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Concha Buika
Buika has been a sensation in Spain since her album, “Mi Nina Lola,” came out in 2005. She is part of a new generation of flamenco influenced performers who are hooking young audiences by mixing in other genres. The fusion of flamenco with jazz, soul and dance rhythms in Buika's music mirrors the story of her own life.
Buika was born in Palma de Mallorca in 1972 where her family, originally from Guinea Ecuatorial, live. She learnt from her mother to listen to the great voices of jazz, and from the Spanish radio, the flamenco copla that would influence her vocals.
She started singing at bars & pubs in Mallorca, recording several songs (house style) and collaborated with La Fura del Baus in “Ombra”. In 2000, she relocated to Las Vegas where she worked in Casinos as the double of Tina Turner and The Supremes. This was a short lived venture and she soon returned to Spain.
When she moved to Madrid and recorded her first album, she showed the never-ending possibility of her skills as a singer. At the recording studio she kept her style besides the insistence of four producers that wanted to change her direction. The record did get some local airplay and attention, but the best was yet to come.
With her second album “Mi Niña Lola” produced by Javier Limón, she got the credibility, the recognition and the awards, including Best Musical Production and Best Album of Spanish Song, in the Spanish Music Awards.
Buika becomes an international star with her third album, “Niña de Fuego” with Javier Limón taking control of production again. In this album, Buika goes back to the Spanish copla, touches for the first time ranchera (Mexican popular song) and songs composed by herself and Javier Limón. The album is full of love and overall lack of affection songs. Buika sings her personal experience in the lyrics that Javier Limón writes especially for her.
For her fourth album, Chucho Valdés and Buika met in Abdala studio in Cuba and, and thanks again to Javier Limón, they recorded “El Ultimo Trago.” The album pays homage to Chavela Vargas on her 90th anniversary, covering the repertoire that she has built during her entire career. Along with the title track, there are also: “Las ciudades,” “Las simples cosas,” “Sombras,” and “Luz de Luna.” These are songs that made Chavela famous, but in this recording, Buika with the unique piano stylings of Chucho Valdés transforms the songs into her own.
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Fahir Atakoglu: For Love
by Edward Blanco
Veteran international recording artist Fahir Atakoglu delivers his eighteenth album as leader with the audacious For Love, an album which he proclaims: ... Is all about love." And he believes Everything depends on love." A native of Turkey, this Turkish-American artist is an award-winning composer and pianist whose long and distinguished career has included writing for television, films and documentaries. This exceptional recording was purposely designed with a foreign flavor in mind, revealing a varied repertoire that blends musical ...
read moreConcha Buika: I Feel the Warmer Side of Life When I Sing
by Nenad Georgievski
When Spanish singer Concha Buika sings, songs uncoil from her like smoke. Whether she sings jazz classics, Jacquel Brel, Chavella Vargas songs or her own songs, there is a warm intimacy in her husky and seductive voice that easily envelops listeners. 15 years after her debut, Mestizuo, a record with jazz classics she continues her musical journey of exploring beyond the ordinary with records that are imbued with diversity from flamenco, soul, jazz and pop music to Afro-beat, Cuban music, ...
read moreConcha Buika en el Festival de Jazz de Barcelona (III)
by Roan Clay
Concha Buika (Palau de la Música, 5 de noviembre)Voll-Damm Festival Internacional de Jazz de BarcelonaDe las primeras notas de Oro santo-Mamita a las pausas dramáticas finales de la conocida Ojos verdes:
Ojos verdes, verdes comola albahaca.Verdes como el trigo verdey el verde, verde limón.El pasado jueves 5 de noviembre, en el 41 Voll-Damm Festival Internacional de Jazz de Barcelona, Concha Buika ofreció una aplaudida actuación en un ...
read moreConcha Buika at the 2009 Barcelona Jazz Festival (III)
by Roan Clay
Concha BuikaBarcelona Jazz FestivalBarcelona, SpainNovember 5, 2009 From the opening notes of Oro santo-Mamita to the final dramatic pauses in the familiar Ojos verdes:
Ojos verdes, verdes comola albahaca.Verdes como el trigo verdey el verde, verde limón.
Concha Buika gave a bravura performance at a sold out Palau de la Música on Thursday night, November 5th as part of the 41st Voll-Damm Festival International de ...
read moreConcha Buika: el canto necesario
by Joan A. Cararach
No es Ben Ratliff un crítico con tendencia a la grandilocuencia y al adjetivo gratuito, no. Pero el pasado 18 de octubre, su reseña en The New York Times del último disco de Concha Buika (Palma de Mallorca, 1972), El último trago (Warner, 2009), desmiente su estilo: tras comparar la voz de Buika con la de Nina Simone, aunque considera la de la mallorquina más flexible y virtuosa," Ratliff escribe esta frase demoledora, esencial: El canto de Buika puede llegar ...
read moreBuika: Nina de Fuego
by James Nadal
Buika is adding an innovative voice to the ever-evolving music of flamenco, one she describes as a blend of African, American, and Andalucían.
Javier Limón, of Lagrimas Negras (RCA Victor, 2004) fame, first signed and produced Buika for Mi Niña Lola (Warner Music Latina, 2007). It went on to triumph with the song and production of the year in Spanish music three years ago, earning her international recognition and accolades. The title song, now a trademark tune for her, has ...
read moreBuika, el Triunfo de Todos
Source:
Voll-Damm Festival Internacional De Jazz De Barcelona
Buika, una de las artistas fetiche del festival de jazz de Barcelona en los últimos años (¡y que dure!), ha ganado su primer Grammy. La artista mallorquina, que regresa a Barcelona el 1 de diciembre para cerrar su año mágico 2010 (cada día quedan menos entradas), explica en este texto sus sensaciones (en castellano a continuación). By Concha Buika I am very proud to get the first Grammy in my career, even though I don't know nothing much about awards. ...
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Latin Grammy nominee Buika to launch first major tour on Oct 15th, a tribute to Chavela Vargas
Source:
Cindy Byram PR
Afro-Spanish singer BUIKA's first major North American Tour to hit 21 cities October 15November 20, 2010 Two Latin GRAMMY nominations El Ultimo Trago" (The Last Drink), CD that honors Mexican music legend CHAVELA VARGAS; Buika and Vargas both make world's 50 Great Voices" list on NPR Duet with SEAL You Get Me" BUIKA 2010 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR Buikavocals Iván Melon" Lewispiano Dany Noedouble bass Fernando Favierpercussion
Oct 15 Chicago, IL Chicago Symphony Hall Oct ...
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Concha Buika Comes to the London Jazz Festival
Source:
All About Jazz
Once heard, never forgotten. Concha Buika’s voice is one of the most glorious sounds to have emerged on the international stage in the past couple of years. All sorts of metaphors come to mind: blood-red wine, the sharpened blade of a knife, a cry of pain in a darkened church. The language barrier is really no hindrance at all. When you listen to the Spanish singer, you know instantly that you are in the presence of a rare talent. She ...
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