Flor de Amor

Though Omara Portuondo has been singing and performing in her native Cuba since the late 1940s, her career experienced a radical resurgence after her participation on the 1997 album BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB. Portuondo possesses a deep, sultry voice that remains in superb condition, and she uses it to croon over complex island rhythms with seemingly effortless ease, as on the easy shuffle of "El Madrugador" and the dance-floor filler "Mueve La Cintura Mulato."
FLOR DE AMOR, the singer's second release on the World Circuit imprint, shows a heavy Brazilian influence. Bossa nova and samba styles are identifiable here, though Portuondo keeps the whole firmly rooted in Cuban jazz and folk traditions. Polyrhythms simmer throughout, but the vibe is elegant, romantic, and decidedly low-key, evoking the tropical nights and lazy street cafes of the singer's native Havana. This ballad-heavy collection includes songs of love, heartache, and romantic longing, which are no less bewitching for being sung by a woman in her twilight years; in fact, the experience in her voice lights each song beautifully from within.