Concha Buika

Concha Buika (born 1972 in Palma de Mallorca) is a Spanish singer also known as Buika.

Her family came from Equatorial Guinea and she grew up among gypsy people. Her music mixes flamenco with soul, jazz and funk.

She was born in Palma de Mallorca in 1972. Ever since she was a child her musical talent was evident, but it was after a visit to London to study drama when, after being invited to a concert by Pat Metheny that her life changed.

From that moment she began her musical career. During the 90s she took part in different productions, such as 'Ombra' by La Fura dels Baus or the soundtrack for the Spanish movie 'Km.O'. At the same time she composed several songs such as 'Ritmo para vo—™', 'Up to the sky' and 'Loving you' (all of them house successes in Europe).

From November 2000 to March 2001 she sang at The Luxor, Harrah's and Gold Coast casinos in Las Vegas. She also performed as a guest singer in the 'Blue Note' festival in the same city together with Rachelle Ferrell.

Concha is a singer who handles many musical styles (jazz, bolero, flamenco, funk, ...). She is one of the most lively and spontaneous artists in the current Spanish musical scene.

Having featured her songs in several of his film soundtracks, Spanish director Pedro Almodуvar dreamed up the idea of a tribute concert to celebrate the 90th birthday of legendary singer Chavela Vargas. The concert took place in Havana in April 2009 performed by another of Almodуvar's favourites, Mallorcan flamenco singer Concha Buika with Cuban piano maestro Chucho Valdйs. The live show was an absolute triumph and was immediately followed by a recording session resulting in El Ultimo Trago. Buika and Valdйs pay homage to Chavela Vargas by pouring genuine emotion into their interpretations of her Mexican rancheras and boleros, tinged with flamenco, jazz and rumba.
-- mondomix.com

Seeing Buika draw from such different genres as copla, tango, buleria, bolero, Cuban music and jazz, mix them altogether with such grace and spontaneity, one cannot help but think that there is a brighter future as long as one can witness the boundless evolution of this infinite performer.
-- Pedro Almodovar (CD liner notes)

Concha Buika, the supremely soulful singer best known, perhaps, as the first lady of Afro-Flamenco jazz interpretation, here joins with Cuban master pianist and patriarch of Afro-Cuban jazz, Chucho Valdes. Filmaker Pedro Almodovar writes in the liners "...Her voice reminds us of La Lupe's frenzy with sometimes a hint of Olga Guillot..." Backed by Chucho and his band (with bassist Lazaro Rivero Alarcon, percussionist Yaroldy Abreu Robles, trumpeter Carlos Sarguy and others) there is a definite Afro-Cuban feel, and the singer "brings the flavors of copla, tango, bulerнa, bolero, Cuban music and jazz, mix(es) them together with such grace and spontaneity..." In short, this is a gem of a project with dimensions that unfold with each track. Highly Recommended.
-- descarga.com

Mr. Valdes plays clean, powerful piano... he dictates the harmonic atmosphere of the tune and plays florid but compact solos. Ms. Buika, for her part, is stunning on a line-by-line level.
-- NYTimes

Official site: http://www.buika.net/

Discography:
* El Ъltimo Trago, 2009
* Nina De Fuego, 2008
* Mi nina Lola, 2006
* Buika, 2005

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