Selva

This collection of 13 songs was inspired by Hurtado’s childhood experiences of listening to a wide variety of radio stations. His home in Moyobama was isolated in the Peruvian rain forest and nearly inaccessible. Radio programming was his window on the world, and an early influence to eclectic music tastes. The songs are based on Latin American folk music and instrumentation with world influences.

The Spanish lyrics are accompanied by Hurtado’s thrilling guitar work and a talented ensemble of back-up musicians playing a diverse range of instruments including: zamponas, quenta, accordion, keyboards, requinto, jarocho, jeranas, harp, cajon, violin, shacapas, and pre-Columbian musical instruments.

Track 3: Corre, Salta Y Vuela is a gorgeous Latino-style lyric ballad accompanied by some kind of native flute. Track 4: Un Pacto de Amor is a laid-back, slightly funky instrumental dance song. Track 6: Suavecito is a song with a gutsy melody that’s loaded with percussion details.

Get ready to sway and dance with this album. The top-notch instrumental ensemble work and smooth vocals yield a musical production that’s incredibly attractive with musically fascinating melodies and textures that are easy to listen to. This album gets five stars on my car-stereo test - Hurtado scores top marks again!

~review by Elizabeth Hazel

Artist: Ciro Hurtado
Inti Productions 2016
13 tracks, 59 minutes
CD $15.00, mp3 $9.99 on CD Baby
www.cirohurtado.com