Featured music: Astrud Gilberto

During the next few days the media player on the sidebar will be displaying some songs with the wonderful voice of Brazilian singer Astrud Gilberto. Including, of course, the classic version of The Girl from Ipanema, with husband João Gilberto (vocals, guitar), Tom Jobim (piano) and Stan Getz (saxophone).

I think you can download them by clicking on the song title, but I haven't tried this myself, so let me know. Enjoy.

Rock chick of the week

Can anyone name the lead singer of this band? Hint: Her first name is Spanish and her surname is Croation.

Bass Masters

Meet Pedro Aznar, an extraordinary musician from Argentina. He was a member of Seru Giran, the most important Argentine band in the early 80s, and then joined the Pat Metheny Group. Last year I saw him perform live in a pub with his band - I payed 8 bucks (!) for the admission. It was a great show but I was particularly impressed by this one song.

Quiz: what is he using here to hit the bass chords?

New feature: online music

Hi everyone. With some help from my brother Andrés, I've just added a media player on the sidebar. You are welcome suggest songs to upload, I'm just having a little trouble finding a good host for the files. Sinces Yves arrived this week, I decided to dedicate the first batch of songs to him, hence, French music it is. Enjoy.

Bono's Mullet says it all!

Music Integrity vs Music Wankery: I think both bands regurgitate the same

old crap over and over again.

But is there any doubt that Bono is a complete tool!

Who am I?

Can anyone guess who this rocker chick is?

Guitar Masters

The art and genius of Andrés Segovia. A beautiful clip (thanks La Chounie).

Cambalache

Cambalache

Tango Enrique Santos Discépolo
This tango was presented by the singer Sofía Bozán in Buenos Aires, in one of the classic shows @ Maipo Theatre (teatro de revista). It is important to highlight the sharp vision about the world that Discépolo had by the time (1935), specially his critics about the lack of moral and dignity.
The version of this tango that I like the most is this one, by Julio Sosa.

"Que el mundo fue y será
una porquería, ya lo sé.
En el quinientos seis
y en el dos mil, también"

The meaning of 'cambalache': The Royal Spanish Dictionary says: "to change". In the Argentinean slang, lunfardo, it's also used as 'a mess'.

cambalache.

(De cambiar).

1. m. Trueque, considerado con desprecio, jactancia, satisfacción, pesar u otro movimiento del ánimo que se expresa por el tono y el contexto.

2. m. Trueque hecho con afán de ganancia.

3. m. Trueque de diversos objetos, valiosos o no. U. t. en sent. despect.

4. m. coloq. Trueque, con frecuencia malicioso, de objetos de poco valor.

5. m. Arg., Par. y Ur. prendería.