BLUE SPIRAL Corina Bartra Productions Press Quotes

Corina Bartra, pioneer & Afro Peruvian Jazz World Ambassador

El Comercio, Lima, Peru 2009

"There is a slight resemblance to Flora Purim but Bartra's work is tighter and has more melody. This is excellent Afro-Latin music."

-Jerome Wilson, Cadence Magazine

"Bartra is influenced by Afro-Peruvian music, American Jazz, and the scatting of Tania Maria"

-Marcela Breton, Jazz Times

"Finding an Hispanic-American singer who is worthwhile in these apocalyptic times is like finding a needle in a haystack. This is why we are grateful for Corina Bartra, an exceptional singer from Peru."

-Latin Beat

"Bartra's expressive voice flirts with avant-garde techniques while she fashions an adventurous program built on exotic, seldom heard Afro-Peruvian rhythms."

- Mark Holstein , Latina Style

" Travelog , Bartra's most recent musical journey, is a valuable contribution."

- El Diario, New York City

"This new album by singer Corina Bartra is far-out, even among jazz aficionados. Bartra seems to have captured virtually every avant-garde style imaginable and put them to the test ... the music here has a commanding, cohesive sound ... the cuts are noteworthy for their inventiveness.

-New York Daily News

"Corina Bartra is a very intriguing singer. On Son Zumbon ... the music utilizes tricky rhythms, the leader's haunting voice, and plenty of short solos. There is no lack on intensity in this program."

- Scott Yanow, L.A. Jazz Scene

"Corina Bartra's voice travels all over the map: sliding and gliding, skimming over shimmering surfaces; then diving deep down into the depths, bouncing and rolling, hesitating and galloping - at all kinds of speed ... in all kinds of moods."

-Rob Baker, Editor of Parabola

"Spanish and English, Latin and American, African and Peruvian with blues and jazz thrown in. These songs are a potent and poignant mix of heart and mind and soul."

-Mark Fogarty, Editor and journalist

"Son Zumbon" that's intellectually stimulating but still keeps the toes tapping most of the time".

"Her interpretation of Jimmy Hendrix's Little Wing is celestial."

-World Discoveries.net

On "Bambu Sun": " Rhythmically and texturally speaking,each song is completely unique Bartra has much to be proud of with this new release.The arrangements are all intelligent,the players are top-notch and her six original compositions show her to be a mature musician with much to say".

-Joe Knipes,Jazz Improv

On "Bambu Sun": "Corina Bartra is an expert at blending together Afro-Peruvian music and post-bop jazz. Actually when she sings,it does not sound like a mixture of idioms but a very natural style."

-Scott Yanow,L.A.Jazz Scene

On "Bambu Sun",Corina aligns herself with those Blues and Country singers who prefer natural roots. Bartra sings wordless roles and interprests lyrics in Spanish and English. She is unique.

-Jim Santella,Cadence Magazine

On" Bambu Sun" Mostly original repertoire that is based,for the most part, on the rarely utilization of Afro-Peruvian rhythms within a subtle "Latin jazz context.

-Luis Tamargo,Latin Beat

Corina Bartra &Azu (Bambu Sun) Peruvian vocalist Bartra returns to her Latin jazz groove after a couple of meditation releases.She opens with "Guajira Son" a refreshed original that is timeless.The balance of the program includes a few covers like Wayne Shorter's "Footprints" and several new originals.Whe also liked "Magia y Ritmo Ancestral".We welcome Bartra back.

-O' Place Features

Vocalist/composer and current New Yorker Corina Bartra has successfully melded the bop sensibilities of jazz with the Afro/Peruvian tones and textures on Bambu Sun, her fifth release. Bartra's earthy voice is succulent on the multi-layered "Afro Peruvian Folk Song," which blends her voice with soprano saxophonist Jay Rodriquez to perfection. Her own composition "Guajira Son," supported by Rufus Reid's supple bass, has a lilting cha cha that is infectious. Another highlight on her wonderful record is Bartra's "Peace Loving People Are On the Rise." Indeed they are and they require theme music and Bartra's ode to hope is as sound as any. Bartra's also adept at taking disparate tunes like Wayne Shorter's familiar "Footprints" and John Lennon/Paul McCartney's "Black Bird" and giving them an Andean flavor. The Peruvian spice in these tunes is a flavor worth savoring, and Bartra's voice is as soothing as coco tea. Bambu Sun works to fill the void in much of music these days, it is more hope than hype, more purity than pizzazz, and is one of the most original vocal recordings to be released in some time.

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