El Ultimo Trago

Comment: Buika comes from Palma de Mallorca. She was raised there the only person of African descent in a neighborhood of gypsies, who taught her the traditional "cante" flamenco. She likes to mix styles -flamenco and coplas with jazz, rumba, soul. Her smoky voiced vocals ring with emotion and she moves around the rhythm like a good jazz singer does. In this album she is backed by a killer group led by Cuban piano virtuoso Chucho Valdes. (Valdes first came to US attention when Dizzy Gillespie came back from a jazz tour to Cuba and raved about the Cuban jazz ensemble, Irakere, which was fronted by Valdes, trumpeter Arturo Sandoval and saxophonist-clarinetist Paquito D'Rivera. This is an excellent album and easily accessible. It's great music to listen to on a long drive.

Comment: We are really enjoying this beautiful collection. The collaboration of Buika with Chucho Valdez is enchantingly atmospheric.

Comment: As a Mariza devotee it was an obligation for me to buy this album. Concha Buika sings on Mariza's "Terra" album. The producer of "Terra", Javier Limon, plays beautiful guitar here. And, Chucho Valdes played piano for Mariza. I was not disappointed. Concha's raspy voice required a little adjustment for my ears. Her voice lacks the obvious beauty heard in Mariza or Toni Childs. Concha proves it's not what you have, but how you use it that matters. This album has a rich textured feel that rewards repeated listening. I love it.

Comment: Really lovely voice and clever fusion of Latin jazz, plenty of passion in the voice and great backing music.

Comment: This is the most recent album of Concha Buika. Her voice is amazing and very distinctive. A flamenco voice with a jazzy trail, the combination is great. On top of that Chucho Valdez with his talent!!!