Espiritu Vivo

1. Noche y el Día (Night and Day)

2. Si Me Quitaran... (If They Took Away...)

3. Caracunde

4. Fusil del Poeta (The Poet's Gun)

5. Se Me Van los Pies (Can't Stop My Feet)

6. 13 de Mayo (13th of May)

7. Toto Mata

8. Aparición (Aparition)

9. Afro-Blue/Zum Zum

10. Feuilles Mortes (Autumn Leaves)

11. Anchor Song

Espiritu Vivo,Susana Baca,Luaka Bop,Afro Peruvian,Int'l & World Music,Peru,Peruvian,Pop,South America / Cape Verde,World Music,Worldbeat

Espíritu Vivo
Average customer rating:

For live Susana, buy this, the authorized version

A good CD, but not her best

Susana's new dimension

A Real Treasure

Not Enough of a Good Thing

Espíritu Vivo
Susana Baca
Manufacturer: Luaka Bop
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Peru | South & Central America | International | Styles | Music
General | South & Central America | International | Styles | Music
General | International | Styles | Music
General | Latin Music | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Eco de Sombras: Echo of Shadows

ASIN: B00005YUDT
Release Date: 2002-04-23

Tracks:

La noche Y El Dia
Si Me Quitaran Totalmente Todo
Caracunde
El Fusil
Se Me Van Los Pies
13 De Mayo
Toro Mata
Aparicion
Afro-Blue/Zum Zum
Les Feuilles Mortes
Anchor Song

Amazon.com

Any recording by the celebrated Afro-Peruvian diva Susana Baca is an event worth waiting for. But the importance of this record goes beyond music. It was recorded in New York City during the fateful week of September 11, 2001, before a live-in-the-studio audience. Backed by her Peruvian combo, Baca is joined by two special guests: organist/keyboardist John Medeski and jazz guitarist Marc Ribot from Los Cubanos Postizos. Under Craig Street's guitarcentric production, Baca's angelic and atmospheric vocals float on Afro-Andean cajon, quijada, and festejo percussion instruments and dance rhythms. Along with some black Peruvian songs, Baca and company Peruvianize Caetano Veloso's Brazilian tune "13 de Mayo," Bjork's Nordic pop ballad "Anchor Song," and "Afro Blue/Zum Zum," a melding of Mongo Santamaria's hit and a traditional Cuban classic. In light of the horrible events surrounding this session, Susana Baca's music emerges as a powerful healing force. --Eugene Holley Jr.

Customer Reviews:

For live Susana, buy this, the authorized version.......2004-12-28

Susana Baca's first live album, Living Spirit in English, was recorded in New York partly as a response to the attacks of September 11 and to the unauthorized release of one of her concerts, sold as Lamento Negro. It's a decidedly low-key, live album. Susana's voice sounds as good as ever. The music is mostly slow and sensual, but the energy level does come up for such danceable songs as "Caracumbe," "13 de mayo," and "Se me van los pies," which also appears on her self-titled album. There are traditional songs, and several covers, most notably the last two songs: "Los Feuilles Mortes (Autumn Song)" sung in French, and Björk's "Anchor Song," sung in Spanish.
I can't describe "Anchor Song" as a cover, because I'm not familiar with the original, but I think it's quite lovely and haunting. She writes in the liner notes about liking that minimal way of making music and feeling she could make it her own. And I definitely hear that in the song. It's pretty spare, there's a give and take between Susana's vocals and the instrumentals (I'm not sure what instruments I'm hearing: accordion? Cello? Or maybe keyboard?). There's a beauty in the simplicity of the sonic textures, the repeated sequence of falling notes at the beginning, which changes to rising notes after the vocals begin, has a subtly sensual quality. Like hips swaying in a long, loose skirt. It doesn't sound particularly Spanish or Latin, or particularly any other culture. The other instruments (guitar, etc) add some Latin hints.

A good CD, but not her best.......2003-01-06

Maybe I am judging this one a bit harshly, but it certainly isn't the best Susana Baca CD. If you had to go with one, I'd rank ECO DE SOMBRAS well ahead of it, and her self-titled Luaka Bop release is superior too. While Susana Baca has a wonderful voice, and she is to be commended for all of her fabulous research to help bring Afro-Peruvian folklore back to life, this effort seems a bit repetative. On the entire ESPIRITU VIVO CD, the stays within a very narrow range of mellow 'lando' and 'festejo' songs (slow to mid tempo Afro-Peruvian ballads). Occasionally, the dabbles with jazz-type improvisations, but there just isn't the magic from ECO DE SOMBRAS here. That prior album had a magnificent all-star lineup which included John Medeski (of Medeski, Martin & Wood), guitarist Mark Ribot (who, in addition to his recent solo albums, has worked extensively with Tom Waits), bassist Greg Cohen (Tom Waits and John Zorn), and producer Craig Street (whose recent works include critically albums of Cassandra Wilson, Meshell Ndegeocello, and K.D. Lang). Together, they gave Baca's Afro-Peruvian sound a magnificent flair, a moody and eerie environment, combined with Baca's luminous voice, that produced a truly classic Afro-Peruvian CD. Here, I just felt a little dissappointed in what seemed like an album that is the equivalent of a concert in Cincinnati - simply running through the motions. Granted, Baca's motions are still wonderful, but this isn't her best effort.

Susana's new dimension.......2002-08-13

I heard almost all these songs live in Peru before they were released. I was amazed with "Aparicion", an old peruvian creole vals, she didn't even need a guitar, just her voice, and it was magic. She is very good in this kind of melancolic song and also in black peruvian music, which is so rythmic that you can't stop moving your body (A good example is Afro-Blue/Zum Zum, my favorite).
Don't hesitate in buying this CD, it's one of Susana's best.
Medeski and Ribot gives this production a new dimension, its a different sound than former releases. But Susana is sticked to her roots.

A Real Treasure.......2002-08-13

This Peruvian sparrow has won my heart with her jazz
interpretations of traditional songs. The bass player
steals the show. Even the box player is excellent.
Stimulating and soothing music will make you move.
The notes provide lyrics and translations.

Not Enough of a Good Thing.......2002-07-23

This CD is so beautiful. The music and her voice is very soulful. I like what Ms. Baca has done to the Bjork's piece "Anchor Song". "Autumn Leaves" is exquisite. There are various influences in this CD but Susana Baca has made this her own. Because this CD was recorded during the week of 9/11, it takes on an extra poignancy that cannot be avoided. Go buy this CD at once. Open your hearts and listen.

Average customer rating:

Not as good as previous albums
varied, touching, what a singer!
A magnificent and bold cultural celebration

Espíritu Vivo
Susana Baca
Manufacturer: Luaka Bop
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Peru | South & Central America | International | Styles | Music

General | South & Central America | International | Styles | Music

General | International | Styles | Music

General | Latin Music | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Lamento Negro
The Rough Guide to Afro Peru
Eco de Sombras: Echo of Shadows
Sangre de un Don
The Shine of Dried Electric Leaves

ASIN: B0000DB51W
Release Date: 2003-10-21

Tracks:

Noche y el D(Night and Day)
Si Me Quitaran... (If They Took Away...)
Caracunde
Fusil del Poeta (The Poet's Gun)
Se Me Van los Pies (Can't Stop My Feet)
13 de Mayo (13th of May)
Toro Mata
ApariciAparition)
Afro-Blue/Zum Zum
Feuilles Mortes (Autumn Leaves)
Anchor Song

Customer Reviews:

Not as good as previous albums.......2006-12-09

I hardly ever listen to this album, because in comparison to Susana Baca and Eco de Sombras I think it's not that interesting. It's nice, but just not as amazingly incredible as those two albums.

varied, touching, what a singer!.......2006-07-08

Almost a 5. I also have the SUSANA BACA album. Esprito Vivo is a little rougher but still very broad and pleasurable. Some songs here are on her other CDs. In some cases I think the band is a minus, a little too Santana like, not that I don't appreciate Santana. In other cuts, it's just great such as in perfect Feulles Mortes and her classic folk Peruvian sounds. She must love to sing because she imparts much pleasure and style without strain. Great rhythm naturally and very beautiful and fun.

A magnificent and bold cultural celebration.......2005-08-07

Traditional Afro-Peruvian rhythms, religious chants, tribal drumming and waltz time signatures team up with smoky jazz riffs for a magical musical combination. Baca's rich, pleading vocals evoke pain, longing and joy in the same breath, while intelligent, poetic lyrics shake your soul harder than the ritual percussive thumping. The biggest surprise on the album is Baca's remake of Bjork's "The Anchor Song," a haunting musical rebirth that sets sail on the coast of Iceland and anchors down in Peruvian tradition. Baca offers a tribute to Mongo Santamaira with "Afro-blue/zum zum" and covers Caetano Veloso's "13 de Mayo." A magnificent and bold cultural celebration with an Afro-Peruvian soul at its core.