One-Woman-Band Sensation Victoria Cardona’s Debut Album… features a Band!
Admittedly, we have gushed often about brilliant looper Victoria Cardona, a Cuban American singer/songwriter, guitarist, and multi-instrumentalist who performs regularly from her home in West Palm north to Vero Beach and numerous other locations as well. Read more from our first preview several days ago.
Now we wait in great anticipation for her debut recording, Que Pasó, to land on all the usual platforms this Friday, June 27. There are dozens of outstanding YouTube videos of Cardona performing solo, but for this album she opted to be accompanied by a group of A-list musicians she respectfully calls her “Latin mafia”!
Tim Goodman – guitar, mandolin, marimba, organ, synths, backing vocals; Jimmy Haslip – electric bass; Bill Payne – piano, organ; Jimmy Branley – drums, backing vocals; Francisco Torres – trombone, backing vocals; René Camacho – baby bass; Justo Almario – flute, saxophone, clarinet, backing vocals; Kevin Richard – percussion; Darby Petterson – backing vocals; San Miguel Pérez – Cuban tres guitar; Bill Bergman – saxophone; and Nick Lake, trombone.
Victoria Cardona – vocals, lead & rhythm guitar, bass, drums, percussion, piano, organ, steel drums. She wrote eight of the eleven songs presented here (other composers noted below). If we failed to mention any of the musicians individually below, one listen will tell you this was a total team effort.
Let’s walk through the track list, with this important note. We are happy to provide our general impressions of the album, but we could not possibly touch the depth and breadth of the 5 Finger Review lovingly penned by Elberton Cisnero.
El Carretero Justo Almario & Francisco Torres
Que Pasó
“Que Paso En La Habana”
The immediacy of Cardona’s Cuban roots rushes at you with her gorgeous, sultry voice, Almario’s wonderful flute work, and percussion from Richard, Cardona, and others. The pace here delivers the song perfectly, and Pérez’s Cuban tres guitar sends it over the top.
“Ghost”
Clave rhythms, fabulous piano from Payne (yes, that Payne), and stinging electric guitar demand that you get up to dance for this one. Backing vocals (Cardona’s and others) fill the song with magic.
“George From Heaven”
Now it’s a full-on dance party with full horn accompaniment, bouncy, and engaging. Camacho’s baby bass is leading the bounce. The organ here also helps to create a Harry Belafonte groove.
“Me Voy Pa La Playa”
The authenticity of this song is all-encompassing, with bass, percussion, and horns giving Cardona’s Spanish vocals the perfect platform.
“Rhodes Royale”
Cardona’s steel drums immediately drench you in that islands vibes as she tells the story of a secret card game also doused in liquor.
“Dos Gardenias” (Isolina Carrilo)
Almario’s beautiful soprano sax decorates the opening of the song, with piano and percussion front and center. Almario’s solo is sublime.
“Camarena Baila”
Cardona’s Spanish vocals are captivating, whether you understand the language or not. Her voice bounces along with the song, perfectly married. This one is straight-up fun!
“Tuesday Rain”
The reggae lilt here is superb, with horns driving toward ska, superb multiple vocals and a trombone solo from Torres very impressive.
“Slow Burn”
Beautiful acoustic guitar and piano carry the melody here. Drummer Branley, the band’s backbone throughout, is excellent here, as is Almario’s alto saxophone solo.
“El Carretero” (Guillermo Portabales)
The dance party never stopped, but here it really kicks up, the horns (Torres & Almario) prominently displayed. This also features a distinctly male backing chorus, expertly delivered.
“Spanish Moon” (Lowell George)
Cardona’s live shows feature an enormous range of genres, including plenty of jam band music. The Little Feat standard “Spanish Moon” is one such, and there was no chance she wasn’t doing this one given that founding LF member Bill Payne was on the date. It says “Spanish Moon,” but we assure you this is “Luna Espanola”! Her guitar just rips! Damn! Outstanding!
So you have two jobs. Starting Friday, be sure to listen to Que Pasó on all the usual suspect platforms, and, if you are fortunate to visit Florida, check her website for upcoming shows. Band – no band – no matter. Either way, it’s pure Victoria Cardona!
IT’S HERE!!!
Victoria Cardona
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One more way to heighten your enjoyment of Que Pasó: listen to the excellent live interview Cardona recorded with Sarah LaPierre of ArtiGras Fine Arts Festival: