Tortilla Soup

This eminently enjoyable soundtrack album gathers together a multigenerational collection of artists whose roots span South America, the Caribbean, Europe, and Africa, underscoring the rich, dizzying variety of music that all too often simply gets labeled \"Latin.\" The culture\'s telling sense of history is present throughout, from the Cuban son preservationism of Buena Vista Social Club singer-guitarist Eliades Ochoa (\"Si en un Final\") to the compelling reggae/rap/salsa cocktails of Sergent García (\"Hoy Me Voy\"). Bebel Gilberto updates traditional Brazilian jazz with contemporary production touches, yet never loses the music\'s cool sheen on \"Sem Contenção,\" while Lila Downs puts an equally chic, smoky spin on the standard \"Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps.\" Venezuela\'s standout pop combo Los Amigos Invisibles wax loopy and lounge-suave on \"Cuchi-Cuchi\" and \"Si Estuvieras Aquí,\" respectively, and even veteran Rocky scorer Bill Conti captures the tropical fever on his title track. And in what must be a soundtrack first, a series of individual menu cards relating to the film are inserted with the liner notes. --Jerry McCulley (Amazon)