It's not surprising that the Afro-Spanish singer Concha Buika is a favorite of the filmmaker Pedro Almodovar. Her husky handling of the copla, a Spanish torch song with flamenco flourishes, and other styles suitable for late-night listening are as knowingly decadent as Almodovar's movies. And with her streetwise style, she could easily be cast in one of them. Like the director, Buika has gained a cult following since her self-titled debut album in 2005. On the new release, "El Último Trago" (The Last Round), she pairs up with the master Cuban pianist Chucho Valdes for a set of jazz boleros with Afro-Cuban rhythms that honors the repertoire of the Mexican bohemian legend Chavela Vargas (another Almodovar pick). On acoustic arrangements, Valdes' subtle playing has the retro elegance of an episode of the TV show "Mad Men," setting off Buika's more emotional vocals. While neither artist really stretches here, together they create a smooth and potentially addictive musical cocktail.-Judy Cantor-Navas
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Concha Buika & Chucho Valdes, "El Último Trago"
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