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FLAMENCO
By Maria Veronica Cevallos
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Her origins tell us a lot about how her flavorful voice came to be. Born from African immigrant parents from Equatorial Guinea in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, María Concepción Balboa Buika found her identity not only in the poor neighborhood where theirs was the only black family in town, but also in her gypsy neighbors, Spanish copla, and her mother’s affinity for jazz music. The rise of Buika (pronounced “BWEE-kah”) as one of today’s best exponents of contemporary Spanish music was a rather bumpy one. Starting out singing in local pubs and bars around Mallorca after a revelatory trip to London, Buika starts collaboration with other local and American artists, and dabbles into European house music. Then in 2000, in a strange turn of events and after recording her first album, Mestizüo, she ends up in the United States working as a Tina Turner impersonator in places like the
Photos courtesy of The Howard Theatre
rushing with the likes of Nelly Furtado and Latin virtuoso Chucho Valdes, the artist know as Buika (or sometimes Concha Buika), expels all expectations of a typical flamenco singer. Her raw, cavernous, and exotic voice echoes her cosmopolitan make-up and emits a sound that is unlike any other modern singer. Coming to the Howard Theater this month, Buika brings a soulful repertoire of songs and an energetic performance that will have you enthralled for the shows entirety.
Luxor, Gold Coast, and Harra’s in Las Vegas and is invited by Rachelle Ferrell to act at Club Blue Note. It is not until 2006, under the production of Javier Limon, that Buika finds mainstream success with her album Mi Niña Lola. The title song rose to popularity and sales, giving Buika recognition and credibility among critics, subsequently bestowing her with several awards, including Best Album and Best Production honors at the Spanish Music Awards. Her next project, Niña de Fuego in 2008, produced and arranged by Javier Limón, gained her even more fanfare internationally and established her as one of the most exciting voices in modern Latin music. Her latest release, 2009’s El Ultimo Trago, found Buika collaborating with none other than Chucho Valdes,
legendary Cuban pianist. His subtle accompaniment blends well to reign back Buika’s emotive singing style in this partial tribute to one of Mexico’s great and iconic voices, Chavela Vargas. Her reinterpretations of Chavela’s most famous and distinctive songs, like “Luz de Luna,” “Sombras,” and “Las Cuidades,” are a clear indication of Buika’s amazing talent to not only reinterpret, but to make songs her own with her poignant and exotic style. Nominated for two Latin Grammys for Recording of the Year (for the song “Se Me Hizo Facil”) and Best Traditional Tropical Album, El Ultimo Trago is an unmistakable sign of her tremendous talent and virtuosity.
Buika has been touring around the world supporting this album but has also been keeping busy with other projects. Two of her latest collaborations include a duet with Seal called “You Get Me,” and taping her screen debut for Pedro Almodóvar’s film, La Piel Que Habito. Buika will bring her unique blend of flamenco, jazz, soul and blues to the area at the Howard Theater on June 22nd. █