(5/24) Ximena Sariñana at Stubb's

My dear Ximena Sariñana, Mexico's best pop star and talented actress, is finally coming to Austin. I was super excited when I got the news this week. She will be performing at Stubb's indoor on May 24th. Latino or not, you need to get familiar with Ximena Sariñana. Trust me.

Saturday Night Show Pick: Alex Cuba at Stubb's

 

Tonight at Stubb's indoor is your chance to check out one of my favorite Latin artists, Alex Cuba. I first learned of Alex Cuba through my friend Angela's program, Latino USA on NPR. Hostess Maria Hinojosa interviewed Alex and then played a couple of songs. Having loved what I heard, I got the album immediately. At the time it was his latest album called Humo de Tabaco, which translates to Tobaco Smoke.

It was funny because my favorite track on the album that I couldn't stop jammin' to was a song called "Dramatica Mujer".What is funny to me is the song features American pop star, Jason Mraz. I'm not into Mraz really, but he's tolerable at times. I loved Mraz's his recent rendition of a song he did with Mexican pop star, Ximena Sarinana, called "Suerte". It was a Spanglish remake of the same song with Colbie Caillat. If Mraz keeps pulling this Latin duo act, I may end up liking him one day.

Anyway, back to Alex Cuba...

He's no stranger to Austin. He's performed a buzz worthy set during SXSW in 2008 and did the Studio 1B performance at KUT. I have yet to see him live and look forward to tonight. He is touring to support his latest album, Agua Del Pozo. It is an amazing album, full of Cuba's signature Latin soul, jazz, funk and traditional Caribbean music stylings that won me over the first time I heard his music.

If Alex Cuba is completely new to you, then let me give you a brief background. He was born in the small Cuban town of Artemisia, right outside of Havana. He now lives in Canada, where he won a Juno award in 2006. he has his record label, called Caracol Records. For those of you who have the latest Nelly Furtado album, Mi Plan, he had a hand in that (pun intended). There's plenty of great and interesting info I left off, but you get the idea. 

Here's a little video taste of what his style sounds like. Plus, check out that amazing 'fro. It is his signature look. The video for the title track to Alex Cuba's latest album, Agua Del Pozo.

Here are some helpful links regarding Alex Cuba and tonight's show:

Alex Cuba Myspace

Alex Cuba Official Website

Alex Cuba Concert information on Do512

New Video From Jason Mraz and Ximena Sarinana

I came across this cool video online today. Pop singer Jason Mraz seems to love duets with hot female singer songwriter types, but then again who doesn't? Remember Mraz's last duo was with Colbie Caillat on the song "Lucky". I wasn't feeling that version too much, it was just another run of the mill top 40 pop song to me. However, I am feeling his new version with Mexican actress and singer, Ximena Sarinana. An MTV Blog, MTV Buzzworthy, actually got something right when it allowed for people to share this video for "La Suerte". A Spanish rendition of Mraz's song with Caillat, Mraz turned a song I wasn't feeling into a song I actually like. Ximena's voice makes the song. According to the MTV Blog, Mraz will be looking to put out a Spanish language version of his album We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things. When? I am not sure of the date and didn't care enough to surf around looking for it. I have my apprehensions about how it will sound, but I applaud him for at least trying. If only more mainstream artists were bold enough and opened minded to try. Still, I have never been one for doing a cross over album in another language, even from Latino artists trying to sing a Spanish song in English without mastering the language. Yes,that was sort of a stab at my beloved Shakira. It was also a stab at Paulina Rubio and other Latin pop stars who have done the same. Love the Spanish stuff, wish you would have kept it that way.

Here's the video, check it out for yourself and see what you think:

Jason Mraz - New Music - More Music Videos