The cumbia is Colombia's greatest musical export, and vocalist Toto La Momposina is its most accomplished ambassador. Pacanto abounds with indigenous guache gourds and flute-like gaitas, Spanish guitars and African tambor/bombo drums. With the addition of the Afro-derived marimbula thumb piano and Papa Noel's Congolese guitar fills, Momposina's music is a beautiful blend of old and new worlds. The tracks comprise cumbia classics and original compositions. The horn-driven, "Reparala" swings with a Cuban flavour, while the mid-tempo "Acompanala" rings with heavenly harmonies by La Momposina and her vocal chorus. "Chambacu" is an awesome, ancestral voice/percussion tribute to a historic black quarter of Cartegena de Indias and "Bozaa y Media (La Acabacion)" is an instrumental laced with Amerindian woodwinds. This passionately performed and beautifully recorded ought to do for the cumbia what Astor Piazzolla's Tango Zero Hour did for the tango. --Eugene Holley, Jr.
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