The Descarga Review
EditorsPick
RALPH IRIZARRY & LOS VIEJOS DE LA SALSA
Man! Veteran timbalero supreme, Mr. Ralph Irizarry, is back with an absolute hand-grenade of salsa dura. Irizarry, for you newbies out there, has played timbales for a who's-who of salsa and Latin jazz icons including Ray Barretto, Larry Harlow, Yomo Toro, Gerardo Rosales, Paoli Mejias and many others. Aside from his own, highly regarded, bands Son Café and Timbalaye, he's widely known as the timbalero for Rubén Blades' bands since the mid '80s up to, and including, the recent, fabulous, Todos Vuelven live concerts.
Viejos Pero Sabrosos is a relentless wave of fist-in-the-air salsa: a powerful statement about salsa musicians transcending time and becoming ever more potent with age. It's an homage to the players of the past (Reunión Celestial sings the praises of the Fania All Stars) and an affirmation of the current elder generation's power and sabor (Como El Vino). This is a band made up of players who no longer have anything to prove, as they've kicked ass so many countless times in the past. Here, within this new Los Viejos formation, they're playing solely for the love of it. I'll mention but a few members: Eddie Montalvo and José ‘Pepe’ Espinosa on congas, pianists Edy Martínez, Ricky González and Mike Eckroth, trombonist Reynaldo Jorge, bassist Rubén Rodríguez, trumpeters Nelson "Gazú" Jaime and Elias Lopes ...and other members of the salsa elite. The lead singers are none other than Venezuela's Marcial Isturiz (Bailatino, Descarga Criolla, La Negramenta, Rumberos del Calejón) and New York's own legendary singer/percussionist José Mangual Jr. (Héctor Lavoe, Willie Colón, Son Boricua, Mario Bauzá, etc.). Coro? They are Willie Ruiz, José ‘Pepito’ Gómez, Joseph ’Quique’ González, Eddie Rosado, and Héctor ‘Papote’ Jiménez.
My suggestion, folks, is to get this one but fast. Viejos Pero Sabrosos is a shoo-in for the Best of 2012 list. A Big DJ Alert and Very Highly Recommended.
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