Mexican-American songstress Lila Downs drops her first live album on April 13. 'Lila Downs y La Misteriosa: En Paris - Live à FIP' (World Village), was recorded in May 2009 at Radio France Studio 105 and is comprised of songs culled from six albums, spanning 1999's 'La Sandunga' to 2008's 'Shake Away.' Backed by La Misteriosa, her longtime band of eight multiculti musicians, which includes her husband and producer Paul Cohen, a drummer from Chile, a guitarist from Venezuela, a bassist from St. Louis and percussionists from Colombia and Cuba, the recording captures Downs' energy onstage as well as her ability to deliver a seamless melange of sonic explorations rooted in her home country's rich, folk-music legacy. Born in Oaxaca, Mexico, Downs is the daughter of a Mixtec cabaret singer, Anita Sánchez and Allen Downs, a Scottish/English-American art professor. She grew up in Oaxaca, California, and Minnesota, where she graduated from the University of Minnesota in voice and anthropology. Like her upbringing, her musical vision reflects an array of multiple influences, though at its core Downs' artistry seems to unearth a single truth: music's ancient, spiritual roots. Still the beauty of Downs -- and this is perhaps why her career has managed to remain in the stratosphere of world music luminaries -- is that she injects a contemporary edge that is relevant and forward-looking. Downs has transformed Mesoamerican folk music into a modern, living genre and this alone merits the recording of a live album. An extensive U.S. tour, including one performance in Canada will be launched closely following the release of the album.
Check out Lila Downs' tour dates after the jump.
Lila Downs tour dates:
April 15 - Casita Maria Center for Arts Education - Bronx, NY
April 17 - City Winery - New York, NY
April 18 - City Winery - New York, NY
April 23 - Int'l Mariachi Fest.: TCC Arena - Tucson, AZ
April 30 - House of Blues - Chigaco, IL
May 1 - America's Center - St. Louis,
July 31 - Yerba Buena Gardens - San Francisco, CA
October 13 - Symphony Hall - Chicago, IL
November 6 - Moore Theatre - Seattle, WA
November 7 - Chan Center - Vancouver, Canada
November 10 - Walt Disney Concert Hall - Los Angeles, CA
