Looking for a low-key concert to close out your summer? Cumbancha artist Luisa Maita is on tour right now, criss-crossing the United States.  Maita’s easy style and smooth vocals won her the title of Best New Artist at the 2011 Brazilian Music Awards. Check out Maita’s mellow, sultry track “Lero-Lero” and the more up-tempo “Alento” below, and click here to download the album. If you like what you hear, click here to see a list of tour dates and enjoy!

Photo courtesy of Cumbancha; photographer Joao Wainer

Classic R&B is back and Putumayo is bringing a world perspective. Funk up your life a little with this eclectic and foot-tapping Rhythm and Blues collection. 

Three hot highlights:

James Hunter, ” ‘Til Your Fool Comes Home”

This Brit performs his original but classic-sounding material with gusto, both singing and playing guitar. A staple of the London club scene, Hunter has recorded with Van Morrison and Allen Toussaint.

The Quantic Soul Orchestra, “Who Knows”

This bluesy shuffle incorporates elements of Latin jazz and reggae, a hallmark of group founder Will Holland’s open approach to music. The CD features Panamanian vocalist Kabir, but click here for an equally entertaining version featuring Noelle Scaggs.

Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, “100 Days, 100 Nights”

Amy Winehouse fans will jump right on board with Ms. Jones’ bold vocals. This track is the CD’s best, and The Dap Kings are outstanding support for the gutsy frontwoman. Old school feel and old school look with a bit of new school twist. Check out the slick video here.

Talk about multi-talented. Not many leaders of the world of business and finance can also claim to be Grammy-nominated singers. Chandrika Tandon can.

Born in India, Tandon was trained in classical Indian vocalization as a girl, influenced by her talented mother. Instead of the arts, however, Tandon pursued business, spending years as a partner with McKinsey & Company, a management consulting firm, and then founding Tandon Capital Associates, Inc. in New York City.

Tandon’s musical gift kept calling to her, however, and Soul Call, her second album, is the remarkable result. The mellow album arranges traditional Sanskrit chants, and Tandon’s clear voice deserves every bit of the praise it’s been receiving.