EVA CORTÉS

LA MALINCHE

Truth Revolution Recording Collective

Eva Cortés, vocals/composer/lyrics.

This is the ninth album release for Eva Cortés. Her album is a recorded response to ICE raids and systemic racism, to the abuse of power within government agencies, and an objection to cultural histories being re-written or completely erased. She calls it, “Protest Meets Rhythm.” The title, “La Malinche” translates to “A Traitor.”

Eva Cortés is a jazz vocalist and songwriter born in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. She was raised in Seville, Spain.  Although she currently lives in New York City, much of her album is sung in Spanish. She is heralded as one of the most interesting and promising voices in Spanish Jazz. Most of her original music explores themes of heritage, personal memory, and social issues. Many feel that Eva is a cultural bridge between Latin America and Europe.

Her song “Remember Me” is a blend of languages, both English and Spanish.  Cortés says this album was initially inspired by the disappearance of a young, Indigenous girl. The teen disappeared from her group home in Mesa, Arizona last year in January. Sadly, her remains were discovered on February 14, 2025, (Valentine’s Day) about 100 miles away, in two large trash bags. The fourteen-year-old’s murder drew attention to the cases of many murdered and missing Indigenous women (MMIW), who go unreported or completely ignored by the local police departments.

In 2006, Cortés recorded and co-produced her first solo album titled, “Sola Contigo” that translates to “Alone With You.”  It was a blend of American jazz, with touches of Andalusian cultural roots, because Cortés was born in Southern Spain. It relates to the dialect spoken there and her own Andalusian roots.

The smooth, compelling tone of Eva Cortés invites people to unity and brotherhood on a tune called “Indians of All Tribes.” She features a number of special guest collaborators on her musical journey, including legendary bassist Christian McBride, popular jazz pianist Zaccai Curtis, flautist and singer, Roman Filiŭ who helps lay down the rich background vocals on this project. McBride’s wonderful bass lines threads through “Soy el Aire” and made me stop what I was doing to look on the album cover and see who was playing that bass. Christian McBride is a master with a powerful style.

Eva Cortés makes a beautiful, important, musical and political statement. She uses her composer voice to demand attention and introspection into what is going on around us. At the same time, this music is entertaining, produced and played by wonderful musicians, like Antonio Serrano who adds harmonica to “Light and Sorrow” in a lovely way. Together, these gifted musicians bring Latin flavor and warmth to accompany her words of wisdom. Her political awareness is combined with passion that colors the melodic stories she sings.

THE EVA CORTÉS BAND: Eva Cortés, vocals/composer/lyricist; Pepe Rivero & Jon Cowherd, piano/ arrangers; Christian McBride, Luques Curtis & Reinier Elizarde “Nigron,” bass; Paco Heredia & Marvin Sewell, guitar; Zaccai Curtis, keyboard; Roland Guerrero & Bandolero, percussion; Georvis Pico, Antonio Sanchez & Adam Cruz, drums: Antonio Serrano, harmonica; Bobby Martinez & Roman Field, saxophone; Manuel Machado, trumpet;  Eva Cortés, & Georvis Pico, background vocals; Roman Filiŭ, background vocals/flute.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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