From her days as a pioneer of Cuban jazz music in the 1940s to her legendary appearances with the Buena Vista Social Club in the late 1990s and her following artistic revival, singer Omara Portuondo has good reason to celebrate.
And this is what the 77-year-old Cuban diva has done with her new album, Gracias, which was officially released yesterday. Portuondo visits Taipei International Convention Center tomorrow as part of a tour of Asia and Europe.
“At this time, I am celebrating 60 years of an artistic career and that is an important reason for making this new album,” said Portuondo in an e-mail interview last week with the Taipei Times, translated from Spanish.
“I believe that the repertoire is going to touch many hearts, and for me the disc is very personal and special,” she said.
In Gracias, Portuondo pays tribute to performers and songwriters that she has admired over the years, recording what she considers “important” songs: the album begins with Yo vi, a Spanish-language adaptation of a song by the French crooner Henri Salvador, which she says “speaks of our island [Cuba].” The album includes a rendition of Cuban composer Ela O’Farrill’s Adios Felicidad, which Portuondo says has “lyrics that make me very excited. The music is very intense, just like me.” She also sings a duet with Chico Buarque, the renowned Brazilian songwriter-turned-novelist.
And this is what the 77-year-old Cuban diva has done with her new album, Gracias, which was officially released yesterday. Portuondo visits Taipei International Convention Center tomorrow as part of a tour of Asia and Europe.
“At this time, I am celebrating 60 years of an artistic career and that is an important reason for making this new album,” said Portuondo in an e-mail interview last week with the Taipei Times, translated from Spanish.
“I believe that the repertoire is going to touch many hearts, and for me the disc is very personal and special,” she said.
In Gracias, Portuondo pays tribute to performers and songwriters that she has admired over the years, recording what she considers “important” songs: the album begins with Yo vi, a Spanish-language adaptation of a song by the French crooner Henri Salvador, which she says “speaks of our island [Cuba].” The album includes a rendition of Cuban composer Ela O’Farrill’s Adios Felicidad, which Portuondo says has “lyrics that make me very excited. The music is very intense, just like me.” She also sings a duet with Chico Buarque, the renowned Brazilian songwriter-turned-novelist.
For more information contact All About Jazz.
