appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

liveArticle

appConfig

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sectionsV2

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

json

Charmaine Chan

Lisa Ono

Romance Latino

Vol 1

(EMI)

Lisa Ono is a big reason for the continuing romance of the Japanese with Latin music. Born in Sao Paolo but raised in Japan from the age of 10, Ono has a loyal fan base that can't get enough of her effortless bossa sound and sunny disposition. Which makes her perfect for friendly get-togethers where music needn't hog the scene.

Part of the appealing package is Ono's voice, which is so smooth and gentle she could be singing lullabies.   But not all tracks have that sexy, soporific effect. The opening number on Romance Latino Volume 1, Ay Cosita Linda, features chirpy flutes that demand shoulder-grooves. And Cogele Bien El Compas has a jazzy ambience enhanced by a chorus of people larger than that featured on most other songs.

For those wanting to get into bossa nova but not the 'scene' (picture martinis by the pool and the Girl  from Ipanema floating above), this  is as good a collection as any for appreciating its sophisticated appeal. And there are enough standards to sustain initial interest: most listeners will  be familiar with Quizas, Quizas, Quizas (Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps) and  Begin the Beguine.

Low impact but effective, Ono beguiles and deserves the recognition of bossa nova pioneer Antonio Carlos Jobim, with whom she has worked. But there's something a little too safe about her latest effort. Ono makes  few mistakes because she takes few chances. Each of the 11 songs, which she co-produced, stands up on its own. But  none stands out.



Lisa Ono