Federico Y Su Combo Latino
La Salsa De Oro - Cantan: Calaven, Joe, El Bobby
CD
(Gilmar CDG 35),
Released 2008;
Editor's Pick:
Along with pianist Rey Perez and his group Los Dementes, Oscar d’Leon and Dimension Latina, and Sexteto Juventud, Federico Betancourt is considered a pioneer of Venezuelan salsa. You may know him by his band’s name: Federico y Su Combo Latino. The generically titled compilation La Salsa de Oro collects some of the grittiest, hottest early salsa brava and boogaloo that Federico cut in the 60s/early 70s on the Gilmar label, some of it coming from the highly collectable album Psicodelico Con Salsa. Since Federico’s original LPs fetch whopping prices at auction, the only way you are going to get killer cuts like “Aunque No Tengo Dinero,” “El Alacran,” “Que Dichoso Es” and “Olvidate de Mi” is to stop what you are doing and order this CD right now. These guys really know how to throw a pachanga – with a raw intensity that is so garage, it’s exhilarating. Gobs of raging trombones and sharp trumpets, hot percussion, tinkling ivories, and some fabulous vocals from the likes of El Negro Calaven, Joe, and El Bobby. Beware though: the packaging is terrible, and the sound is unfortunately lacking in clarity and distorted on some cuts. Despite that oh-so-typical problem, the music is essential listening, as this album helps shed some light for us en el Norte on the relatively obscure scene going on in South America at the time, and helps dispel the myopic myth that Nueva York was the center of salsa. Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela had vibrant Latin scenes in the 60s (check out the ¡Gozalo! series for instance), and are major contributors to nuestra herencia Latina. The players down in Caracas were well aware of innovations coming from the likes of Mon Rivera, Eddie Palmieri, and Ray Barretto, but they also threw their own spin on things, adding in local flavors and experimenting with a refreshing sense of freedom. My personal favorite is the stinging salsa brava of “Campesina” – if you haven’t heard this monster, you have not heard what Venezuela has to offer, compadre. Essential salsa history lesson. (Pablo Yglesias, 2008-03-30)
Song titles include:
Aunque No Tengo Dinero
Campesina
El Alacran
No
Que Dichoso Es
Ha Llegado La Pachanga
Yuca Y Boniato
Oh Baby
Dolores
Con La Misma Moneda
La Humanidad
El Timbalito
El Prestamista
Mira Mis Labios
Olvidate De Mi
Si Te Fuiste Y Que
Category: Salsa/Son
=> Salsa International
=> Venezuela
Shipping Value: 1
ORDER TL-22968.10 CD $14.98
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