I remember the first time I heard of Alejandro Sanz...It was the Summer of 1998 and I was listening to "Si Fuera Ella" from a Spanish Ballads Radio Station in Barranquilla, Colombia. From that moment on, I was HOOKED! I would compare him to Pablo Neruda of the 21st Century. I have listened to his soul-drenching words that "[...]me peina el alma y me la enreda[...]" His "Grandes Exitos 91_04" album is the culmination of his best hits, from his debut album with Warners Brothers "Viviendo Deprisa" to his lastest "No es lo mismo." If I were to describe DISC 3, I would say that it is like an Invitation to his Personal Space, where one can grasp his Unedited Musical Talent in "Corazon Partido" to a Sevillana-vibe with Ketama in "Vida es un Espejo." If you have a magnifying glass at hand, take a peek and read the personal comments that his friends and Sanz wrote!

Alejandro Sanz is one of the most talented and gifted singers in the world today. When I first heard his songs, I was amazed by how beautiful and clear his voice is. If this man was 5-10 years younger, he would be the best selling Latin artist of
all time. Well hey!! 20 million records sold is not that bad at all.

I love these CD's, the first two have all Alejandro's greatest hits from the 80's and 90's, while the third one includes some of his popular live performances. If you are an Alejandro's fan you won't be disappointed.

This is the first ever Spanish language album I bought. The only time I saw him was on MTV singing 'No Es Lo Mismo' and later the video with Shakira. I love his voice so much that I was willing to risk buying this album. It was the best buying decision I've made. I love all the tracks on cd1,2. Tracks on cd3 are good too but would have love 'em better if he had sang all the songs by himself. All the other singers sounded so unimpressive singing beside him. His voice is just so so very sexy even though I don't have a clue what he's saying(btw, I live where exposure to the spanish language is almost nil). His singing style too is different than what I've heard before. LOVE THE CDs, LOVE ALEJANDRO!!! Planning to get his Unplugged album too.

Browsing for some new music a few years back I saw Alejandro Sanz' El Alma Al Aire album sitting on the shelf and was so taken with the cover art that I purchased it without having a clue who he was. Boy was I in for surprise. I'd never heard anybody sing like that before - the music was so rich and sophisticated, his voice so raw and passionate, that I had to put everything I was doing aside and just listen.

A few months later after listening to nothing but Alejandro and buying up every album of his I could find, I went to see him live at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. His live performance was every bit as exciting and as skillfully produced as his recordings and it was amazing to be a part of such a wildly enthusiastic crowd that knew every single word of every one of his songs and were often on their feet singing along.

Alejandro Sanz is an extraordinary singer/songwriter, a world apart from the crowd but still very accessible, even for someone like me who speaks little Spanish. His seamless fusion of pop, jazz and latin with his heritage of Flamenco and Gitano stylings, gives Alejandro's music a uniqueness that many have attempted but few accomplished so well.

The argument over whether Flamenco should be left alone is pretty much resolved I think, with artists like Alejandro Sanz and Ojos de Brujo who pay such great homage to it in their music.

Alejandro's latest release, the 3 disc Grandes Exitos 91_04 is a wonderful collection of some of his best music, with new and rare recordings to richen the feast. His duets on the 3rd disc are a treat. In particular, his recording of Cai with Nina Pastori is stirring and evocative and a great example of how beautifully Flamenco stylings can work in a contemporary setting when they're in the hands of the right musicians and singers.

Alejandro Sanz is a gem and his music a rare pleasure. But when all is said and done, it's that voice and the raw passion driving it that gives him so much of an edge over his contemporaries. His music holds up over the years and with countless repeated listenings because Alejandro is at his core, a gifted musician and he knows how to deliver the goods.

Grandes Exitos 91_04 will undoubtedly end up in every Sanz fan's collection but for somebody who isn't yet familiar with Alejandro's music, this is a perfect place to start.