases.
Courtesy Concord Music GroupJust in time for Valentine's day, here's an album by Kenny G that might just fill the bill for setting a romantic mood for one special evening. Kenny G has tackled Latin rhythms, composing most of the tracks with the help of producer and keyboardist Walter Afanasieff. There are light jazz versions of boleros, bossa nova, tango, salsa and more.
One of the most popular Mexican groups around, Alacranes Musical's 2007
Ahora Y Siempre did very well with fans of Duranguense music. Now the deluxe edition is being released containing an additional DVD so you can watch this great band perform.
A reality show contestant (Telemundo's
Protagonistas de la Musica), Mexican actress/singer/songwriter Villanueva's new album has generated a lot of buzz. Rock/Pop.
Another reality show winner via Spain's
Operacion Triunfo, pop/rock artist Chenoa was actually born in Argentina. Already a star in Spain and Europe,
Absurda Cenicienta is her 5th studio album and was released last fall in Europe. It's already gone gold there while the album's break-out single, "Todo Ira Bien" has reached #1 in the iTunes Latin Albums.
Mexican actress and pop singer Yuri's (Yuridia Valenzuela Canseco) first album was released in 1977, but she's been busy since then with projects like
Volver A Empezar, where she co-starred with Puerto Rican singer Chayanne, acting as a judge on
Cantando Por Un Sueno and currently, acting as host of the American Idol-type Latin music contest,
Objetivo Fama. This CD/DVD set is of a live show she performed in Mexico City in 2007.
Panama's El Roockie (Ivan Bladimir Banista) is primarily a reggae artist with a stark, special way with lyrics. Lately his music has been mixed with hip hop and Puerto Rico's Luny Tunes of Mas Flow had been trying to get him involved in that island's reggaeton scene. Luny Tunes has produced
Semblante Urbano so we should get some interesting - maybe groundbreaking - fusion going.
Southern rap/hip hop with a Latin accent from this Texas group.
There seems to be a revival of famous child and youth bands going on. This week there are two revivals, the first of which is Timbiriche. Timbiriche was a big hit in the mid-'80s; Paulina Rubio was one of the original band members, while Thalia joined the group for a year later down the road. Trying to revitalize the group, last year Televisa sponsored a new reality show, searching for the new Timbiriche and this album is the first one for the newly formed group - hence the name of the album, 'The New Band'.
The second reformed youth band is MDO. Mendudo's creator, Edgardo Diaz, sold the rights for the name 'Menudo' in the mid-'90s and last year we heard about the newly formed "New Menudo". But to go back, the remaining members of Menudo got together under the MDO banner; it was revitalized in 2005 with new members. Now, most probably capitalizing on the renewed enthusiasm for youth bands, MDO has released a new album under Machete Music's umbrella.
If you think that samba and bossa nova are the sum of Brazilian music, you've got a vast musical world awaiting you. Forro is a genre from Brazil's northeast area and is easily one of my favorites. Raiz Do Sano is a Brazilian group that specializes in the genre, so whether you're already a fan or just interesting in hear a vital Brazilian rhythm, this album might be for you.
