The long-awaited return of Venezuelan singer Maria Márquez, and the follow-up to her critically-acclaimed 2004 Adventure Music release, Nature’s Princess. Tonada was produced by Maria and percussion great, John Santos, and features some of the Bay Area’s finest musicians, such as Mr Santos, Peter Barshay, Rich Kuhns and Scott Amendola, among others. Also featured, is special guest Ray Bonneville on slide guitar. “The infectious music of Brazil, the freedom I felt deep in my heart when I first heard and saw jazz masters, the arrangements and early fusions from the 70s by all have inspired my musical approach. The hauntingly beautiful melodies derived from the Venezuelan folklore are an essential part of the fabric that makes me who I am. At the core of it all, I wanted to showcase the raw but powerful sound of the Venezuelan cuatro which is at the heart of Venezuelan folk music.” – Maria Márquez (from the liner notes)