Orquesta Bronko
Orquesta La Bronko
Import
CD
(La Bronko 00720),
Re-Issued 2008
Editor's Pick:
This reissue of a sought after collectors item from the mid-80s is a welcome addition to the little known story of Venezuela’s important role in salsa music in the 1970s and 80s. Orquesta La Bronko brings to mind a quicker, more tightly wound and less jazz inflected version of Manny Oquendo’s Libre. On first listen, the classic combination of bouncy flute and trombone riffs tips you off that Felix “Shakaito” Suárez’s La Bronko, though originally from Venezuela, is following in Oquendo’s Nuyorican footsteps. The fact that the band covers “Lo Que Se Da No Se Quita” only confirms my suspicions. But this is not a bad thing by any means – having Libre as your musical compass and aesthetic guide is to be lauded. There are plenty of great danceable cuts here, a mixed bag of originals and cover tunes, and the percussion is crisp and funky. The addition of jaunty rhythm guitar (listed as guitarra “fuzz”), played by José Luis “Kool Aid” Acosta, is a nice twist, and there is some tasty soloing for the flute, electric guitar, and piano on various selections. Vocalists Orlando Platt and Elly Ríos present a varied approach, giving the listener both the Afro-Caribbean inflection of a sonero like Oscar D’Leon and the more nasal high-pitched Spanish sound of a Lalo Rodríguez. Special guest José Mangual Jr., hugely popular in South American salsa circles, appears here singing coro and playing maracas and guiro; there is also a listing for a certain “Campanero” in the role of Executive Producer, which could be Mangual as that was his nickname from the song of the same name that he made famous in the early 80s. Overall a swingin’ little album that is great for both first time investigators into classic salsa brava, and for the heavy duty salsoteca collecionista as well. Though Venezuelan by birth, Felix “Shakaito” Suárez resides in Cali, Colombia, having moved there during the bad old days of the Cali Cartel when the gigs were plentiful; he still maintains the band there and is still making great music (check out their 20th Anniversary album from 2004).
Highly Recommended.
(Pablo Yglesias, 2008-03-30)
Song titles include:
Marie
Pa' Que Lo Gocen
La Rareza
Ramoncito
Chango Ta' Veni
Lo Que Se Da No Se Quita
Encadenados
El Cha Cha Cha
Musicians include:
Felix Suarez "Shakaito" Trombone
Benny Pacheco Trombone
Pamir Guanchez Flauta
Tomas Herrera Jr. Piano
Cristobal Petit Jr. Congas y coros
Franklin Monterrey Bongo
Jose Luis "Kool Aid" Acosta Guitarra, fuzz
Orlando Platt Vocales, bajo y coros
Jose Mangual Jr. Maracas, guiro, y coros
Rodrigo Mendoza Coros
Category: Salsa/Son
=> Salsa International
=> Venezuela
Shipping Value: 1
ORDER TL-22956.10 CD $15.98
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