Radha Torches Tamarindo

Radha Torches Tamarindo

     Originally from Panama, Radha Kunja began her musical career at the age of twelve and has performed in Cuba, Nicaragua, Argentina, Peru, Mexico and The U.S. She has been singing in Tamarindo since last February, steadily building a following here. She has been wowing them at Le Beach Club with her “Retro Latin Cabaret music”, as she calls it. Radha confesses to having a nostalgic side, that she has visceral, spiritual experience while singing these songs; this is apparent to the astute observer. Radha embraces her role as diva and definitely lets her singing take her away. The audience is permitted to go along with her, if they allow themselves to. Her rendition of “Summertime”, for example, is haunting, strong and ethereal at the same time.

   

Radha performing with Jesse Bishop

  Guitarist Jesse Bishop told me that his sets with Radha “range from ‘I’ve Got You Under My Skin’ to ‘Roxanne’”. When I saw them perform, they also covered “Fly Me to the Moon”, the Patsy Cline song “I Fall to Pieces”, a gripping rendition of “Quizas, Quizas” that received a wonderful response, the classic “Makin’ Whoopee” and a heartfelt rendition of “Me Voy Pal Pueblo”, a song that had an early influence on Ms. Kunja. Between sets, I strolled onto the beach with Jesse and Radha to hear them practice an upcoming song, truly an intimate experience.

     Christian and Heidi, the owners and producers of Le Beach Club, should be commended for offering these early performances (7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tues. & Thurs., 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday), with no cover charge, as a form of diverse cultural entertainment in Tamarindo. They, too have a passion for art and the community.

     On Tuesdays, Jesse performs with bassist David Herzovich and Brad Schmidt on sax; Jesse, David and Radha play on Thursdays, and Radha performs solo on Fridays, a completely different format than the prior night, with Ms Kunja singing to music recorded by musicians in Cuba, Peru and Argentina with arrangements specifically for Radha. These songs are all Latin: valses criollo from Peru, boleros from Buenos Aires and tangos from Cuba. During an intermission, she explained a bit about the songs: “Que Te Pedi’”, a Cuban ballad, “Piensa en Mi”, from Mexico. She feels these songs and their musical styles are being lost in time. She wants to keep them alive, so is performing and now recording them with the help of Nano Fernandez in his studio in Santa Ana. The disc will include “Me Quiero Morir”, a bolero by Costa Rican Ray Tico.

     All the compositions sung by Radha have strong lyrics. They are nostalgic songs, more passionate than romantic. Radha steps onto the stage prepared: black gloves that extend above here elbows, black dress with spaghetti straps, black high heels and nylons. When she begins, it is startling to hear a voice so strong emanate from such a petite body. She has control of her voice, the mike, her stage presence. The music takes her away. Her entire body becomes the song, something that needs to be witnessed to be appreciated. A passion for music is not something one can pretend. Radha has the passion and the talent as well.

     Radha performs at the Beach Club in Playa Portrero and at Soda Mediterranea in Playa del Coco. Radha, Jesse and David also perform at the Exclusive Resorts next to the Four Seasons in the Papagayo Peninsula.