Americans who still think of Latin music as mariachi bands and gyrating Ricky Martins and Shakiras might want to lend a closer ear to the genre. This country's Hispanic population isn't just growing, it's growing more diverse. More and more unique musical styles are being gobbled up, and that should come as good news to alternative gringos hoping to spruce up their castellano. This year's Latin-music highlights come from all over the Spanish-speaking map. We'll start in the farthest geographic c
Concha Buika is not your traditional flamenco singer. Originally born in Equatorial Guinea, she grew up near a gypsy community on the island of Mallorca in Spain --a perfect place for such an artist to lay her foundation. But hers is a non-traditional take on Spain's most traditional sound. Influences ranging from soul to jazz and even funk find their way into the fold, and the end result is a harmonious marriage of cultures, eras and sounds. It's not surprising she's often been referred to as a
