Kalea represents the second instalment of the trilogy Kepa dedicates to the Basque songbook. Like its predecessor Etxea, it is a double CD featuring 24 songs, with up to 82 collaborators, and pays tribute to the Basque diaspora through a musical journey across eleven Latin American countries: Chile, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Guatemala, Peru, Uruguay, Cuba, Venezuela, Brazil and Nicaragua. In this album, the arrangements take on a more jazz-oriented character and the trikitixa becomes more prominent, defining the work’s identity. Kepa explains: “These are harmonically simple songs, but with enormous melodic richness; each interpretation makes me value even more the choice of these pieces.”

During his travels across Latin America, the trikitilari contacted musicians and singers to revitalise old compositions, paying special attention to the correct pronunciation of Euskera by performers unfamiliar with the language. The album opens with León Gieco performing “Agur jaunak” over Lito Vitale’s piano and Kepa’s triki.

From Argentina, participants include Liliana Herrero (“Santa Ageda”), Adriana Varela (“Goizian argi hastian”), Pedro Aznar (“Txori erresiñula”), Juan Carlos Baglietto (“Haurrak ikas zazue”) and the young Nora Sarmoria (“Barku sinple batean”). From Brazil come Ivan Lins with “Adios ene maitia”, Fabiana Cozza blending “Amak ezkondu ninduen” and “Mulher rendeira”, and the group Barbatuques performing a mayumana-style version of “Aita San Antonio”.

Cuba contributes Maykel Elizarde on tres in “Gure aitak amari”, the mother-daughter duo Ele y Eme (“San Migelen bertsoak”) and, most notably, Pablo Milanés interpreting “Txoria txori”. Mexico is represented by Lila Downs (“Haurtxo polita”), Martha González (“Apaizen kontra”) and Ximena Sariñana (“Antoni Anton”). From Miami, Juanes performs “Aldapeko”, drawing on his Basque roots. Finally, Peruvian singer Susana Baca and Argentine artist Patricia Sosa close the album with the emotional lullaby “Lua lua”, closing a project that combines tradition, diaspora and musical connections.