Papaito

"Renowned as a percussionist with the legendary Cuban musical institution La Sonora Matancera, Papaíto was given the opportunity to make five solo albums as a sonero for the prolific SAR label between 1979 and 1984. He demonstrated that he possesses an engaging bittersweet voice, which he effortlessly employs in his inspiraciones. His third release, 'Papaíto Rinde Homenaje A Abelardo Barroso,' a tribute to the great Cuban singer/composer Abelardo Barroso (1905-1972), was among one of the best to come out of the SAR stable. On the album, Papaíto fronts a small charanga augmented by a tres guitar. And what a charanga! Pupi Legarreta and Alfredo de la Fé, violins; Felo Barrio, timbales and coro; Roberto Torres, güiro and coro; Alfredo Valdés Jr., piano and arrangements; Alberto Valdés, conga; and Charlie Rodríguez, tres. I wonder who the celebrity flautist hiding behind the pseudonym 'El De La 7' was? I’m keeping my guess to myself. Papaíto and the band deliciously glide through six extended interpretations of songs associated with Barroso and La Orquesta Sensación, including 'El Guajiro de Cunagua,' 'En Guantánamo' and the Arsenio Rodríguez classic 'Bruca Maniguá'." (John Child 99/00 Catalog)