961-253

Josephine Foster and Victor Herrero Band “Anda Jaleo”

Collection of Spanish folks songs. American folk singer Josephine Foster & her husband Spanish composer Victor Herrera's homage to the Spanish Socialist poet/writer/singer Federico Garcia Lorca.This is their modern arrangement of Lorca's work. Assassinated in the 1930s during the Spanish Civil War Lorca wrote extensively about the southern region of Andalusia, known for its gypsy influenced “flamenco” music & dance. Interestingly, Anda Jaleo is a collection of songs Lorca recorded with dancer La Argentina in 1931 that was a huge hit in Spain & Latin America.

Foster was a a funeral and wedding singer & that might help explain why there is a certain plaintive and poignant undertone to her singing. Warbling is a word that comes to mind when listening to Foster's singing..

Try 1,2,4, 5,and 7.

1.Fast, folksy with lots of stamping & rhythmic clicking of castanets.
2.Shades of Gypsy Kings in the beginning with that fast clapping & Spanish guitar before Foster's voice floats in singing in that signature voice of hers.
3.The background music provides the tempo to this song. Slow singing.
4.Slow, The song grows on you. Anda Jaleo the song this album is named after. Sounds like a song of yearning until you read the English lyrics the song.
5.The guitar, castanets and clapping provide a nice upbeat riff to the song. Medium-paced. Nice.
6.Slow and sad.
7.Fast. Lovely rhythm. You want to see a flamenco dancer execute their stylist precise moves when you listen to this song. Yes, it is that kind of song. Like the castanets.
8.Slow and soothing.
9.Medium paced. Like the way it starts with Spanish guitar & castanets.
10.Slow with lots of foot stomping.
11.Haunting. Almost like a prayer or a solemn hymn. No instruments just Foster's voice.

Kamla Dec 10, 2010