Cassandra Wilson Takes Flight on 'Thunderbird'

Published July 1, 2006 at 2:26 PM EDT

Cassandra Wilson's new CD Thunderbird soars over a swirling array of musical influences.

Backing up the pop tune "Go to Mexico," are the chant-like sounds of the Tchapatoulis Mardi Gras Indians. And you might have a version of the familiar American tune "Red River Valley" in your head, but Wilson — one of the great jazz vocalists of her generation — gives it a fresh new feel.

T-Bone Burnett produced "Red River Valley," and two of his own songs — notably the haunting "Strike a Match" — join Wilson's original material.

Wilson tells Debbie Elliott about a CD that pays tribute to the Native American spirit and the rich traditions of American music.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

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