Latin Music Concert Special as Much Cliche as Celebration

Conceived and hosted by Edward James Olmos at the Kennedy Center in Washington in July, the Americanos Concert was meant to be a global celebration of Latin music, encompassing a wide variety of styles and countries.

But the TV show that’s been culled from the concert, airing tonight on PBS, is as much about the cliches associated with Latin music as it is about Latin music itself.

Giving a fair representation of the myriad of genres in Latin America is no walk in the park, and Olmos was the right person for the job. “Americanos,” a new CD anthology released in conjunction with the project, is flawless, compiling tracks from albums by such vital artists as Ruben Blades, Santana and Tito Puente.

But the lineup for the TV special is not so stellar, and the stilted way in which the show is structured gives the proceedings a deadly air of self-consciousness. And poor Olmos, a gracious and affable host, has been saddled with a ponderous commentary filled with pseudo-poetic imagery. Why would anyone want to approach such an earthy culture with such inappropriate pomposity?

Things begin on a downright bizarre note, as Cuban icon Cachao’s upright bass engages in a dissonant improvisation with Nestor Torres’ flute. This is followed by some ominous chanting, until a spirited danzon finally brings the concert to life.

High points include Dominican singer Juan Luis Guerra’s moving version of his “Ojala Que Llueva Cafe,” a peasant’s prayer for coffee to fall from the sky and hunger to end. A joyous medley by Peru’s Susana Baca is equally powerful.

At the end, you get to see spirited mariachi by Nati Cano and his Camperos, some son jarocho from Veracruz and a few explosive conga solos from Sheila E. and her family. You also see Gloria Estefan and Jose Feliciano butcher the classic bolero “Sabor A Mi.” Their inclusion is a clear example of how the trappings of commercial pop can endanger the beauty of the real thing.

* “The Kennedy Center Presents: The Americanos Concert” airs tonight at 9 on KCET.