The glamorous duo of husky New York-based Mexican vocalist Magos Herrera, singing in English, Spanish and Portuguese, and Madrileño Flamenco guitarist Javier Limón whose work has encompassed appearances with the late Paco de Lucía and Bebo Valdés among others, bookend Dawn with the ever dependable ‘Afro Blue’ and Miles/Bill Evans' ‘Blue in Green’ (as in Cassandra Wilson’s “Sky and Sea” take from Traveling Miles).
Also included is Jobim’s ‘O que tinha de ser (What Has to Be)’ as well as the duo’s own material, the title track and best thing here the glossily romantic ‘Dawn’, and ‘My Love For You’, the latter's melody a little like Earth Wind and Fire’s ‘Fantasy.’ That’s not to forget the Mexican folk songs, Limón’s Norwegian Wood-like break on ‘La Martiniana’ one of the best instrumental moments of the album. But the more orthodox jazz side is perhaps less effective and ‘Skylark’ doesn’t quite come off. The pair, though, really get inside Caetano Veloso’s ‘Oracao ao Tempo.’ Magos has a slight Joni Mitchell-like quality to her persuasive voice although she has been described with some justification as “the Cassandra Wilson of Latin America”. And there’s an arresting width in her vocal timbre throughout, a certain ache perfect for the Flamenco styling. Recorded mainly in Madrid in August last year the duo are accompanied by a small cast of players providing most obviously hand claps and extra percussion. Yet it’s the remarkable interplay of a dominant voice and ideas-fuelled naturalistic guitar that all attention is drawn to. SG
Magos&Limón (above) perform at the Playhouse, Norwich on 19 May; and Union Chapel, London 20 May
