Canto, the second album from the all-star
Los Super Seven, begins with a mellow, Habanera-influenced groove and the suave vocal incantations of
Raul Malo. It's a luring introduction to a CD that offers up one superb song after another. The follow-up to their Grammy award-winning 1998 self-titled debut,
Los Super Seven's
Canto projects the sophisticated, enduring, and variegated sounds of Latin American music itself. From
"Qualquem Coisa," a Brazilian ballad sung by
Caetano Veloso, to
"Teresa," a Los Angeles-infused songo,
Canto's 12 tracks touch upon a number of traditional Latin American styles while retaining a sound all their own. On
Canto, the stalwart
Los Super Seven crew of
Cesar Rosas and
David Hidalgo from
Los Lobos,
country singer
Rick Trevino, and
Tejano star
Ruben Ramos welcome Brazilian sensation
Caetano Veloso,
Raul Malo from
the Mavericks, and Peru's primary diva,
Susana Baca. All the performers on the album, instrumentalists and vocalists alike, project a confident, smooth, and cosmopolitan sound. Even if you don't consider yourself to be much a
Latin music fan, do yourself a favor and check out
Canto.
Los Super Seven have managed, once again, to defy simple market categories with a release that is Grammy material and, more importantly, great music through and through. ~ John Vallier
