Chocolate Armenteros
Y Sigo Con Mi Son — Lo Mejor Vol. 2
CD
(SAR/Guajiro 1013),
Released 1982;
Re-Issued 1991
Produced by Roberto Torres
Editor's Pick:
**Classics Revisited**
The hoo-ha caused by the deserved international success of the trademarked Buena Vista Social Club over the last decade has eclipsed the significance of a number of major US-based Cuban artists. One example is trumpeter Alfredo "Chocolate" Armenteros, a prominent name during the era of Cuban music Buena Vista nostalgia harks back to, and who actually performed with legends such as Septeto Habanero, Arsenio Rodríguez and Beny Moré, among others. He took up residence in New York in 1960, and after working as a sideman with numerous luminaries, including Machito, Larry Harlow, Eddie and Charlie Palmieri, he became a bandleader in 1974. In 1979 he became a house musician with SAR and the related Guajiro and Toboga labels, recording with Roberto Torres, Papaíto, Henry Fiol, and many others including the SAR All Stars. In addition, he fronted a conjunto with a trumpet / trombone frontline for three beautiful típico Cuban LPs, Prefiero El Son (1980), Y Sigo Con Mi Son (1980) and Chocolate Dice (1982), all produced by Torres and predominantly arranged by Alfredo Valdés Jr. The three albums are compiled on Lo Mejor De Chocolate Vols. 1 & 2, but without any personnel details. Despite using the title and artwork of Y Sigo Con Mi Son, volume two only contains two tracks from the original vinyl release that also marked the US recording debut of the talented Cuban sonero and composer Fernando Lavoy. The remaining six tracks are Chocolate Dice in its entirety, featuring Afro-Cuban virtuoso Alfredo Rodríguez on keyboards, tres maestro Charlie Rodríguez, trombonists Jimmy Bosch and Lewis Khan and vocalist Charlie Romero, who has recorded with Conjunto Candela and Ray Martínez's Sabor Criollo. All the material conforms with the SAR policy of stretched-out numbers with plenty of spaces for improvisation. Though far from Buena Vista Social Club proportions, Chocolate receives recognition in the recently issued DVD The Cuban Swing: Tribute To The Legend Chocolate Armenteros, Live In Puerto Rico (Mundo Libre, 2006), the first release he has headlined since 1998.
Very highly recommended. (John Child, 2007-01-22)
Song titles include:
Machinambe (from Y Sigo Con Mi Son '80; singer: Fernando Lavoy)
Chachaguere (from Y Sigo Con Mi Son '80; singer: Fernando Lavoy)
Lo Que Dice Usted (from Chocolate Dice '82)
Que Nos Dejen Solitos (from Chocolate Dice '82)
A Mi Cuba Le Toco (from Chocolate Dice '82)
Hasta Pantoja Baila Mi Son (from Chocolate Dice '82)
Guaguanco A Todos Los Barrios (from Chocolate Dice '82)
Para Mi Cuba Un Son (from Chocolate Dice '82)
Musicians include:
Alfredo "Chocolate" Armenteros Director, trumpet & flugelhorn
Alfredo Rodríguez Piano
Charlie Romero Lead vocals
Leonel Sánchez Trumpet
Guillermo Edgehill Bass
Juan Mendez Bongo
Roberto Borrell Conga
Charlie Rodríguez Tres
Lewis Kahn Trombone
Jimmy Bosch Trombone
Roberto Torres & Chocolate Maracas, clave, güiro
Jorge Maldonado Coro
Miguel Quintana Coro
Alfredo Valdés Jr. Arrangements
Category: Salsa/Son
=> Son, Guaracha, Guajira
Shipping Value: 1
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