Rezos

by Bobi Cespedes

Overview

Perhaps the biggest surprise about this disc is that it's taken so long to happen. Bobi Cespedes has already enjoyed a distinguished career, singing as part of Conjunto Cespedes and with Mickey Hart's Planet Drum. But she's never stepped into the studio under her own name before. On the evidence of Rezos, though, it's to be hoped she'll be back there regularly. Born in Cuba, and a Yoruba priestess, she brings a strong Afro-Cuban sensibility to the material here, like "Obatala," named for her orisha. But there's a lot more going on here, like drum loops and some jazz licks, along with the more traditional call-and-response vocals. It's all wonderfully melodic, especially the exuberant "California," a paean to her home. The arrangements, by Oriente Lopez, are adventurous, using Rahsaan Fredricks' bass and One Drop Scott's hip-hop drum programming sparingly but subtly, but mostly letting the songs breathe and Cespedes' voice shine -- which it does. She positively sashays through "Nuevo Milenio," while the title cut kicks the record off with a deeply spiritual -- but rhythmically irresistible -- chant. At the end of the disc, she offers something even more grounded in "Ogun," a traditional Yoruba invocation with pure Afro-Cuban drumming. Cespedes' album might have been a long time coming, but it's more than worth the weight, with its golden mix of yesterday and tomorrow. ~ Chris Nickson

Product Details

Release Date:	02/04/2003
Label:	Six Degrees
UPC:	0657036107625

Tracks

1. Rezos
2. Obatala
3. California
4. Como Te Extra¿¿o
5. Lenu
6. Yambu Rock
7. Anoche
8. Awoyo
9. Nuevo Milenio
10. Ogun

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Bobi Cespedes   Primary Artist
Octavio Rodriguez   Cajon,Quinto,Chequere,Tres Golpe
Mark Kaye   Keyboards
Michael Spiro   Itotele
Oriente Lopez   Flute,Piano,Keyboards,Musical Director,Vocals (Background)
Julius Melendez   Trumpet
Jesus Diaz   Okonkolo
One Drop Scott   Percussion
Gregorio Landau   Tres,Guitar
Degi Simmons   Vocals (Background)
Rahsaan M. Fredericks   Bass,Ampeg Baby Bass,Bass (Electric),Vocals (Background)
David Pimienta   Percussion,Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Greg Landau   Producer
David Poe   Composer
Oriente Lopez   Arranger
One Drop Scott   Drum Programming
Ken Lee   Mastering
Gregorio Landau   Mixing,Arranger,Engineer,Producer,Liner Notes
Degi Simmons   Engineer
Donal Hodgson   Mixing
Traditional   Composer
Bobi Cespedes   Composer