TODAY’S HAVANA…Dayme’ Arocena: Cubafonia

Molasses toned vocalist Dayme; Arocena mixes both classic and modern Cuban sounds on this exciting and far ranging album. She’s toured with Jane Bunnett’s Spirits of Havana, and is always a show stealer, and her own albums have been exciting mixes of ethnicity and pop. These 11 songs have her with percussion, horns, guitar and choruses that give a wide palate of moods. Ethnic percussion, operatic voices and a choir take you on a wild journey on “ Eleggua, ” while with English vocals and a similar setting delivers “It’s Not Gonna Be Forever” and gets coy with a salsa band and piano with “Maybe Tomorrow.” The horns sear through her passionate voice as keyboards supply a funky soul on “ Lo Que Fue” and kitschy keyboards add to the dancing atmosphere on “Negra Caridad.” Her wordless vocals reach a frenzy with a boppy baritone sax on”Mambo N’ Ma” and she breathlessly pants with t rich bass and brushes on “Angel.” A different aspect of her delivery is brought to the front with a modern R&B ballad on “Como” and she feels vulnerable with classical guitar on the aria “Todo por Amor.” Her sensuous voice makes every song irresistible as she lures you in with enticement.

www.cubafonia.com

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