Various Artists – Latin Christmas (Putumayo PUT 363-2, 2016)
Thank you, Dr. Poinsett, for bringing the “Flor de Noche Buena” back to the US from Central America 80 years ago. We now identify it with wonderful Christmas times with loved ones. eight decades ago. As the Hispanic demographic in this country expands, we will see, hear and incorporate a corresponding expansion Latin American Christmas traditions. This holiday anthology on the Putumayo label is a good start.
More than half the songs will be familiar to Anglo ears, but the bossa nova and rumba rhythms and light percussion overlays differentiate them from our old holiday favorites, now sadly more identified with our shopping malls than our homes. World Christmas music such as this collection can become a unique part of your own family memory and tradition. It is refreshing and a pleasure to hear what the tension of Spanish guitar, the strong rhythm of precise horn sections and musical pocket-filling percussion and clear, poignant vocals add to the songs we’ve been humming all our lives, and to add to a holiday music catalog that may have become stale through a lifetime of overplay.
In the hands of these artists from climes much more distant from Santa’s North Pole than ours, the musical imagery becomes more magical. Somehow, the Magis’ journey seems longer and thoughts of a “White Christmas” more fantastic. Hearing an instrumental foundation from less affluent lands, one pictures the joy and merriment of the season coming from time with loved ones rather than with competitive, material gifts. In short, this release is a sure enhancement of the yuletide.
Buy Latin Christmas
Buy Latin Christmas in Europe
Author: Arthur Shuey
Arthur has been reviewing music for publications since 1976 and began focusing almost exclusively on world music in 2012.
His musical background includes past presidencies of the Cape Fear Musicians Association and Blues Society of the Lower Cape Fear, founding membership in nine other blues societies, service on 17 music festival planning committees, two decades of teaching harmonica to individuals and groups, operating a small recording studio and performing solo and in combos for 30 years.
Arthur has written professionally since 1975, pieces ranging from short fiction to travel articles, humor to poetry, mainly for local and regional entertainment media. His blog,” Shuey’s World,” is featured at www.accesswilmington.com.
