INDIA, TITO PUENTE & COUNT BASIE: Jazzin´ [Re-up]

LA INDIA
Linda Viera Caballero (La India) é um "blockbuster" na comunidade latina, onde é considerada a "rainha da Salsa". Naturalmente, nesta área de atuação, seu repertório não é dos mais recomendáveis,  mas a moça mostra que - quando quer, pode ter classe e elegância
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LA INDIA
Linda Viera Caballero: quizás la conozcan por su alias artístico, La India. Los padres de esta portorriqueña poderosa emigraron a Nueva York siendo una niña, y creció y se educó en el Bronx. Con 14 años ya cantaba en un grupo de hip-hop latino, TKA, bajo la tutela de uno de los gurús de la música de baile de la Gran Manzana, John "Jellybean" Benitez, con los que obtuvo cierto impacto comercial. Con 19 años se casa con un antiguo compañero de instituto, 'Little' Louie Vega. Poco antes de ese matrimonio había firmado un contrato con una de la grandes discográficas, que la quiere lanzar como la Madonna latina. Tras un primer disco siguiendo este plan, Breaking Night (1989), Caballero siente que esta estrategia no le gusta y que no va a ser su camino profesional. Con la ayuda de su marido y de Eddie Palmieri graba su primer disco de salsa en español, Llegó La India vía Eddie Palmieri (1992), que triunfa en la comunidad latina estadounidense. Desde este momento, La India ha seguido apostando en esta dirección y es una de las estrellas hispanas que más vende en el difícil y competitivo mercado norteamericano. En 1996 juega fuerte y, junto al gran Tito Puente y el acompañamiento instrumental de la Count Basie Orchestra, graba Jazzin', un brillante y altamente recomendable disco de versiones latinas de standards.
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LA INDIA
La India was born Linda Viera Caballero in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. Her parents decided to move to New York City soon after her birth and upon their arrival, they settled down in the South Bronx area of the city. They moved in with Caballero's grandmother, a person who is considered to have served as an important influence on her life. Caballero's grandmother was a very strong willed lady and she looked up to her. During her grade school years Caballero met and became friends with Louie Vega who introduced her to the urban street music scene where she learned to appreciate the hip hop style of the day. Caballero's became known as "India" (Native American) among her friends because of her fine dark features and long straight black hair. In 1985, when Caballero was 14 years old, she signed up as a back-up singer for the Latin Hip Hop group TKA and scored a number one hit with "I Can't Get No Sleep". She was under the tutelage of John "Jellybean" Benitez, a Puerto Rican DJ who was once involved with Madonna. When Caballero wasn't singing, she earned money as a part time model.In 1990, when she was 19 years old, Caballero married Louie Vega who then went by the name of Little Louie Vega. Vega was then a DJ and record producer. Before marrying Vega, Caballero had signed a record contract with Warner Bros., who planned on making her the "Latin" version of Madonna. After recording "Breaking Night", Caballero decided that she didn't want to take that route in her career. An important event in her life took place one day when accompanied her husband during a studio recording. Salsa band leader Eddie Palmieri happened to visit the studio and was impressed with Caballero when he heard her singing. In 1992 Palmieri produced Caballero's first Spanish salsa album "Llego La India via Eddie Palmieri" (The "India" has Arrived via Eddie Palmieri) which was acclaimed as one of the best salsa albums of the year. In 1996, La India worked with Tito Puente in the production of "Jazzin", the English version of some swing classics with a latin twist for "RMM Records".
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MINHA OPINIÃO - Este disco é o meu preferido de La India, que deu um salto de qualidade enorme, ao ser acompanhada pelos gigantes Tito Puente e Count Basie O repertório é ótimo e India está contida, sem soltar todo aquele vozeirão: canta os standards - dentre eles a jobiniana WAVE, com classe e segurança, como se quisesse dizer: "Quando quero, canto assim!" Grande álbum, um marco na carreira da cantora - mais conhecida pelo seu lado popular de "rainha da salsa". BELEZA PURA!
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LA INDIA, TITO PUENTE & COUNT BASIE: JAZZIN
Audio CD (July 2, 1996)
Original Release Date: July 2, 1996
Label: Rmm Records

TRACKS/FAIXAS
01 - Jazzin'
02 - Fever
03 - Love for Sale
04 - Crazy He Calls Me
05 - To Be in Love
06 - Take It or Lose It
07 - Wave
08 - Goin' out of My Head
09 - Love Me
10 - What a Diff'rence a Day Makes (Cuando Vuelva a tu lado)