Santero, El Hijo de Obatala. No hablo ingles, no
hablo ingles, Oakland deejay and emcee Santero flaunts in “Ochosi.”
The native Guatemalan makes no secret of his heritage throughout El
Hijo de Obatala, fusing Latin rhythms and instrumentation with kick
drums, high hats, and snares. The record tells an urban, modern Latin
American story that’s as booty-shakin’ as it is emotional and
intellectual. (City Hall Records)
Meri St. Mary, I’m Back EP. Through collaborations
with a range of underground artists from the early 1980s to today, all
punctuated by brief disappearances, folk-punk songwriter Meri St. Mary
has accumulated a bit of mystique. This serves her new work well
— personal songs like “Tropical Fish” and “Ashes,” delivered with
a mix of mystery and charisma, persist long after their melodies fade.
(self-released)
Weather Pending, And How! Janie Oliver’s lead vocals
warm, chill, breeze, shower, and stream through the music like a
climate unto themselves. Fortunately, the band is just as adaptable,
building upon a hybrid framework of lounge, soul, and electronica with
easygoing, late-night grooves culled from dub, hip-hop, and more. An
impressive first effort from a fresh San Francisco trio.
(self-released)
Kurt Ribak Trio, Gone. Stand-up bassist Ribak, a
Berkeley native, has made a name for himself and his band in recent
years through steady gigging and a sophisticated, swinging sound.
Ribak’s originals work as well in bars and restaurants as they do in
churches, and the mood remains fluid throughout the trio’s third
record. Freed from any cerebral constraints, his jazz commands a life
of its own. (Rodia Records)
