"The best music is closer than it appears" - CDs

Latino Leaders: The National Magazine of the Successful American Latino, August-Sept, 2003 by Alexis Langagne

As a new contributor to Latino Leaders I invite you to some of the most wonderful and exciting music in the world, music of our times that changes people's lives. These are some recommendations of exceptional music that dignifies humanity and yet is less known than it deserves.

I hope I have enticed you to the marvelous experience of music. If I was successful, you will discover some exciting music, developing your own taste and preference, which at the end is what matters.

Alexis is a passionate music listener and drummer since the age of six, has recorded two albums with rock bands in Mexico, played at Yamaha's 1989 Band Explosion contest in Japan, and with his most recent band, Q-Band, performed at Ceasar's Palace in Las Vegas. Today he is a worldwide executive at Hewlett-Packard and lives in Houston, Texas.

JAZZ

Chick Corea

Rendezvous in New York

Probably the best pianist and composer who has grown within jazz, but who has also evolved into classical, contemporary, and other styles. In this production you can listen to superb live performances in all sort of configurations, including magnificent arrangements to Joaquin Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez in two duet versions, one with piano virtuoso Gonzalo Rubalcaba and another with the unique vocalist, composer, and classical director Bobby McFerrin.

CLASSICAL / CONTEMPORARY

Philip Glass

The Hours

This extraordinary minimalist composer brings creativity and emotional intensity to a motion picture. Glass combines contemporary orchestral music with images that he builds in our minds and borrows flora the film. As you get to know Glass, one day you might want to listen to Passage, a collaboration with sitar master Ravi Shankar.

WORLD MUSIC / ROCK

Los Fabulosos Cadillacs

En vivo en Buenos Aires

A powerful and very Latin band from Argentina, that combines rock, Caribbean, and tango sounds. This new edition of a live performance from 1994 includes intense protest songs such as "Desapariciones."