Nina Pastori - Esperando Verte (2009)

Following an album of cover material, Joyas Prestadas (2006), and one including material written in collaboration with Jeros of Los Chicos, No Hay Quinto Malo (2004), Niña Pastori co-wrote the entirety of her seventh album, Esperando Verte, with her husband, Chaboli. The working relationship between Pastori and Chaboli (born Julio Jiménez Borja) goes back many years. Chaboli performed as a percussionist on her second and third albums, Eres Luz (1998) and Cañaílla (2000), and like Esperando Verte, the married couple co-wrote the entirety of her fourth album, María (2002), which was her first foray into songwriting after years of working closely with singer/songwriter Alejandro Sanz. Fans of Pastori's songwriting should find Esperando Verte illuminating from a lyrical standpoint, and while it's not as personal as María, it still casts light on the flamenco superstar's personality in ways that her other albums of cover material don't. Besides the songwriting, Esperando Verte is notable for its opening song, "Capricho de Mujer," a Top Five smash hit single with touches of disco-soul. From the second song onward, Esperando Verte is more or less straightforward flamenco without the pop crossover tendencies for which Pastori is known. While there is no shortage of highlights on Esperando Verte, a uniformly excellent album free of filler, one of the best purely flamenco songs is "Viento de la Tierra Mia." Lastly, with "Dentro de Mi Corazón," another standout song with touches of disco-soul, the album closes much as it begins. From Pastori's songwriting to "Capricho de Mujer" to the purely flamenco midsection of the album, Esperando Verte is another fine addition to the Spanish superstar's discography.~Esperando Verte Review by Jason Birchmeier