Acclaimed French and World music singer, Raquel Bitton releases her collection of classic Latin-infused songs on C’est Magnifique tomorrow (July 21).
Bitton brings her signature fusion of passionate French and Latin grooves to songs that have shaped her creative journey. Today, she releases the album opener with a bolero interpretation of the 1960s Françoise Hardy hit, “MON AMIE LA ROSE,” accompanied by the brilliant Leo Amuedo (Chris Botti) on guitar – enjoy/stream the very song that started young Bitton’s dream of becoming a singer.
The 12-tracks span multiple styles ranging from French swing and Latin pop to Cuban guajira, rumba, bolero, and cha-cha-cha; and Brazilian samba and bossa nova. Sung in both French and Spanish, reaching back into Raquel’s cosmopolitan heritage, C’est Magnifique comprises bold, highly cultured, and eminently danceable interpretations of compositions delivered with seductive, mesmerizing panache.
Co-Produced by 18-time Grammy and Latin Grammy Award winner, Rafa Sardina (Alejandro Sanz, Lady Gaga), Bitton has increasingly absorbed the Latin flair that infuses and enlivens C’est Magnifique’s 12 pulsating tracks. She’s joined on the record by a who’s who of 24 top-tier musicians including percussionist Alex Acuña (Weather Report, Joni Mitchell), guitarist Leo Amuedo (Stevie Wonder, Neil Diamond), pianist Rebeca Mauleon (Carlos Santana, Tito Puente), drummer Jimmy Branly (Celia Cruz, Chucho Valdez), and bassist, Oscar Stagnaro (Paquito D’Rivera, Diane Schuur).
“From my heart to yours,” says Bitton. “These songs I had heard as a young girl, either on the radio or witnessing my parents, who were in love, dance and kiss to them, had become my secret friends until now, tucked away lovingly in my heart through the years. I felt it was time to lend my voice to them”.
Working closely with orchestrator/arranger Jorge Escobar (Marco Antonio Solis, Armando Manzanero), Raquel pared down an original list of around 40 songs to just twelve over a period of 18 months. “I had to pick and choose songs that make me tremble with joy and tears,” she continued. “Then I spent every day over six months with Jorge Escobar discussing arrangements and orchestrations, leaving no leaf unturned, the journey leading us to D-Day was precious. Passion, hope, and dreams were the fabric of my youth, and that has not changed,” Bitton concluded. “I want listeners to recapture those precious moments in time.”
