July/August 2009 Issue

Music Monday: Review: Adrian Quesada’s Coconut Rock

Ocote Soul Sounds and Adrian Quesada combine rock-steady beats and Brazilian ballads.

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Teaming Martín Perna from the New York Afrobeat collective Antibalas and Adrian Quesada of Austin’s Latin funk orchestra Grupo Fantasma, this kaleidoscopic gem splits the difference between the two bands in dazzling style. “The Revolt of the Cockroach Peoples” blends chugging baritone sax, tough grooves, and swirling flute, “Tu Fin, Mi Comienzo” (“Your End, My Beginning”) sets cheesy organ licks to a pumping rock-steady beat, and “Vendendo Saude e Fe” (“Selling Wealth and Faith”) is a creamy ballad featuring fuzzed-out guitar and Brazilian chanteuse Tita Lima. Coconut Rock feels more like a compilation than a cohesive album, but the variety just adds to the fun.

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So we’re going to try making this as un-annoying as possible. In “Let the Facts Speak for Themselves” we give it our best shot, answering three questions that most any fundraising should try to speak to: Why us, why now, why does it matter?

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