Betzaida - Betzaida (CD)

All Music Guide

The majority of Fonovisa's releases are aimed at the regional Mexican market, but occasionally, Fonovisa will put out a CD that isn't overtly Mexicanorientedsomething that is designed to appeal to Spanish speakers in general rather than focusing on regional Mexican audiences specifically. This selftitled debut album by Betzaida is such a release. Although the Chicagobased singer is part Mexicanshe has a Mexican mother and a Puerto Rican fatherBetzaida‘s album isn't dominated by banda, mariachi, norteño, ranchera or even grupero. "Ahora Te Dejo Yo" does have a grupero flavor, and Fonovisa provides a TexMex remix of the melancholy "Te Tengo Que Aprender a Olvidar" along with the main Latin pop version of that song. But Betzaida isn't trying to be the next Jenni Rivera; that isn't the sort of approach that she's going for. Produced by the well known Rudi Pérez, Betzaida's debut is primarily an album of straightup Latin pop; stylistically, she has a lot more in common with Ana Gabriel, Mar...isela, Gloria Estefan and even Madonna than she does with a hardcore banda singer like Rivera. And while regional Mexican music is an occasional influence on Betzaida, the Chicagoan has been influenced by other Latin styles as well. The infectious "El Moreno," for example, incorporates elements of Colombianstyle cumbia (as opposed to the TexMex interpretation) and AfroCuban salsa and as well as Spanish gypsy flamenco. Betzaida's first album isn't as consistent as it could have been; not all of the tracks are as memorable as "El Moreno" or "Te Tengo Que Aprender a Olvidar". But the disc has more ups than downs and indicates that Betzaida is someone to keep an eye on. - Alex Henderson, All Music Guide Read more Less