Canto

, the second album from the all-star , begins with a mellow, Habanera-influenced groove and the suave vocal incantations of . It's a luring introduction to a CD that offers up one superb song after another. The follow-up to their Grammy award-winning 1998 self-titled debut, 's projects the sophisticated, enduring, and variegated sounds of Latin American music itself. From a Brazilian ballad sung by , to a Los Angeles-infused songo, 's 12 tracks touch upon a number of traditional Latin American styles while retaining a sound all their own. On , the stalwart crew of and from , singer , and star welcome Brazilian sensation , and Peru's primary diva, . All the performers on the album, instrumentalists and vocalists alike, project a confident, smooth, and cosmopolitan sound. Even if you don't consider yourself to be much a music fan, do yourself a favor and check out . have managed, once again, to defy simple market categories with a release that is Grammy material and, more importantly, great music through and through. ~ John Vallier