"Guapapasea!" opens with a Spanish lounge version of Bob Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues", so you know this must be a CD worth listening to. Actually, any relation between this version and the original is coincidental, except I assume that the Spanish lyrics are taken from Dylan. But where Dylan is jagged, Turner's interpretation begins with a flute and goes into a groovy, syncopated rap, or as Turner describes it, "a reggae swing groove".

1. Subterranean Homesick Blues
2. Sabes Quien Te Quiere
3. Limón en La Cabeza
4. Te Estás Equivocando
5. How Come You Do Me Like You Do Me?
6. Rainbow Country
7. Monka Mongas
8. Did Ya Black Up Today?
9. Dime Que Te Quéa
10. Niña Del Guadiana
11. Dizzie
12. 45.000$ (Guapa Pasea)

This whole CD basically follows this laid-back but polyrhythmic reggae style. Turner, whose real name is Fernando Echave, has been strongly influenced by Fela Kuti, so much so that he calls his backup band The Afrobeatnik Orchestra. The press release for this CD touts "his unique blend of jazz, blues, samba, reggae, hip hop, rock, Spanish and Arab music".

In lesser hands, all of these different influences could produce an indistinguishable mess. Turner, however, never loses his way and uses everything to create unique songs. "Rainbow Country" is a reggae song with a Spanish guitar as its primary backing. "Monka Mongas" is hipster jazz. "Dime Que Te Quéa" is Latin funk.

He is rooted in Latin music, with beats that anchor his songs. But the beats stretch out to many genres. "Dizzie" opens with a beat like a clock ticking, while "45,000$ (Guapa Pasea)" opens with a marimba (thumb piano) and African percussion. On a few songs like "Limón En La Cabeza" and "How Come You Do Me Like You Do Me? (Big Bang Romeo)", Turner's raps make his voice into another percussion instrument. He uses Spanish, English, and Portuguese.

Throughout, Turner keeps everything light and upbeat, skipping through the twelve tracks like he's having a good time, a good time that's contagious as you listen to him.

~ Dave Howell

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