We just happened upon — please don’t leave right away — a Ricky Martin unplugged concert. He was doing Tu Recuerdo when suddenly the woman seated beside him opened her mouth and breathed some of the most beautiful and pure tones I’ve ever heard from a human being. Her name is La Mari De Chambao. I love her voice. Here is the performance on YouTube.
What books have you read, or paintings you’ve seen, or movies you’ve watched, or whatever, and something surprising emerged that tickled your aesthetic fancy?
This is always happening to me. I always seem to like the opening act or the random person brought in for a duet better than the headliner. The last time this happened was when we went to see John Prine this past August. I’m a huuuuuuuge John Prine fan and he was fantastic. His opening act, though, was Patty Griffin. I’d vaguely heard of her before, but I’m not really a follower of her type of music. She was incredible. Her voice was astounding, her songs were great, and she held it together really well during all the stupid sound issues they were having during her set. She’s at the top of my CDs to buy list.
I just watched the link and you’re right…beautiful voice, beautiful woman. How on earth, though, does she sing all hunched over like that? That was driving me nuts! Sit up straight, woman!!
If you’re planning on tracking down more of her fine work, it’s worth noting that her name is actually María del Mar Rodríguez (nicknamed “La Mari”), and that she’s in the group (formerly a trio, now a duo) named Chambao. In other words, “La Mari de Chambao” is a description, not a name.
Chambao is a “flamenco chill” band that’s IMHO well worth checking out on its own merits, quite apart from La Mari’s “Unplugged” performance with Ricky Martin.
College radio stations are great for this - if you can track down the name of the artist. About a year ago I heard WFUV play a beautiful, distorted song by a female violinist… wish I could remember what her name was.
[…wiping tear of joy…] (And yeah, she’s muy caliente.)