Buika – La Noche Más Larga

In a recent interview Buika said “I want what Charlie Parker has, I want eternity”. Well, just like Bird, Coltrane, Miles or any other music genius, Buika has already reached eternity through her music. Buika is a passionate singer, with a powerful voice and like the best jazz musicians she has a strong command over her instrument. Buika has the improvisational skills of Ella Fitzgerald, the vocal dexterity and power of Sarah Vaughan and the feeling of a Billie Holiday. Her voice has the perfect balance of raw energy and sensuality. All those things wrapped in her distinct Flamenco phrasing. And just like Billie Holiday, Buika has the ability to transform a song and make it totally her own. And that is just what she did on her more recent album La Noche Más Larga.

Winner of a Grammy for her previous recording El Ultimo Trago, with master pianist Chucho Valdés, on La Noche Más Larga, Buika reveals herself as an outstanding songwriter. Buika wrote five of the songs in the album; the Afro-Cuban influenced “Sueño con ella”, and “Los Solos”, the beautiful ballads “No lo sé” with special guest Pat Metheny and the album title “La Noche Más Larga”.

Adding Jazz elements to already good songs usually has the effect of raising the quality of those songs to a whole new level. Add to that mix the soulful interpretations of Buika and the results are even better. That is the case with the jazzy version of Fito Páez “Yo vengo a ofrecer mi corazón” and the Latin pop classic “La Nave del Olvido”, a song that was a hit in the voice of Mexican singer José José. The album includes a wonderful flamenco version of the Billie Holiday classic “Don’t Explain”, a modern jazz arrangement of Ernesto Lecuona’s “Siboney”, a Latin jazz take of Abbey Lincoln “Throw it Away” and Buika also sings in perfect French on Jacques Brel “Ne me quitte pas”.

Buika always surrounds herself with exceptional musicians, and this time was not the exception. La Noche Más Larga includes among others, drummer Dafnis Prieto and Puerto Rican bassist John Benítez.

La Noche Más Larga is an additional gem in Buika’s already brilliant music legacy.

Musicians: Buika – vocals, Iván Lewis – piano, percussion, Ramón Porrina – percussion, vocals, John Benítez – bass, Alain Pérez – electric bass, Juan José Suárez – guitar, Carlos de Madrid – guitar, Pedrito Martínez – percussion, vocals, Israel Suárez – percussion, Dafnis Prieto – drums, Carlos Sarduy – trumpet, Genara Cortés, Alicia Morales, Saray Muñoz – vocals.

Tracks: Sueño Con Ella, Siboney, Ne Me Quitte Pas, Yo Vengo A Ofrecer Mi Corazón, La Nave Del Olvido, La Noche Más Larga, Don’t Explain, No Lo Sé (Feat. Pat Metheny), Santa Lucia, Los Solos, Como Era, Throw It Away.

Buika on the Web: conchabuikamusic.com

Label: Warner Music Latina | Release date: June 2013