Arte Mixto
plays Cuban music with distinction. Feeling perhaps that Latin and Caribbean music has been feeding upon itself too much, violinist and musical director
Alexis Correa
makes use of a more Spanish style of guitar playing which is quite noticeable, and allegedly a more African style of percussion, which can barely be discerned. The flamenco-influenced style comes to the fore in the title song; it sounds like a traditional but it is not. Written by
Correa
in honor of his deceased mother, it even has the "O Ley, O Ley" chorus of modern flamenco. One genuine standard that does show up is
Compay Segundo
's
"El Chan Chan"
from
Buena Vista Social Club
, given a hot and jazzy treatment here. Like several (but not all) of the tracks, it features the distinctive violin of the group's leader. The violin is used in Cuban popular music of course, but
plays in a "squeezed" style reminiscent of the late, great Cape Verdean master
Antoninho Travadinha
. This is good, because a little vinegar is useful in off-setting the excessive honey of some of the vocals, which alternate between various male and female soloists and choruses, and which most American listeners would identify with
the Fifth Dimension
as much as Latin music.
Virginia de Cuba
is an entertaining mix of influences. ~ Kurt Keefner