Luna in Bloomington, MN

Dropping the
traditional jazz
standards
she dealt with on her two
Verve
efforts, Chilean vocalist
Claudia Acuna
reveals a more contemporary,
R&B
-infused
Latin
sound on her
Maxjazz
debut. Easily
Acuna
's most personal work to date,
Luna
once again displays her immense gift for delicately passionate vocals and interesting arrangements. Still utilizing the mellow, sensitive Fender Rhodes keyboard playing of longtime collaborator
Jason Lindner
,
sings more Spanish on her third disc -- only
Lindner
's
"Yesterday You and I"
is sung in English -- and eschews any real straight-ahead
jazz
stylings for an almost
fusion
approach. That is not to say this is
jazz-pop
, but the delicate melodies do call to mind '70s
Airto Moreira
and the best
Al Jarreau
. While there are few if any outright
improvisations -- most of the tracks are under five minutes -- the music is still complex, literate, and sophisticated with deep harmonies that should appeal to hardcore
listeners and
music enthusiasts alike. ~ Matt Collar