Espiritu Vivo

アフロペルー系のシンガー=スサーナ・バカの2002年に発表したNYにおけるスタジオライブ録音盤が初レコード化。ジョン・メデスキー、マーク・リボー、ビョークが参加した意欲作。

Recorded in New York just after the trauma of 9/11, Espiritu Vivo marries Susana Baca's wonderfully airy vocals and her usual Peruvian backing band with the downtown N.Y.C. sounds of John Medeski and guitarist Marc Ribot -- and it proves to be a wonderful union indeed. Recorded before a small invited audience, this has the immediacy of a live album, with the benefits of the studio, a superb balance of instruments. As usual, most of the material comes from the Afro-Peruvian canon that's Baca's hallmark, but she does draw upon outsiders for three interesting covers: Mongo Santamaria's "Afro Blue," Caetano Veloso's "13 de Mayo," and most surprisingly of all, "Anchor Song" from Bjork. But she integrates them perfectly into her style, taking them all to a place they'd never imagined, where her voice can be dreamlike over a simple backing, as on the gorgeous "Si Me Quitaran Totalamente Todo" and "Les Feuilles Mortes," or more rhythmically lively, which she finds on "Caracunde" and "Se Me Van los Pies." Medeski and Ribot work well with the combo, Ribot especially, offering unusual atmospheric licks throughout, while Medeski's Hammond organ offers a warm bed a sound for Baca's voice. Given the time and place of recording, there's an astonishingly transcendental quality to the record, as if Baca is giving every iota of herself to the music, and the players are following her lead. Her best album to date, which is quite a claim. ~ Chris Nickson

ペルーの黒人女性シンガー、スザンナ・バカがルアカ・バップからの3作目となる新作をリリース。今作はスタジオ・ライヴを収めたアルバムとなっており、ジョン・メデスキーやマーク・リーボーなどがゲスト参加した生々しい演奏を聴くことができる。彼女の魅力はペルーの都市音楽の素晴らしさを失うことも誇張することもなく、しっかりと伝えてくれるところであり、そのことを再認識させてくれる一枚だ。
bounce (C)小樋山仁