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Rating: Half of B+

This CD is only half an album. Just eleven brief tracks, the whole thing less than 39 minutes—half the present capacity of a compact disc. Now consider the title, Women of Latin America, and ponder the fact that exactly five nations are represented, from what, maybe 18 countries that could readily be considered Latin American? Yes, it’s half what it should be, so I’m granting it half a rating and half a review.

As you might guess from the label and cover, if not the theme, this is a uniformly gentle exercise in musical expression. It’s a collection of female singers showing their feminine side. They’re highly accomplished women, mind you, so the listening is pleasurable: relaxed, tuneful and pretty music, with lots of room to breathe. On the other hand, there’s nothing the least bit challenging about it. So it’s for late night, when your brain wants only to be soothed, not stimulated.

An early highlight is “Sinuoso Trópico” by Jacqueline Fuentes from Chile—a forlorn violin sets the scene for a heartbreaking vocal and lovely melody, accompanied by Spanish guitar. The familiar “Justo Agora,” from Brazil’s Adriana Calcanhotto, is another acoustic delight. “India Song” has a gentle guitar and flute, a husky laid-back vocal and an unhurried, strolling lilt. Beginning to get the picture? Somewhat more upbeat and playful than the others, however, is “Anda Mareado” by Tania Libertad of Peru, who uses…

I warned you.