Jazzing the Cumbia

When you hear Marta Gomez's mellow voice, you almost forget that her native Colombia is almost synonymous with caliente salsa beats, as a visit to Jackson Heights will attest. That's why her main audience is formed not by her own countryfolk, but by non-Spanish speakers with an appreciation for Latin music that doesn't motivate you to bump, grind and drink aguardiente into oblivion.

When Gomez left Cali to study popular music at Berklee College ("There were no such programs in Colombia at the time," she told me), she didn't quite have an idea of what she wanted to do. She had been a fan of Aterciopelados, Bogota's popular alt-rock band, but that was not exactly what she was looking for.

Back home, non-Spanish music has little influence due to the language barrier, so she hadn't gotten exposed much to musical genres outside that realm. Upon arriving at Berklee, however, she was overwhelmed by so much diversity, discovering Brazilian music and ultimately meeting musicians who were willing to blend their Latin heritage with jazz and other influences.

It was around that time that she began writing her own material, and that ultimately led to a record deal with the Chesky label. On her debut release, Cantos de Agua Dulce (Songs of Fresh Water), she ventures through different Latino beats, such as cumbias, carnavalitos and boleros.

The arrangements have sparse instrumentation, which helps the listener focus on her voice, but they are beautifully performed-just have a listen to Julio Santillan's amazing guitar work on "Bolero."

Marta Gomez is a welcome addition to a new generation of Latin-fusion expat performers who allow themselves to absorb other sounds without losing touch with their origins-such as Lila Downs, Bebel Gilberto and Cybelle. Though some might not be quite as well recognized in their own homelands, musicians like Gomez have found a niche-and an appreciative audience on foreign soil.

April 1, Joe's Pub, 425 Lafayette St. (at Astor Place), 212-539-8778; 7:30, $15 + 2 drink min.