sign in sign up
<<
Home , Ann Powers, Bridge School Benefit, DJ AM, Eleni Mandell, Friendly Fires, Jorge Drexler

Live review: An early Thanksgiving feast for Cuban diva Omara Portuondo at UCLA | Pop & Hiss | Times 26/10/09 11:32

Subscribe Place An Ad Jobs Cars Real Estate Rentals Foreclosures More Classifieds

ENTERTAINMENT

LOCAL NATION WORLD BUSINESS SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT LIVING TRAVEL OPINION MORE Search GO

MOVIES TELEVISION MUSIC CELEBRITY ARTS & CULTURE COMPANY TOWN CALENDAR THE ENVELOPE HOT LIST

Pop & Hiss Stay connected: THE L.A. TIMES MUSIC BLOG

« Previous Post | Pop & Hiss Home | Next Post » advertisement Live review: An early Thanksgiving feast for Cuban diva Omara Portuondo at UCLA October 25, 2009 | 3:32 pm

About the Bloggers

Chris Barton August Brown Chris Lee Randy Lewis Todd Martens Ann Powers Scott T. Sterling Halloween still is a few days off, but for the Cuban chanteuse Omara Portuondo, Friday night's Margaret Wappler concert at UCLA's Royce Hall was an occasion for marking an early Thanksgiving.

Hip-swiveling her way onstage as if she were hoofing it up at Havana's Tropicana cabaret, circa 1945, Portuondo was visibly eager to share the blessings of a long and well-lived life in music. At 79, she Recent Posts told her audience, she has abundant cause for gratitude. Live review: 's Bridge School Benefit | October 26, 2009, 12:10 am » Indeed she does. Amid the rattle and hum before U2's Portuondo's contralto still registers as a formidably potent and emotionally limber instrument, show | October 25, 2009, 11:51 pm » telegraphing ruefulness or ecstasy, parental tenderness or swooning romantic fatalism. Her persistent Live review: An early Thanksgiving feast for potency is evident on her 2008 release "Gracias," on which she seamlessly blends her voice in Cuban diva Omara Portuondo at UCLA | October collaboration with Chico Buarque, Pablo Milanés and Jorge Drexler. (The disc, much of which 25, 2009, 3:32 pm » Portuondo performed Friday, recently scored a Latin Grammy nomination in the category of best The masses descend upon Pasadena for U2's contemporary tropical album.) Rose Bowl gig | October 25, 2009, 2:50 pm » On her current tour, she's surrounded by a virtuoso quintet led by guitarist-musical director Swami Bridge benefit: 's Gwen Stefani tears Jr., who has contrived a number of daringly robust, -centered arrangements, more emphatic than up; Neil Young wraps up | October 25, 2009, 7:54 am » those on "Gracias." The warm appreciation flowing between Portuondo and her much younger musicians mirrors the singer's affection for the songwriters and other artists she honored during her program, including Ernesto Lecuona, Cuba's great fusionist of classical and popular styles; Juan Formell of the band Los Van Van; and Portuondo's late partner in devastatingly poignant Recent Comments duets, Ibrahim Ferrer, whom she toasted with a lump-in-the-throat inducing rendition of "Dos RE: The masses descend upon Pasadena for Gardenias." U2's Rose Bowl gig | comment by Pierre

RE: Rose Bowl: U2 attendance will be venue's Most thankfully of all, following a six-year post-Sept. 11 cultural freeze between her native Cuba and largest ever for a concert | comment by sal the , the sometime Buena Vista Social Club member finally has been granted a visa to RE: The masses descend upon Pasadena for perform stateside. U2's Rose Bowl gig | comment by BEn

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/10/my-entry.html Página 1 de 4 Live review: An early Thanksgiving feast for Cuban diva Omara Portuondo at UCLA | Pop & Hiss | 26/10/09 11:32

It's a relief to know that septuagenarian Caribbean musicians apparently no longer pose a threat to RE: Bridge benefit: 's 'favorite gig the U.S. homeland. They might, however, pose a challenge to the U.S. pop-music industry by in the world' | comment by Mike reminding listeners how much richer a musical culture can be when it maintains at least a RE: The masses descend upon Pasadena for minimal sense of connection to its own past. U2's Rose Bowl gig | comment by Barnacle Bob

RE: The masses descend upon Pasadena for Quick-changing moods of joyful celebration and disillusioned regretfulness colored Portuondo's U2's Rose Bowl gig | comment by whamo excellent 90-minute set. "Adiós Felicidad," she sang in a bittersweet adieu to happiness that fully justified her epithet as the "Cuban Edith Piaf." Later, hunched in a chair, she crooned a traditional lullaby as if singing to a newborn.

Although she was never overpowered by her band mates, Portuondo's clear, classy phrasing shone Categories brightest when she was accompanied by nothing more than some gestural brushwork, a gentle bass 2008: year in music 30 seconds to mars acm awards line or Swami Jr.'s elegant acoustic guitar, for an encore of "Bésame Mucho." afternoons album review alice in chains alicia keys alie ward amanda blank amas american At other moments, the band, propelled by percussionist Andres Coyao, shifted into poly-rhythmic idol and what rough beast, its hour come full-throttle on "Ámame Como Soy" and with a strutting bossa nova-tinted version of Buarque's oft- round at last... animal collective hysteria ann powers covered classic "O Que Será." antony and the johnsons apple aretha franklin armand van helden army navy art, etc. artist to watch asher Even if she hadn't climaxed the evening by pressing "Bésame Mucho" and that other irresistible roth atmosphere august sentimental hot-button "Guantanamera," Portuondo already would've earned the grateful applause that the audience showered on this wise and vital artist. brown austin, texas auto-tune awards_&_biz babies back to school -- Reed Johnson backtracking band profile beatles beefing beer before and after: the year in popular songs Photo: Portuondo performs in 2006. Credit: Associated Press ben lee best of bet awards beyonce bill frisell billy bragg billy joel black eyed peas black joe More in: Permalink lewis black star blink-182 blu books brad Comments (0) paisley breaking news breakups busta rhymes caf! tacuba calendar camilo ShareThis smith carrie underwood celine dion chamillionaire charlie amter charlie haden charts Share chris barton chris brown chris isaak chris lee clubland cmas cmt awards ADS BY GOOGLE coachella coldplay common & friends Make 6% per mo. in ETFs concert biz contests & competitions conversations Proven system. Trade only 5 min per night. Easier than forex. No hype. country critic's notebook current affairs cut copy daft ETFmentor.com punk david cook de la soul Thanksgiving Recipes decemberists deerhunter deftones demi lovato depeche Hundreds of recipes, cooking and decorating ideas for the holidays! mode diane birch dido diplo/switch dj a-trak dj am dj www.ivillage.com shadow dr. dre drummers duck sauce duran duran eagles of death metal edward sharpe & the magnetic zeros eleni mandell elina shatkin entrance band every new day is more like "the wire" exile fergie festivals fever ray fighting words film first listen five questions flaming lips flo rida food and drink fool's gold friendly fires games garth brooks Verify your Comment geoff boucher gil scott-heron gnarls barkley golden gods awards grammy museum grammys grandmaster flash great northern guns'n'roses Previewing your Comment hard fest health heavy d hollywood bowl iggy pop indie rockin' actresses j.j. cale jack Posted by: | white jamey johnson jane's addiction jason derulo jay dilla jay-z jazz jeff weiss jennifer hudson jessica gelt jim hall joan baez john zorn This is only a preview. Your comment has not yet been posted. jonas brothers joshua redman journimalism joy division juana molina justice justin townes earle Post Edit katy perry kcrw keith urban kelly clarkson kim gordon kings of leon lawsuits led Your comment could not be posted. Error type: zeppelin leona lewis lil mama lil wayne Your comment has been saved. Comments are moderated and will not appear until approved by the little boots little dragon little joy author. Post another comment live review living things liz phair local music local The letters and numbers you entered did not match the image. Please try again. radio lolcat reviews love is all ludacris m. ward m.i.a. madvillain As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image margaret wappler maria taylor mariah carey mark milian below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments. mavado mayer hawthorne men at work Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate. metric mf doom michael jackson mika miley cyrus miranda lambert mom-entary morrissey mos def movie music muse music music biz nas neil young new album new boyz new music news Continue nickelback nirvana no age no doubt notorious obama obits offspring origami vinyl paramore pete doherty pete Post a comment wentz pharrell williams phenomenal handclap band phoenix plant & krauss politics preview q-tip queen latifah radio If you are under 13 years of age you may read this message board, but you may not participate. Here are the full legal terms you agree to by using this comment form. rage against the machine rancid randoms randy reefer madness religion retail reunions Comments are moderated, and will not appear until they've been approved. lewis review rihanna robyn hitchcock rock & roll rock hall If you have a TypeKey or TypePad account, please Sign In roll the tanks ron asheton santigold scott pilgrim scott t. sterling scott walker sea wolf Name: servicey shania twain show announcement silversun pickups smashing pumpkins snap judgment so, it's come http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/10/my-entry.html Página 2 de 4