Zuco 103 - Whaa! (Six Degrees) – In today’s global village, you’re just as likely to hear a Celtic jig in Japan as you are a Brazilian samba in Central Europe.

Zuco 103 are Dutch trio who are carving out new territory for Brazilian rhythms. Of course, vocalist, Lilian Vieira adds authenticity to their experiments. In the 1980’s, the Brazilian native relocated to The Netherlands where she studied singing at the Rotterdam Conservatory. Later when would meet up with drummer, Stefan Kruger and keyboardist, Stefan Schmid, her two collaborators in Zuco 103. Lilian admits, “my background provides inspiration to our music but that’s mostly on a rhythmic level.” The rest of the music on Whaa!, their latest release, is shaped through their combined imaginations and fun-loving energy. Zuco 103 drummer, Stefan Kruger describes the sound as “a mix of everything that exists … it doesn’t just stop with jazz, funk or bossa nova.” The trio gets decidedly dubby on two tracks featuring Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry. The first single from the disc, Na Mangueira, is dedicated to Estacao Primeira de Mangueira, one of Rio’s most revered samba schools, where they say, “There is no samba in vain.”

 

Shakira - Fijacion Oral Vol.1 (Sony) - Latin bombshell, Shakira is quick to dismiss the importance of her looks. She claims, “My brain is the most beautiful part of my body.” No doubt, the native of Barranquilla, Colombia has made some smart decisions on her journey to international stardom. When she was just thirteen, she signed her first record deal with Sony Colombia. Her big break came when she met Emilio Estefan Jr. who produced the multi-platinum selling, Donde Estan Los Ladrones or ‘Where Are The Thieves?’ Sony Music spent a fortune, over three million dollars, to ensure that album’s chances of success and rocket Shakira into the limelight. To follow her mixed English and Spanish language album, ‘Laundry Service’, Shakira has released the next logical progression in her recording career … Fijacisn Oral Volume 1 in Spanish and, the same album, Oral Fixation Volume 2 in English. The first single, Don’t Bother (on the English version) tells the story of a woman who finds inner strength in spite of outward rejection. Shakira does an admirable job with the lyrics in her second language, which would stand up in the company of Alanis Morrisette’s poetry, for instance. The two singers actually share similar vocal stylings. But, for some reason the Spanish versions of the songs just sound better.

 

Ozomatli - Live At The Fillmore (Concord) -  Afro-Latin rockers, Ozomatli have survived the growing pains of eleven years touring in each other’s company. To follow the Grammy-winning Street Signs CD, the band has captured some of that energy from the road in a live performance audio and video release recorded at the fabled Fillmore in San Francisco. As trumpeter and singer, Asdru Sierra puts it, “Every album is like a milestone … like that little notch you make on the door post as you grow in height as a child. We’ve grown and we hope this new album reflects that.” Ozo’s philosophy states that, “Music is the key to every culture. It’s the beginning of an understanding.” That’s not to say that this boundary-shaking ten –piece hasn’t had a few misunderstandings along the way. In 2004, two members of the band were arrested for assault after a confrontation with police in Austin, Texas.  When asked to leave the stage after their performance at the 2005 WOMAD festival in Adelaide, Australia, they leaped into the crowd to continue with a 45 minute encore! Live At The Fillmore comes with a DVD that’s packed with live performance footage and some enlightening behind-the-scenes moments with the band and their fans. The two nearly always become inseparable by the end of each show.  

 

Jethro Tull -The Jethro Tull Christmas Album (True North) – (to the tune of Aqualung) “Sitting on a snowflake” DAH, DAH DAH “eyeing little elves, make no mistake” DUH NUH NUH, NUH NUH NA, DAH, DAH DAH, “it’s Santa Claus.” It’s too bad that isn’t on this album but there’s something in Tull’s signature blend of Prog Rock heaviness and Celtic roots that really suits the holiday classics. The band swings or rocks the standard carols like God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen and one they like to call Greensleeved. But, their originals like Birthday Card At Christmas and Ring Out The Solstice Bells capture the Christmas spirit without being cloying. Sure the band rocks a little more lightly in the mix which only makes the disc more appropriate for those fire lit nights with the family. The closest they come to Aqualung is the hilariously sinister sounding, pseudo folk tale, Jack Frost And The Hooded Crow. Ian Anderson’s flute playing is expressive as ever and you still get one or two familiar Tull instrumentals like Bouree, originally found on your battered vinyl copy of the Aqualung LP. In an age when The Polar Express is considered a Christmas classic, it’s great to hear a little Seasons Greetings from Locomotive Breath.