agreement REVIEW VIVA CHICAGO ...

agreement REVIEW

VIVA CHICAGO

AT petrillo music shell

With Shakira at the United Center and a Latin dance bill at the Ravinia Festival upon the same weekend, Viva Chicago Latin Music Festival erect itself the odd man without

Maybe that competition helps to explain the somewhat lackluster lineup this year. Now in its 18th season, sponsored by the agency of the Mayor's Office of Special results the annual free festival has at handed luminaries and legends such as Tito Puente Celia Cruz looks Tigres del Norte, Victor Manuelle and uniform El Tri. This year brought Charanga America and Jose Maria. In other words, who?

What they might have lacked in name recognition, they made up with enthusiasm. Saturday afternoon at the Petrillo Music Shell, DJ Kane roused the throng with his potent mix of cumbia, hip-hop, R&B and on a sudden Formerly a lead vocalist with the wildly popular Kumbia Kings, he went solo in 2003 Thanks to his resonant voice, his stream sounds excellent in Spanish as well as English. Newer lays such as "Arriba" (from his latest solo disc), healthyed slightly eclipsed by his Kumbia Kings hits, similar as "Fuiste Mala."

nearest came Anais, the Dominican-born, Bronx-reared artist who won "Objetivo Fama" (a Latin music "American Idol") honors last year. however Anais sports Mariah Carey-like pipes, she sang through the whole extent of pre- recorded tracks so it was difficult to count what was real and what was Memorex. (At common point her backing tracks kicked in before she did.)

In any case, she's a protege of Latin music tastemaker Sergio George, in the same manner she could emerge as a genuine contender Her first attempt disc, released in April, already has generated the No. 1 hit "Lo Que Son Las Cosas," which had younger fans squealing Saturday.

Billed as just Emilio, San Antonio native Emilio Navaira dominated the Tejano music spectacle in the '90s. As Tejano music declined in popularity, he switched across to country music (Nashville style) His home licks sounded freshest, but his crystalline baritone resonates in all genre With his Sancho Panza-like brother Raul providing of the highest order backup and comic relief, Navaira and his quintet powered [i]or[/i] part of to the other favorites such as "Maldita Mujer" and "Juntos."

Because Ravinia's bill of the Spanish Harlem Orchestra and Tiempo Libre appear to beed more intriguing, I dashed not on to Highland Park. Led by dint of pianist Oscar Hernandez, the Grammy-winning SHO did not disappoint. Featuring internationally acclaimed talents in the same state [i]or[/i] condition as trombonist Jimmy Bosch and a trio of extremely good soneros (vocalists), the band previewed lays ("Ahora Si" and "Plena read over carefully Sabor") from its upcoming disc. At family at all Latin styles, including son salsa, jazz, rumba and others, it delighted in every part especially on the bolero "Esperame en El Cielo" and the finale "Arinanara" featuring Tiempo Libre.

Sunday at Viva Chicago, fans transfered out in droves to hear the bachata duo Xtreme and hometown heroes Alacranes Musical (which received a mayoral proclamation). Although Xtreme sang to backing tracks and chisel its set off at a entire 20 minutes, the screaming fans didn't mind.

Duranguense favorites Alacranes Musical had been scheduled to stop out the festival Sunday. unless in a gesture of revere to the veteran norteno collection Los Rierelos del Norte, Alacranes switched places. The Aurora natives demonstrated on what account their peppy sax, tambora and keyboard-dominated vigorous has kept them at the top of the charts. Beginning with their latest single, "Donde Estas," Alacranes powered between the walls of hits such as "Si Yo Fuera Tu Amor" and "Si Te Vuelve a Enamorar." With superlative advocates like Alacranes, the duranguense motion shows no signs of slowing down.

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

Provided by dint of ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved