Ms. Valdes has a rich, strong alto voice combined with a scatting ability that invites comparisons to Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald. For her first time on disc, Lady Mayra has put together a tropical hot band that rolls right into the opener, "Drume Negrito", with percussion and piano that churns the song to life with a rollicking third world beat, an intricate duet that leads into Mayra's assured, powerhouse alto, followed by a sizzling tenor sax solo. A get up out of the chair and dance tune. "Mambo Influencia" is next, and it won't let you sit down either, then Mayra shows her chops as supple, rich-toned balladeer on "Danza Naniga", then gives the time honored "Besame Mucho" a sultry go before she wails into a clamorous Latin scat-fest on Charlie Parker's bop classic, "Billie's Bounce".

Sometimes it pays to pay attention to those bloodlines; Mayra Calidad Valdes's La Diosa del Mar introduces a great new voice to the Afro-Cuban Jazz scene.

Track listing: Drume Negrita, Mambo Influencia, Danza Naniga, Besame Mucho, Yemaya, Para que Vuelvas, Bilie's Bounce, Danzonete, Como Fue, Rezo Afrocubano

Personnel: Mayra Calidad Valdes, vocals; Tony Perez, piano; Enrique Pia, drums; Jorge Reyes, bass; Irving Acao, sax; Yaroldy Abrue, percussion;Luis Guerra, keyboards

Style: Latin/World
Published: September 03, 2002

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