Short of
Ruben Blades, you won't find a more risk-taking salsa vocalist than Richard Lemvo, who is a superb salsero, but hardly a typical one. While many other salseros are Cuban or Puerto Rican,
Lemvo grew up in Kinshasa in the Congo. And while other salseros sing in Spanish exclusively,
Lemvo can also sing in Portuguese or Lingala (a language that's spoken in the Congo). São Salvador is the second album that
Lemvo recorded in Los Angeles (his adopted home) with his band
Makina Loca. This is primarily a salsa CD, but it's a salsa CD that incorporates elements of soukous and African pop as well as funk/soul. Most of the lyrics are in Spanish, although
Lemvo sings convincingly in Portuguese on the title song (a poignant ballad) and embraces both Spanish and Lingala lyrics on "Ave María (Por Dios)" and "Le Rendez-vous." Full of surprises, São Salvador is happily recommended to anyone who is seeking something fresh and expansive from salsa and Afro-Cuban music. ~ Alex Henderson