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
CuCu Diamantes' solo debut CUCULAND is at once a breath of fresh air and a nostalgic whiff of a more glamorous time. It shimmers with the glitz and glamour of an era when catching a show meant dinner jackets and hair tonic, evening gowns and diamonds. But it also bares its teeth and bites down on the modern sounds of New York City's streets, and if you close your eyes a sudden almost tangible perception of the faint smell of tastefully applied Chanel can just as quickly become the st
Orishas is a Yoruban word referring to spirits or deities, which are essentially manifestations of the god Orun. It is also the name adopted by what is arguably one of the most significant and original offerings to the Latin genre in the past 10 years. Comprised of Roldan Gonzalez, Hiram "Ruzzo" Riveri and Yotuel Romero, three Havana-born Cubans who immigrated to Europe in flight from Castro's regime, the group made an impact from day one with the release of their 1999 debut A Lo Cubano. Three a
