by Antonio Mejías-Rentas
Los Lobos (PHOTO FROM WWW.LOSLOBOS.ORG/)
SOUNDS OF FALL: Three veteran Latin rock acts are featured among new and recent recordings available this season.
Coming Oct. 26 from EMI Music is Nos vamos juntos: Un tributo a las canciones de Caifanes y Jaguares, in which a number of international soloists and groups cover songs from one of Mexico’s most loved rock bands. The album marks the 25th anniversary of Jaguares, which was formed in 1986 with the name Caifanes. The first singles from the CD are Afuera, done by Enrique Bunbury, and No dejes que, by La Arrolladora Banda el Limón.
Carlos Santana does the covers in Guitar Heaven… The Greatest Guitar Classics of All Time, released Sept. 21 by Arista. The Mexican rocker is joined by guest singers in various of the rock classics, including Chris Daughtry in a new version of Def Leppard’s Photograph and India.Arie in The Beatles’ While My Guitar Gently Weeps. Santana is working on an album of new material, to be titled Shape Shifter, expected in early 2011.
And Tin Can Trust, released Aug. 3 by Shout! Factory, is the first album of new material by Los Lobos in four years. The Los Angeles-based quintet — with a lineup that remains unchanged since its founding in 1984 — is currently wrapping up a promotional tour, with upcoming dates in Cleveland, Chicago, Dallas and New York, among other cities.
Other new and recent recordings: Detonación C-13 is the fourth recording by Puerto Rico’s best known hiphop and alternative act, Calle 13, due Oct. 25 from Sony Music Latin. The first single, Baile de pobres, is being promoted with a video directed by Mexican actor Diego Luna.
El Rey: A Man and His Music, a double CD compilation of some of the best known tunes recorded by the late Puerto Rican percussionist Tito Puente, was released Sept. 14 by Fania. It includes a 32-page illustrated booklet in English and Spanish.
Fields, the debut album by Junip, the Gothenburg Swedenbased rock trio — fronted by singer/songwriter/guitarist José González — was released Sept. 14 online. Junip launches a U.S. tour on Nov. 1. México, released Sept. 3 by Deutsche Gramophon, is tenor Rolando Villazón’s contribution to his country’s bicentennial celebration. The opera star performs Mexican popular songs, such as Bésame mucho and Cucurrucucú paloma.
AfroCubism, a collaboration of artists from Cuba and Mali, will be released Nov. 2 by Circuit/Nonesuch Records. It features Cuba’s Elíades Ochoa and his Grupo Patria, who will be presenting the album Nov. 9 at New York’s Town Hall. Hispanic Link.
