Today the latest album of legendary Cubana Omara Portuondo is released and it is aptly titled Gracias. The album is a thank you for Portuondo’s 60 year career as a musical artist. Drawing influences and including collaborations from Africa, Uruguay, and Brazil, Gracias is a work of collective inspiration.

The title track from the album, “Gracias”, which was composed especially with Omara in mind, begins with a clear taste of Brazil, one of the Cuban singer’s favourite music styles and a manifest influence in Uruguayan singer-songwriter Jorge Drexler’s productions. Omara is an admirer of the singer-songwriter’s work and has long wanted to sing one of his tunes. Omara’s ability to transform an apparent farewell message into a call of hope re- emerges in “Lo que me queda por vivir”. However, despite the song’s title – the life I have left – one only needs to listen to the first line of the song: “the life I have left will be spent smiling”, to realise that there is no place for sadness in this tune.

Guest artists on the cd included Chucho Valdés, Brazilian maestro Chico Buarque and African artist Richard Bona, as well as previous collaborators pianist Roberto Fonseca, guitarist Swami Jr, and percussionist Andrés Coayo.

You can hear a little taste of Gracias here.

You can hear more and get a sneak peak into the process that went into creating Gracias here.

Last pero not least, you can purchase Gracias here. I think it would make a nice navidad gift.