Roberto Linares Brown
Que No Se Pierda La Esencia
Import
CD
(RLB/Lula Lounge 001),
Released 2008;
Editor's Pick:
Roberto Linares Brown, also known as “El Seña,” was born on April 2, 1976 in the city Guaimaro, in Camaguey, Cuba.
In 1996, he completed his formal schooling. Soon afterwards he began his professional career, playing with several bands ...and became a pianist for Orquesta Azucar Negra, finding some success. In June 2001, he became the keyboardist for one of the best bands in the country: Adalberto Alvarez y su Son. He was with them for 4 years and also became known as musical arranger on Adalberto’s 3 last CDs.
This solo album is his first as a leader, composer, and arranger, and Roberto plays keyboards and percussion, and handles the vocals on several tracks. It is so refreshing when a self-released album with so much maturity, stylistic breadth, fearless invention, and authentic sabor comes along from a relative unknown, beneath the radar. The disk feels like a revelation; this album has something for everyone.
The intention with this CD was to forge ahead into new territory (combining rap, reggaeton, electronic beats with timba and salsa) while making sure that the ‘essence is not lost’ and that the traditional roots of Cuban music (son, rumba, charanga) are always there just under the surface. The album's signature song, "Que no se pierda la esencia" touches on this theme, and is ably sung by the young Cuban sonero Alberto Alberto. In addition, special care has been taken to create some tasty ‘salsa dura’ numbers that look back to the double trombone attack of classic Nuyorican sounds of the 70s like Willie Colon, Orquesta Harlow, and El Gran Combo. Just check out "Dale tumbao" as sung by the multi-talented "El Niño" Jesus Alejandro - raging trombones are in effect. There is also a tasty son montuno tradicional, with beautiful analog grand piano by Roberto, accompanied by the gravelly vocals of Roberto's uncle, Julian Jackson 'Tío' Linares, elder statesman of authentic Cuban son. My personal favorite dance floor scorcher is a jaunty charanga/salsa workout called "Open de Door." This tune fearlessly mixes genres at will, combining humorous lyrics about riding a bus (the perils are well known to all Cubans) with infectious Nuyorican trombones, strings, and a classic Cuban flute solo (by another prodigious talent from Cuba, Jesús ‘El Niño’ Alejandro). The vocals are handled by Luís Salgado, a well-respected sonero based in Canada. DJs beware: there is a whole scene of Cubans in Canada and they are taking over the dance floor. Overall a really fun and challenging album that will keep people talking for months to come. ¡A gozar – move your body!
Highly Recommended. (DJ Bongohead, 2008-03-23)
Song titles include:
Esa Niña Es Un Chocole
Que No Se Pierda La Esencia
Dale Tumbao
Que Me Digan Loco
Open The Door
Un Son Sencillo
Pau Pau
Pa' Ti DJ
Move Your Body
Salsa Con Reggaeton
Mensae De Fe
Musicians include:
Alexis Barro Trompetas
Yancar Gonzalez Trombones
Yoser Rodrigues Baby bass
Juan Pablo Dominguez Chavez Guitarra bajo
Fran Marcos Aular Guitarra bajo; cuatro venezolano en 7
Wilfrido Urbaez Junior Guiro
Aris Montenegro Bongo
Jesus Alejandro Flauta
Jorge Masa Flauta
Pablosky Rosales Tres
Marin Brother Reggaeton y hip hop beats
Roberto Linares Brown Piano, teclado, conga, timbal, maracas, campana y coros
Category: Salsa/Son
=> Salsa
Shipping Value: 1
ORDER TL-22959.10 CD $17.98
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