| p>When offered the opportunity to review En Este | | | | accomplish this difficult task almost effortlessly, |
| Momento, Claudia Acuna's latest album, I jumped at the | | | | exploring songs ranging in emotion from romantic and |
| chance. I am a huge fan of Latin Jazz in general, and | | | | sensuous to edgy and borderline avant-garde; all the |
| Claudia Acuna in particular. Once the album arrived, I | | | | time adhering to the essential elements of jazz. |
| wasted no time in ripping open the cover and getting | | | | Much credit is also due to the world class musicians |
| down to business. I was not disappointed. The music in | | | | who performed with her in the album, including: Jason |
| En Este Momento is awesome. | | | | Lindner (piano), Juancho Herrera (guitar/mandolin), |
| Some CDs grab you by the throat during the first song | | | | Omer Avital (bass), and Clarence Penn (drums, cajon, |
| and by the end of the album, the hook is in you so | | | | percussion). Additional guests Edgardo "Yayo" Serko |
| deep you can't escape. Others come on to you with | | | | (cajon, bombo leguero, palmas) and Branford Marsalis |
| slow intoxication, seeping through your consciousness | | | | (soprano saxophone) contribute extra spice to the mix. |
| like a mellow liquor. For me, En Este Momento provided | | | | Ms. Acuna once said, "I love jazz's tradition, but I |
| the latter kind of listening experience. The first time I | | | | always promised myself that my music would pay |
| listened to the album I knew I liked it but wasn't quite | | | | tribute to who I am, which is why all of my albums |
| sure why. On the second and third listenings, I became | | | | contain at least one song from South America." En |
| immersed in multiple layers of appreciation as I listened | | | | Este Momento is no exception. For this recording, she |
| carefully to each song. On the fourth round, it all came | | | | chose chose several Spanish-language classics such |
| together and I was hooked. That's when I decided that | | | | as the hauntingly beautiful "La Mentira,"written by |
| this was my kind of music! | | | | Alvaro Carrillo Alarcon, and three songs by Victor Jara, |
| On the surface, Latin Jazz seems like a relatively | | | | who has been called the Bob Dylan of Chile. She |
| uncomplicated music form; but the truth of the matter | | | | effortlessly glides through her own interpretation of the |
| is, to play it well both vocal and instrumental | | | | upbeat "Sueño Contigo" by Uruguayan singer and |
| performers must continuously strive to remain in that | | | | percussionist Ruben Rada, and shows her growing |
| sweet spot between the two genres. With her rich | | | | confidence as lyricist and co-composer of two songs |
| and mellow alto voice Ms. Acuna seemed to | | | | "Tulum" and "That's What They Say. |