Buika: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

Concha Buika s voice doesn t come from inside her petite body: It comes from Africa, and from the past. There are obvious traces of flamenco, itself a historical mashup of the Moors and various transitory cultures in southern Spain and north Africa. During her flights of improvisation, we also hear the influence of Cuban vocalist Celia Cruz, a product of AfroCuban culture, mixed in with Ella Fitzgerald, who was the pinnacle of AfricanAmerican jazz vocal expression. In these two performances, we hear Buika interpret her own lyrics after a handful of albums in which she s interpreted others words. With her eyes closed tightly, she inhabits these poems of love and heartache as if she were reliving them again before our eyes. Buika s singular voice has attracted a cadre of fans who ve become enchanted by her voice and her leaveitallonthestage performances in clubs and theaters around the world. Watch this video and join the club. FELIX CONTRERAS Set List La Noche Mas Larga La Nave Del Olvido C