LILA DOWNS At La Peña Cultural Center, Berkeley, Thursday, June 29. By Jesse "Chuy" Varela Lila Downs Photo: Ron Delany The crowd was buzzing this past Thursday at La Peña in anticipation of Mexican singer-songwriter Lila Downs. The talk was about music rather than the upcoming presidential elections south of the border. After experiencing her performance you realize that in a nation where elections are still for sale, Lila (Lee-la) does more to advance the cause of the marginalized than any politician ever will. An electrifying figure who bears an uncanny resemblance to painter Frida Kahlo, Downs wore a hand-embroidered cotton blouse with bare midriff and a long green skirt, with a silk-like black shawl draped over her shoulder and her braided charcoal hair glistening against the spotlights. Her quiet confidence and rare artistic ability add up to a transfixing diva’s aura. A talented quartet from Mexico City made up of Paul Cohen (sax-piano), Celso Duarte (harp...

01. Bésame Mucho 6:26 02. Quinto Patio 4:08 03. Perfume de Gardenia 2:45 04. Malagueña 4:51 05. Almendra 6:20 06. Un Poco Más 4:13 07. Arenita Azul 3:41 08. Estrellita 5:16 09. Arráncame la Vida 2:49 10. Mambo 3:07 11. La Niña 2:52 12. Sale Sobrando 3:38 13. Cumbia Maya (Hanal Weech) 2:23 Arreglos: Paul R. Cohen: 1, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12 y 13. Gabriel Hernández: 5 y 10. Jorge Molina, Contrabajo. Omar Áran, bateria. Armando Montiel, percusión. Paul R. Cohen, Saxofón. Lila Downs, voz. Celso Duarte, Arpa, Violin y Guitarra. "Chuco" Mendoza, bajo. Diseño Gráfico, César Pindter.