Mexico Azul

Album review

Mexican singer Magos Herrera tackles songs from movies -- specifically, Mexican movies -- on her latest CD. The arrangements are smooth and jazzy, but not "smooth jazz" -- this is an all-acoustic combo featuring guitarist Adam Rogers, pianist Luis Perdomo, bassist John Patitucci, drummer Alex Kautz, and percussionist Rogerio Boccato, plus trumpeter Tim Hagans on a few tracks. Hagans provides an excellent foil for Herrera on "Azul," her husky, almost Toni Braxton-ish voice balancing his full, flügelhorn-ish streams of notes. The album has a gentle swing almost reminiscent of Brazilian music, and Herrera's delivery of the lyrics shows emotional commitment, but she maintains a dignified restraint at all times, never erupting into melismatic overdrive. Similarly, the band holds itself at bay, with Hagans, Perdomo, and Rogers taking short, melodic solos rather than embarking on lengthy explorations of their instruments. "Voz Antigua" is the most uptempo track here, and it's still a gentle, breezy romp. This is a very chilled-out album that will appeal to fans of Latin jazz, jazz vocals, and Sade.
© Phil Freeman /TiVo