Worksongs

Like its hometown of Los Angeles, the 10-year-old Mexican-American sextet Quetzal is a patchwork of North and s South, encompassing such north of the border sounds as modern rock and soul, as well as earthy Mexican folk music, driving salsa, loping cumbia rhythms, and chattering Afro-Cuban percussion. With these decidedly pan-cultural leanings, it's no surprise that the band's second album for Vanguard was produced by Steve Berlin of Los Lobos. Unlike Berlin's group, however, Quetzal's sound works better in lounges and on dance clubs (when not digging deep into the tradition) than Los Lobos's rough and ready bar band boogie. Martha Gonzales is an outstanding vocalist (in both English and Spanish) who is at turns sensual and soulful, indignant and insightful. She, with help from the others, sings about the hopes and dreams of life in the barrio, often from a woman's perspective. Well-crafted and revved with thoughtful ambition, Worksongs takes its story of a minority and fashions it into something quite universal. --Tad Hendrickson