(21 May 2000) The fifth album by Costa Rican recording artist Patricia Saravia is entitled Ritmo de los Santos (Song-O-Sau'rus (USA) 724783, 1999). Eleven Latin-rhythmtracks feature her stunning vocal work and lush jazz-inspiredinstrumentals. Patricia's four earlier albums include Caracol(1989), Atrapar un Instante (1991), Entre el Son y elCorazón (1992) and De Inga y de Mandinga (1996). Herlatest album was selected by Luis Tamargo of Latin Beatmagazine of Los Angeles as one of the ten best Latin Americanalbums of 1999.

Patricia's main objective has been the performance of Peruvianmusic. She is considered by Peruvian journalists to bean artist with special quality and performance. She lives inSan José de Costa Rica where she is currently workong on research about Central American and Caribean music. Patricia haswon awards in Costa Rica for her musical work there. Her sixthalbum includes a brief anthology of Peruvian rhythms and someLatin American tunes; it is due to be released later this year.

The music on Ritmo de los Santos is earthy and rhythmic,with lush production and lovely vocal passages. It is mostakin to jazz in its texture with guitars balancing otherinstruments and never overpowering the vocals. Some of thetracks are dance-oriented.

In Offbeat, Joseph Irrera wrote, "Not only acompelling vocalist, Saravia composed the jazz-tingedselection "Asucenes" and the title cut of Ritmo DeLos Santos. Backed by Ruben Blades' current ensembleand members of Costa Rica's National Sypmphony, along withvocalist Fidel Gamboa (one of Costa Rica's most prominentmusicians), Saravia is an excellent introduction for thosmusic lovers in search of the indigenous and creole soundsof Peru. Seemingly related to the precussion-oriented music of Brazil and Cuba, Afro-Peruvian songs provide theaccompaniment for the country's three main dance forms' the lando, samba maleato and the alcatraz. PatriciaSaravia provides the invitation: 'Come to me if you dare ...come because to dance with me, determination you've gottahave."

Readers that are interested in expanding their horizonsare encouraged to explore Patricia Saravia's latest album.Her stunning (Spanish) vocals are backed by Latin and/orjazz textures to produce a lovely and sound. You can find additional reviews, soundbites and order PatriciaSaravia's album Ritmos de los Santos from amazon.comhere. We enjoyed listening to the album and learningabout this different style of music. A very relaxing listen!