|
|
 |
Female-centric: Putamayo brings Latina folk to Thalian
|
| Click Here to go back. |
Star News, Female-centric: Putamayo brings Latina folk to Thalian >>
by Lauren Dzubak, Star-News Correspondent
And while they may not have their own clothing lines, these ladies certainly have the talent to bring audiences to their feet.
Putumayo World Music's latest concert tour is bringing the diverse and festive music of Latin American women here with a show at Thalian Hall Wednesday. The show features Toto La Momposina of Colombia, Mariana Montalvo of Chile and Belo Velloso of Brazil. Each woman has her own sound, and this spicy blend of styles and influences makes for a delicious musical salsa.
Whether through lullabies, songs of healing or tunes of celebration, women have helped pass down the stories of their culture from generation to generation through music.
"In Latin America, there are a lot of women who begin in folkloristic music," Ms. Montalvo said during a recent telephone interview. "In Chile especially, we have women who have made beautiful songs based on our country's folklore."
Ms. Montalvo has been studying singing and guitar since she was 8. "My parents sent me to a folkloristic woman who taught me guitar and songs, and I never stopped," she said.
She played festivals and studied music briefly in her native Chile, but found she was more interested in popular music than the classical style she was studying. Forced into a life of exile in 1974 after the coup that brought the military regime of Augusto Pinochet to power in Chile, Ms. Montalvo moved to France, where she began playing her original songs at Latin American nightclubs.
Ms. Montalvo's style clearly reflects her multicultural experience. "I listen to all kinds of music," she said. In addition to French and classical, she lists world music as being among her favorites.
"France is a crossroads - you receive music from all over the world there. We hear musicians from Africa, Asia, Russia," she said.
On her recently released record, Piel de Aceintuna, Ms. Montalvo sings a duet with an African musician, and borrows a distinctively reggae beat on another tune. "I like to mix different sounds," she explained.
Ms. Montalvo, who sings primarily in Spanish, explains that audiences don't necessarily need to understand the lyrics to get meaning from the songs.
"I think that when you make art - whether a picture or a song - you transmit feelings. When I hear Asian music, I don't need to understand the words because I can feel the emotions in the voice."
This is certainly true of Ms. Montalvo, whose deep, soulful voice betrays sadness, joy, grief and passion in her diverse collection of songs.
The tour was Ms. Montalvo's first chance to meet the other two divas, and she said she's excited to get to share her passion with musicians she admires. "I have Toto's records," she said. "I bought them in France because I love her music very much. I didn't know Belo, because Brazilian music isn't as well known (in France)."
Lest you wonder about a Mariah/Whitney/Celine style diva rivalry, Ms. Montalvo assures the three are getting along famously.
"They are friendly, warm women. It's been very rich for us." 10/21/04
|
| Click Here to go back. |
|
 |
|
|
|
