Eva Ayllón at UCLA’s Royce Hall

Eva Ayllón, one of the greatest vocal exponents of coastal Perú’s Afro-Hispanic forms (landó, tondero, vals criollo, festajo) appeared on Sunday, October 10, 2004, at UCLA’s architecturally impressive Royce Hall, as part of an extensive U.S. tour  designed to promote her first-ever North American release—Eva! the Peruvian Legend (Times Square), regarded by this reviewer as one of the best recordings of the year 2004.  The Angelino audience was mesmerized and bewitched by the Landó Queen’s powerful range, melodic delivery and sensual dance maneuvers.  As a matter of fact, the 48-year old diva exhibits much greater corporal agility onstage than most singers half her age.  She was impeccably supported by the background vocals of Rosa Ayllón (her younger sister) and Sofia Butrón, in conjunction with some of Lima’s most resourceful musicians:  Felipe Pumarada (bass), Luis Manrique (guitar), Moisés Lamas (Piano), FélixValdelomar (tumbadoras), Leonardo “Gigio” Parodi (cajón and cajita), and last but not least, the mischievously theatrical and ever-smiling bongocero/cajonero Ronaldo Campos (of Perú Negro fame).—Luis Tamargo