Foster, Josephine & The Victor Herrero Band – “Perlas” – [Fire Records]

This music is so distinctively ethnic in its sound and content that it is difficult to imagine it wouldn’t be filed in the International library, but Foster’s Colorado origin is the only thing keeping it in A. Victor Herrero is Spanish, and the music itself, in addition to being sung with Spanish lyrics, was recorded live in Puerto de Santa Maria, Spain. The folk songs are, for the most part, upbeat, uplifting, and very adept at invoking images of the Castile, Basque, Santander, and Costa Brava traditions on which they are based. Foster’s high-pitched, distinctive voice is accompanied by the brilliant acoustic guitars and strumming of The Victor Herrero Band, who occasionally join voices with Foster to round out this slice of Spanish culture.