Born in Cuba, Luis Mario Ochoa today lives in Toronto. He emigrated to Canada in 1990, after completing an undergraduate degree in classical guitar at the University of Havana's Instituto Superior de Artes. In Canada, he expanded his musical career as guitarist, vocalist, composer, arranger and leader. His first album A La Cubana (1995) was among the first to be released by a Cuban-born musician in Canada.
So we're clear, Ochoa may have moved north but he has retained all of his Cuban soul and sound. On his new and fifth album, Forever Lecuona, out today, Ochoa's guitar and singing voice on songs by legendary Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona are gorgeous and spirited. Lecuona (1896-1963) was a Cuban-American composer and pianist who wrote more than 600 songs, several of which were for Hollywood movies. His father was Canadian and his mother was Cuban. One of his songs, Always in my Heart (Siempre en mi Corazón) was written for the 1942 film of the same name and was a contender for an Academy Award for Best Song in 1943. White Christmas, from Holiday Inn, won instead. Here's Lecuona's song, played by Perez Prado...
Ochoa imbues 10 of Lecuona's love songs with passion, using a bed of Afro-Cuban jazz rhythms and traditional Havana seasoning. His vocal power and tone are sensational, and the arrangements are modern with earthy intensity and purpose. I could detail the individual songs but there's really no need. All of them will sweep you away. Ochoa's taste is superb, and the music pays respect to the original masterpieces with a bright, contemporary feel.
I don't speak Spanish but I love Cuban music, and my heart understood everything Ochoa sang about. Best of all, the songs are stylish but as soothing as long, slow strokes on the back. A joy to hear the music of this once-celebrated and prolific composer. Even better, brought up to date by Ochoa's voice, guitar and sincerity.
JazzWax clips: Here are samples of all 10 tracks...
So we're clear, Ochoa may have moved north but he has retained all of his Cuban soul and sound. On his new and fifth album, Forever Lecuona, out today, Ochoa's guitar and singing voice on songs by legendary Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona are gorgeous and spirited. Lecuona (1896-1963) was a Cuban-American composer and pianist who wrote more than 600 songs, several of which were for Hollywood movies. His father was Canadian and his mother was Cuban. One of his songs, Always in my Heart (Siempre en mi Corazón) was written for the 1942 film of the same name and was a contender for an Academy Award for Best Song in 1943. White Christmas, from Holiday Inn, won instead. Here's Lecuona's song, played by Perez Prado...
Ochoa imbues 10 of Lecuona's love songs with passion, using a bed of Afro-Cuban jazz rhythms and traditional Havana seasoning. His vocal power and tone are sensational, and the arrangements are modern with earthy intensity and purpose. I could detail the individual songs but there's really no need. All of them will sweep you away. Ochoa's taste is superb, and the music pays respect to the original masterpieces with a bright, contemporary feel.
I don't speak Spanish but I love Cuban music, and my heart understood everything Ochoa sang about. Best of all, the songs are stylish but as soothing as long, slow strokes on the back. A joy to hear the music of this once-celebrated and prolific composer. Even better, brought up to date by Ochoa's voice, guitar and sincerity.
JazzWax clips: Here are samples of all 10 tracks...
This story appears courtesy of JazzWax by Marc Myers.
Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved.
