Performing Arts
Lila Downs
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In collaboration with Carnegie Hall's Neighborhood Concert Series, El Museo del Barrio welcomes Latin Grammy award winner Lila Downs performing from her newly released album, Pecados y Milagros. Known for her striking voice and magnetic performances, Mexican-American singer and composer Lila Downs (Oaxaca, México) has created one of the most singular explorations of Mexican roots music on both sides of the border. The daughter of an American professor (her father) and a Mixtec cabaret singer, Downs came of age in both countries. By studying folk Mexican rhythms and native dialects and blending them with American folk, blues and rock, Downs has created a unique body of work through releases such as La Sandunga (1999), Tree of Life (2000) Border (2001), One Blood (2004), Entre Copa y Copa (2006) and Shake Away/Ojo de Culebra (2008).
Her new CD release, Pecados y Milagros (Sins and Miracles), is an exploration of faith in light of modern events, both tragic and inspirational. Fifteen renowned Mexican contemporary visual artists have joined Lila in this project and each has created a work of art to accompany each song on the CD. These images have been integrated into a video projection which will be part of the concert performance. Lila will be accompanied by her long-time multi-national multi-instrumentalist band, La Misteriosa.
Lila Downs has long been recognized by the music industry, receiving a Latin Grammy for the 2004 release "Una Sangre" and a Grammy nomination for 2008's "Shake Away," which was also named one of the top ten albums by WOMEX, the leading world music organization. In addition to headlining venues all over the world, she has appeared at major festivals and events including the World Sacred Music Festival - appearing with such luminaries as the Dalai Lama; WOMAD; Live Earth; the Latino Inaugural Ball for President Barack Obama; and the Bicentenario de Mexico.
Lila Downs is currently composing the score for the musical theater adaptation of Like Water for Chocolate, the award winning novel and film by Mexican author Laura Esquivel.
Video credit: Xochipitzahua / Paloma del Comalito