WORLD MUSIC

Nigel Woodon this week's world music release

OMARA PORTUONDO

Gracias

***

Montuno/World Village

Now 79 and a star in Cuba long before Buena Vista Social Club, Omara Portuondo would surely be entitled to retire gracefully.

However, this year her charming partnership with Brazilian chanteuse Maria Bethania showed a continuing openness to cultural exploration and exchange. Now, on her new solo album, Portuondo sings duets with another Brazilian, Chico Buarque, with Cuban poet Pablo Milanes, and with Cameroonian bassist Richard Bona.

These are the highlights of this attractively presented package, full of photos from Portuondo's 60-year career. The musicianship is exemplary (Roberto Fonseca is a constant presence on piano) and the repertoire is dominated by ballads, which just occasionally slip into sentimentality.

Gracias is a sweet and heartfelt collection, then, which could be interpreted as something of a swan song.

www.montuno.com

NIGEL WOOD

Download tracks: O que sera, Amame como soy, Drume negrita