Peruvian chanteuse is somewhat pallid

Welcome to the age of world music. From Yo-Yo Ma's Appalachian Waltz to Joshua Bell's recent The Road Home, it seems as though everyone in the music business is looking for their own marketable ethnic niche.

Raised onthe Afro Peruvian tradition, Suzanna Baca and her band need not look far. Fusing African rhythms with jazz guitar riffs and Latin American melodies, Baca's ensemble produced a relaxed, danceable sound that had Finney Chapel jumping in the aisles last weekend.

The group made an effort to be mysteriously intriguing. Baca glided on stage barefoot, waving her arms gracefully by her sides. For the first ten minutes the artist followed an elaborate choreography, tiptoeing about stage, occasionally throwing a fervent glance skyward. Initial introductions were made entirely in Spanish.

When Baca finally began to sing, the results were disappointing. In her late fifties, Baca is unquestionably past her prime. Throughout the concert the singer struggled with intonation difficulties and sang a series of slow, similar melodies with decidedly unvirtuosic vocal parts.

The weak vocals however, did not detract from the phenomenal energy of the rhythm section. Consisting of a caja (box) player, and a very talented Peruvian percussionist, this element of the ensemble provided consistent drive during the concert. The guitarist's "Beach Boy" riffs and chord progressions played with traditional stylings added a definitive Latin feel.

It took well over half the concert for the band to warm up, but once they were on a roll, the guitarist and percussionists exuded phenomenal energy. The show climaxed towards the end of the night with a series of solos on the caja, congas and guitar. These moments highlighted the unique qualities of the band, showcasing the music's complex African syncopations and unusual synthesized guitar effects, leaving the Finney audience with something substantial to take home.

Peru Brew: Suzanna Baca and her band brought unique blends of African, Latin and conventional jazz rhythms to Finney Chapel this past weekend, in a fair performance. (photo by Pauline Shapiro)