Blue Wolf Reviews

Tag: Latin

  • Summoning the Muse

    Summoning the Muse

    Infectious just about sums up this latest, very catchy release Summoning the Muse from the talented members of Incendio,  something they often seem to do with outstanding flair and passion.

    From the first track, the Chick Corea influenced Monte Carlo, the music is catchy, upbeat and very, very flamboyant, setting the stage for an album which will get the feet tapping and the blood pumping with sheer delight.

    Created to entertain, with pieces influenced by the addition of steel guitar and keyboard, which is a nice addition to the music usually played by Incendio. Each of the pieces have been composed by either Jim Stubberfield or Liza Carbe and JP Durand in a more pop/dance/swing style vibe with a dash of jazz than has been explored on past albums, with immense success.

    Don’t Pretend brings in a big band influence in style, with the bold brassy sounds with an impressive solo by Durand on electric guitar adding a very modern vibe to a much-loved sound.

    Blue Bolero is a softer, far gentler follow on with a more sensitive atmosphere created with the lavish use of Spanish Guitar.

    A luscious piece is Morning in Maui, unexpected and rich, with delightful, mellow overtones as the peaceful sound of the guitar is woven throughout the beautiful orchestration added into the song. A real favourite amongst all of the favourites on this album!

    A funky little piece is At Dawn We Ride which almost bounces along in a lovely upbeat tempo, changing the vibe completely once again, taking the road to High Tide, the perfect early morning destination to watch the tide slowing coming in, the ebb and flow of the water, the timeless beauty of the freshness of the untouched morning, there to enjoy.

    Amazon River Hoedown is a tremendously flamboyant finale to a fantastic body of work. A somewhat mischievous Cajun style beat, coupled a real hoedown feel created by Joe Craven on violin and Joel Guzman on accordion, complete a fantastically diverse, passionate and dynamic album full of fun from Incendio.

    How best to try and describe the sound of Summoning the Muse: Don’t, simply go with the flow, enjoy the beat and feel absolutely fantastic at the end. Almost too much fun!

  • The Illumination of Ursula Flight

    The Illumination of Ursula Flight

    Very occasionally a book comes along that will live with you for a long, long time. This is the one. A very special, beautifully written book, which has delightful characters, is true to the period in history, and structured in such a way as to amuse and captivate the reader. The font, the front cover illustrations, and the language all reflect the 17 Century in England, when Charles II was king, and women had their place.

    Ursula was born at the same time a comet made its way through the skies. Being the first surviving child, she was much loved and inspired by her father. He took charge of her education, and as well as teaching her reading, writing and maths, he took her outside at night to view the constellations. She was named after the star in the Great Bear constellation, and proud to share that with her father. Growing up with freedom, love and education, Ursula became an intelligent, witty and perceptive young lady. She practised writing scripts for plays which she and her friends would act out.

    Unfortunately, when she was fifteen, her father died, and her mother promised her to an older man who desired to marry her. The girl describes her future husband as “Smelly, bog- eyed, and boring as hell.” Not a promising start for a life time relationship. The story is saved from being dismal, through the clever way the author portrays Ursula managing her new life. When her husband would lie on top of her and demand a star shaped body, she said that her mother had informed her it was a sin to lie with a man who had not captured her heart. Being very virtuous and religious, this caused a halt to proceedings.

    Not surprisingly, Lord Tyringham and his new bride did not have a long marriage. On removing to London, Ursula discovered the theatre, and realised that she could indeed be involved by writing plays. Her natural liveliness, insight and wit, made sure that the audience understood her meaning.

    The story is told in such a creative way, it is a delight to turn each page and see what method is used to continue the story. It is a narrative interspersed with letters, diaries, lists, plays and scripts. There is a unique use of font, and the chapter headings are listed in an entertaining way. For example, “chapter VII REGIMEN, In which I describe our daily life, such as it is:  and chapter VIII BEDDING, In which I muse on the duties of wifehood, (and also when I practise the conjugation of Latin verbs.”)  The diary entries, and scripts from plays and lists, all help reveal Ursula’s inner thoughts and feelings.

    The authenticity of the period, and the customs and behaviour, make this a wonderful part period drama. Ursula is a gutsy, bold strong character, with a delightfully logical way of looking at her life and options.

     

  • Selva

    Selva

    The opening chords are distinctively Ciro Hurtado of flamboyance tempting you to join the latest musical voyage orchestrated by a master of what is referred to and was perhaps created by Hurtado that of Latin based world fusion.

    His last albums have been distinctive and enjoyable but predominantly instrumental in creation. With Selva, the change comes about with the extensive use of vocals, initially from his wife and musical partner Cindy Hurtado, where she adds a wonderfully intimate tempo to Asi Eres Tue En Mi Corazon, establishing the almost reflective mood of the rest of the album.

    Mellow yet still with that distinctive Peruvian influence this is an album for listening to, dreaming too and enjoying with that special person in your life.

    Each of the tracks, not all of which are vocal, are melodious, relaxing and somehow are woven about a mystical centre which unfolds as you relax into the essence of the piece influenced by intriguingly  enough, the Amazonian rain forest.

    Hurtado grew up in the rain forests of Peru and attributes much of the music he creates with the influences of his early years in the rainforest; the Peruvian folk music listened to before he eventually moved to California has remained influential in all his recordings.

    The immensity, the mystique, the awe inspired by the rainforests form much of the background explored within the music, as he brings together contrasting influences to  once again create an album of sensual beauty.

    On Pacto De Amor he is joined by Wouter Kellerman, on alto flute, Ricky Kej on Keyboards with Suemy Gonzalez contributing the vocals. Zamba Triest is pure Hurtado on guitar and Solo Tu is a duet of harmonies, with Hurtado on guitar and his wife Cindy adding the vocal melodies, to create the final notes of what is collectively a superb and beautiful creation from and by Ciro Hurtado which will rapidly become a firm favourite with his many follows both old and new.

    Selva absolutely crosses all boundaries as it ties together the intricate beauty that is created by peaceful, relaxing, sensual music which has a wide appeal.