Perla Batalla Coming to Thousand Oaks, 12/20

Magical realism meets American songbook. With a "voice full of color and nuance" (Cosmopolitan), Batalla delivers a unique blend of folk, Latin, pop, jazz and rock. A Leonard Cohen protégé, the Grammy-nominated composer-singer has earned critical acclaim for her startling vocals and culture-merging compositions.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, where her father was a musician, Batalla is of Mexican and Argentine descent. She received much of her music education while working at her parents' Spanish-language record store, Discoteca Batalla, where immigrants gathered for music, conversation, and entertainment.

Batalla first gained international attention when she sang back-up for singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen on his 1988 and 1993 tours. With Cohen's encouragement, she launched a solo career with the release of her 1993 album Perla Batalla on Warner/Discovery. Since then Batalla has released several albums, including Discoteca Batalla (2002), a compilation of new songs interspersed with Spanish language classics, and the acclaimed Bird on the Wire: The Songs of Leonard Cohen.

Batalla will sing in both English and Spanish, covering songs from her Christmas album, We Three Kings, as well as performing holiday favorites.

Single tickets are priced at $39 - $29 with group discounts available. Tickets are available from Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000, online at www.ticketmaster.com, or through the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza Box Office, located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard. For more information call 805-449-ARTS (2787) or visit www.civicartsplaza.com.