Yusa comes out of east Havana with a hard-driving style and a raw edge to her voice, sounding like a grown-up street kid. But she's actually had the benefit of a conservatory education, starting as a guitarist, and going on to play the trés, piano, and bass. She then starred with a female jazz quintet in a celebrated basement club; she's always been an instinctive collaborator. And that's what makes this CD so beguiling: everything has the accomplished sheen that comes from constant group improvisation. There's no vanity in Yusa's sound. You sense that, with her, it's the words and the emotion what matter, not perfection of tone.
When the joint jumps, she leads energetically from the front. Given a cool-jazz backing, she responds with a graceful softening in her tone. And the lyrics are hers: "What happened to the glint in the eye/ It's got cold feet/ And it's giving me the creeps...." Her thoughts are as surreal as those of Portuguese fadista Misia, but they're not so spooky. Yusa is your ideal musical companion for a convivial evening. --Michael Church
Yusa,Yusa,Tumi Records,Cuban,Latin,Tropical,World Music
Latin Music:
- 14 de Coleccion [Import]
- 15 Exitos, Vol. 2
- 20 Secretos de Amor
- 20 Éxitos Originales [Original recording remastered]
- 25 Inolvidables
- 30 Exitos
- 30 Grandes Exitos, Vol. 2
- 50 Anos de Bachata
- 70 Años Peerless Una Historia Musical
- A Mi Querido Viejo
Latin Music
The String Quartet Tribute to Guns N' Roses
American Music for Flute, Voice & Strings
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier
Music: Christmas Bells of San Sylmar
Anton Reicha Woodwind Quintets, Vol 5: Opus 91, no.s 3 & 4
A Forest [CD-single] [EP] [Import]