Misma Gran Señora

Two new tracks and a set of old favorites fill this moving, posthumous release that landed on shelves and in online stores only two days after the superstar singer died suddenly when a plane carrying her and members of her family and touring organization crashed in the mountains of northern Mexico. Think "amazing what they can do in just two days" rather than anything crass, because this set takes great care with the artist's legacy, collecting defining numbers like "Besos y Copas," "Hermano Amigo," and the original "La Gran Señora." Of course, the big draw here is the title track, a soaring song that triumphantly declares that the 2012, recently post-divorce Rivera is still the same "grand woman" she always was. It's as bittersweet as they come, and a great reason to pick this Jenni Rivera collection over the others. ~ David Jeffries