Caribbean is calling

Any self-respecting playboy or playgirl understands the importance of good music, and if you’re trying to seduce a sophisticated individual, you need a sophisticated soundtrack. Enter Searching for Juana by Agua Dulce.

Tizoc Hernandez, Joaquin Hernandez, Israel Maldonado, Dante Loaiza, Paul Lopez and Dante Thomas combine to form Agua Dulce.

The San Diego sextet calls its sound Latin jazz, but it feels like so much more.

Its soulful debut blends sounds of the Caribbean with jazz and hip hop. Loaiza and Maldonado provide vocals for the band. Loaiza croons both in English and Spanish. Maldonado sets it on fire in Spanish and Portuguese.

The band is not to be overlooked. Congos, guitars and a variety of Latin-based instruments provide sounds that are sometimes sexy, but always fun.

“Juana” is a playful song about the ideal woman from Tijuana, Mexico. You can’t help but sing along as they sing about Juana in her ’64 Impala, smoking marijuana and wanting to dance under the midnight sky.

“Canciones” is a sexy salsa groove sung in Spanish. Horns and congos drive the song, and even though you may not know what they’re saying, it still sounds great.

The Verdict: This album is spectacular. The salsa, jazz, calypso and hip hop all come together like the soundtrack to a beach vacation in the tropics.