La Voz Del Mar

Hailing from Guapi on the Pacific Coast, but residing in Cali, Colombia, Xiomara Torres displays both her traditional roots and influences from the varied Cali musical scene in her latest album, La Voz Del Mar. Although the Pacific Coast’s traditions have been highly prominent for the artist, upon first glance it is slightly more difficult to place this pan-African focused work.

The opening track, ‘Me Quedo Contigo’, featuring an amalgamation of salsa, Cuban rumba, and jazzy chords on the keys, does not immediately scream ‘Pacific Coast Colombia.’ But, once we arrive at ‘Tio’ we are firmly situated in Torres’ musical roots of the Pacific with a classic currulao marimba opening the piece. Departing from the Pacific, the rest of the album showcases Torres’ talent for bridging Cuban, Afro-Colombian and Latin jazz influences and takes on a more melancholic feel. That is, until we reach the Pacific again with the last track, ‘Filomena’. Marketed as an album devoted to Xiomara Torres’ love for Afro-Colombian culture, La Voz Del Mar certainly does not disappoint, while also broadening the periphery to include many global Black music forms from jazz to salsa.