Fernando Lavoy
Los Soneros
CD
(SAR/Guajiro 1019),
Released 1981;
Re-Issued 1994
Produced by Roberto Torres
Arranged by Juan Gonzalez
Editor's Pick:
**Classics Revisited**
Born in Havana, Cuba, in 1950, talented sonero and composer Fernando Lavoy (nicknamed "El Montunero") arrived in the USA in 1980. That year he was introduced on Alfredo "Chocolate" Armenteros' Y Sigo Con Mi Son on SAR performing extended interpretations, arranged by Cuban pianist Alfredo Valdés Jr., of six songs associated with the Cuban bands Sonora Nacional and Conjunto Bolero, the original versions of which were all included on the collection Sones, Rumbas y Guaguancó issued by the Cuban state label Areito. The six cuts from Y Sigo Con Mi Son are collected in the highly recommended anthologies Lo Mejor De Chocolate Vol. 1 (1990 on SAR) and Y Sigo Con Mi Son - Lo Mejor Vol. 2 (1991 on SAR).
In 1981 Fernando made notable contributions to SAR All Stars Recorded Live In Club Ochentas, Album 1 and SAR All Stars Interpretan A Rafael Hernández; also highly recommended. The same year, Fernando made Los Soneros, the first of two albums for SAR with the band of the same name. Los Soneros were one of the few aggregations to record for SAR (and the allied Guajiro, Toboga and Neon imprints) not comprised of the label's house musicians. Their musical director, arranger and trumpeter was Juan González, who had been first trumpeter with the legendary Cuban band Conjunto Casino. He had also worked with Conjunto Saratoga and pianist Luis Santí and directed Conjunto Musicuba de Tejedor. The CV of the band's bongo player, Juan Méndez, features names like Roberto Faz, Orquesta Rumbavana, Johnny Pacheco and the SAR All Stars. Emulating Conjunto Casino, Los Soneros featured four trumpets, rhythm section (piano, bass, conga, bongo) and voices, with the addition of tres guitar. Both albums followed the SAR policy of stretched-out numbers with plenty of spaces for improvisation.
Fernando wrote half the tracks on the rock solid Los Soneros, including "Refréscate La Memoria", which became a hit in the Colombian market. Juan González takes soulful solos on this track - his horn braying a la Chappottín -, "Mi Son Sandunguero" and the other two Lavoy penned numbers, "Guaguancó Pa'l Mundo" and "Mulata, Sé Que Te Gusta". On the outstanding "El Timbero Mayor", Fernando's soneos glide effortlessly over the powerful, insistent coro voices and the precision trumpet section fire volleys of cascading phrases. "El Mensajero" provides a platform for a masterful conga solo.
(John Child, 2005-02-08)
Song titles include:
Guaguanco Pa'l Mundo
El Timbero Mayor
Mi Son Sandunguero
Refrescate La Memoria
El Mensajero
Mulata, Se Que Te Gusta
Category: Salsa/Son
=> Son, Guaracha, Guajira
Shipping Value: 1
ORDER TL-13169.10 CD $14.98
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