Tree of Life

Like a mystical Mexican goddess beckoning me I picked this CD up by instinct as I was drawn to it. Was it Frida Kahlo reincarnated or the ancient ones calling? Who knows, I'm just glad I bought it. I was very pleasantly surprised to learn about this marvelous artist, Lila Downs, a Mexican diva with roots and upbringing on both sides of the Rio Grande. Her musical sensibilities come from formal opera training and an education in the US as she was born to a Oaxacan mother and a father from the United States. Lila Downs is unquestionably one of the artists to watch as she matures. This her sophmore effort is a masterpiece, shrouded in mysticism from ancient codices, Lila delivers interpretations that are exquisite manifestations of her being. Her voice trainng has allowed her to sing with unlimited range and depth, a true diva. Her music is contemporary folkloric songs that are performed in various indigenous languages of Mexico that touch a deep cord in one's soul. To listen to her sing...Read more

I bought this album on the recommendation of Amazon readers. It turned out to be much more than I had hoped. Ms. Downs is willing and able to do more with her voice than I have heard from almost any singer anywhere. Her voice is not operatic but she has a HUGE range, and she uses it to invoke moods to match the songs she sings. The expressiveness of this album is so intense that it is impossible (or perhaps shameful) to use it as background music. In addition to songs in Spanish, Ms. Downs sings a number of songs written in Mixtec, Zapotec and Nahuatl languages. Some of them express their cosmology; others are about living life as a person with troubles. All are beautiful, under the sure and elegant hand of this amazing lady of music.

TREE OF LIFE is quieter all around: Downs' songs present more of her jazzy side, tend towards less passionate riffs and displays, yet are smoothly evocative of her Mexican roots and heritage.
 This isn't to say there's no spirit here: 'Nuevo Viento', for example, adopts a near-flamenco guitar style and exhibits the force of Downs' vocal trills.