Gift Certificates
Best of 2007

EditorsPick: Excellent compilation of recent material from Cuban salsa bandleader Adalberto Alvarez. Recommended. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Somos El Son De Cuba (5:12) 2. Si No Fuera Por Las Mujeres (5:01) 3. Para Bailar Casino (3:54) 4. Hablando Como Extranjero (4:57) 5. Tumba, Timbal Y Bongo (5:12) 6. Deja La Mala Noche (5:13) 7. Son Para Un Amor Sincero (4:06) 8. Dejame Llorar (5:11) 9. Maquina Para Bailar (4:08) 10. Mi Tumbao (5:00) 11. Buena Pero No Es Pa'tanto (5:03) 12. Raices (4:51) 13. Loco Enamorado (4:17)
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SONG TITLES:
1. Las Caras Lindas (4:45) 2. Recordando Al Sonero (4:36) 3. Sones De Matamoros (7:53) 4. Como Podré Olvidarla (4:47) 5. Acerca El Oído (3:53) 6. Tributo (5:38) 7. Mamaita No Quiere (4:48) 8. El Son De La Madrugada (4:59) 9. Me Voy Contigo (5:20)
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SONG TITLES:
1. Tambor (4:56) 2. Cantando Una Pena (5:04) 3. Habanera Sola (5:53) 4. Cuida'o Cuida'o (3:48) 5. La Ciudad De Los Pregones (3:58) 6. Proposición Enamorada (4:56) 7. Leovigilda (5:25) 8. Mundo Loco (5:31) 9. La Cosita (2:47) 10. Más Nadie Que El Son (5:03) 11. Quiéreme Unpoquito (4:01)
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EditorsPick: Good straight ahead old-school salsa number. Angel has a voice suited for a sonero. With conguero German Villareal. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Gozame Ahora 2. Buenaventura Llego La Hora 3. No Tienes Vocacion 4. Cali Es Salsa 5. Niegales Tu Cariño 6. Ganas De Llegar A Amarla 7. Soy La Espada 8. Maliciela Carnal 9. Guandupeando 10. Anhelos
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EditorsPick: Young pop/timba boy-band from Cuba. Kind of like the N'Sync of timba. With rock and hip-hop influence, this is the stuff of airplay -- especially tracks like the infectious "La Superwoman." But, with it's put-your-hands-in-the-air feel, De Aquí Pal' Cielo would make for excellent dance club material as well. With more than a few teen heartthrob tracks, it's a pop record at heart. But it's the more hard-core timba tracks like "Alguien" and "Aquí Adentro" that allow Los Angeles de La Habana to rise to the occasion. Recommended. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Intro (0:33) 2. La Mia (4:35) 3. La Superwoman (4:49) 4. Nena No Seas Mala (4:08) 5. De Agui Pa'l Cielo (4:37) 6. Por Ti, Lenia (4:20) 7. La Lluvia Cae (5:48) 8. Alguien (4:31) 9. Aqui Dentro (4:38) 10. Mi Preferida (4:47) 11. Por Ti, Lenia (Salsa Remix) (5:48) 12. Luz De Mis Ojos (4:41)
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SONG TITLES:
1. Canto A Oshun No. 1 (2:44) 2. Abakua En 7X4 (6:26) 3. Canto A Yemaya (5:36) 4. Asojano (6:11) 5. Canto A Agayu (5:07) 6. Fiesta Negra (Toque De Palo) (3:30) 7. Canto A Obba (6:23) 8. Los Infortunados (Rumba) (4:24) 9. Canto A Oshun No. 2 (2:46)
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EditorsPick: Panamanian salsero Camilo Azuquita is back with his best release to date. We keep going back to this CD at the office, which is the most accurate litmus test we have for testing the value of new CDs. Consistantly flavorful grooves and fine arrangements add power to Azuquita's seasoned appeal. He's a true sonero, and he's never sounded better. Highly recommended. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. 1-2-3 Maria (5:11) 2. Lo Bailado Nadie Me Lo Quita (4:24) 3. Panama Y Su Canal (4:45) 4. Antes Que Alguien Te Lo Diga (4:03) 5. La Salsa C'est Pas Complique (6:25) 6. Pollera Y Montuno (4:08) 7. De Mis Adentros (4:35) 8. Yo Hablo Frances (3:59) 9. Azuquita Para Bailar (3:19) 10. Sueño Con Cuba (5:15) 11. Definitavamente (bolero Pop Version) (3:22)
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EditorsPick: One of the weirder groups to come out of Cuba, La Caro Band is also one of my favorites. The band's three sisters sing against a timba-esque background, with lots of call and response. The coros of the sisters are almost rapped, and there's so much strange originality to the group that it's hard not to love it. And it has an instantly identifiable sound. That said, this isn't the best recorded or mixed album I've ever heard, which is too bad, because the group deserves better. They clearly have a ton of fun, and the whole thing sounds like some bizarre experiment cooked up in the country. Not everything's in tune, either, but who cares? This is unmitigated nutty joy. Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
SONG TITLES:
1. Cola Lok (4:43) 2. Es Tarde Ya (5:24) 3. No Te Pases (4:49) 4. Cosas De Fiestas (5:07) 5. Busca Tu Verdad (2:50) 6. Enamoradas Perdidas (6:00) 7. Bésame (6:11) 8. No Sufro (6:06) 9. Qué De Mí (5:35) 10. To'Ito Se Le Salió (5:19)
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EditorsPick: Last heard of as Carlos Manuel's back up group (until he jumped ship in Mexico), the Clan is back. It's not exactly timba they're selling today, but some sort of pan-Caribbean Latin music, meant for a party and mostly for the background of a party, too. The singing sounds like Cuban soul, the sort you might hear on a Charanga Habanera record. There are hints of merengue, piano figures that could be from the Dominican Republic, also, or from timbaland. There are rhythms that sound a bit like music from Martinique and Guadeloupe, and it's all really well made. Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
SONG TITLES:
1. Me Tiene Cansao 2. Que Bien, Que Bien 3. Tu Con Nada Y Yo Contigo 4. Atado 5. Donde Estas Mi Lola 6. Ese Soy Yo 7. Esto Esta Bueno 8. Piedad 9. Negrita Linda ( camin:os) 10. Aspiendo Caminos
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EditorsPick: Dan Den has its own sound, based around the instantly identifiable keyboard figures of Alfonso, repeating, shuffling, and always moving the rhythm forward. Pasión is a nice little record, featuring the singers Barbarita Fernandez and Dayron Martin, and once the coros and breaks kick in everything sounds good. Like the majority of new Cuban records Pasion isn't suffering from the highest fi, but that's also the price of admission. Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
SONG TITLES:
1. Pasion (4:09) 2. Aprende Que No Soy Eterno (4:04) 3. Rumba Son (5:17) 4. De Tu A Tu (4:44) 5. Veracruz (3:43) 6. Por Telefono No (5:13) 7. Habanera Con Tumbao (4:19) 8. Te Pones Como Te Pones (4:51) 9. Popurrit De Exitos (6:58)
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SONG TITLES:
1. Oiga Mi Compay, Pongase Duro - Guaracha (3:14) 2. El Lechero - Guaracha (3:21) 3. Dile Que El Viento Me Llevo - Guaracha (3:15) 4. El Teje Madeje - Guaracha (3:08) 5. No Se Puede Decir - Guaracha (3:13) 6. El Brujo De Guanabacoa - Afro (3:36) 7. No Hay Suegra Como La Mia - Guaracha (3:14) 8. Tu Ve Como Tu No Arregla Na - Guaracha (3:09) 9. El Carnicero Jacinto - Guaracha (3:28) 10. Despues De Las Diez - Guaracha (3:14) 11. Mis Hijos Se Me Casaron - Bolero (3:01) 12. Ya Tu Pollo No Pia - Guaracha (3:27) 13. Param Pan Pin - Guaracha (3:28) 14. Chacumbele - Son Afro (3:21) 15. Haciendo Pan - Guaracha (3:31) 16. Naranja De China, Cole - Guaracha (3:21) 17. Choncholi Se Va Pa El Monte - Guaracha (3:19) 18. Postales De Mi Tierra - Guajiro (3:50) 19. Besame - Bolero (3:28) 20. Lamento De Un Congo Real - Lamento Afro (3:24)

Recorded in Havana and Puerto Rico 1940-1942.
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SONG TITLES:
1. Las Cuarenta (3:02) 2. Capullito De Aleli (2:50) 3. Mentiras Tuyas (2:51) 4. Qué Es Lo Que Pasa (3:01) 5. Dónde Vas, Domitila (2:50) 6. Estás Equivocada (2:41) 7. Amalia Batista (2:55) 8. Tenia Que Ser Asi (3:00) 9. El Gavilan (2:40) 10. Sabor A Mi (2:17) 11. Crucigrama De Amor (2:47) 12. No Juegues Conmigo (2:30) 13. Vagabundo (2:39) 14. La Azucar Abajo (2:39) 15. Negrura (2:29) 16. Levantate (2:31) 17. Muchacha Sencilla (2:35) 18. La Cancion Del Dinero (2:19) 19. Hay Que Tenor Dos (2:26) 20. Esta Noche Me Emborracho (2:44) 21. Bilongo (2:50) 22. Que Te Vaya Bien (2:55) 23. Inolvidable (2:56) 24. La Pachanga (2:38)
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EditorsPick: Direct from Venezuela come Magia Caribena, a nice little salsa band that produces music that's hard at times and others a little less than hard. It's a slick band which will sound good, mixed loud, at midnight in dance clubs. The band's professional, and when it cranks the coros and percussion, the high tenor voices float easily, it's hard not to believe. Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
SONG TITLES:
1. El Amor Que Buscaba (3:50) 2. Y Si Tengo Que Olvidarla (5:24) 3. Me Quede Con Ganas (Nueva Version) (4:09) 4. Te Lo Pido Por Favor (4:40) 5. Hoy He Vuelto A Llorar (4:44) 6. Hay Algo En Ti (4:28) 7. Rosa, La Peligrosa (Merengon) (3:48) 8. No Le Digan (4:52) 9. Pasion Gitana (4:35) 10. Por Ti Me Casare (4:50) 11. Asi Es El Amor (4:23) 12. Yy Si Tengo Que Olvidarla (Version Balada/Pop) (4:20)
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SONG TITLES:
1. El Ciego - Gustavo Aguado 2. Contigo Aprendi - Mari Ateresa Chacin 3. Mia - Oscar D'Leon 4. Nada Personal - Duo: Manzanero/Lissef 5. No - Daniela Kriete 6. Adoro - Lourdes Robles 7. No Se Tu - A. Cinco 8. Somos Novios - Voz Veis 9. Esta Tarde Vi Llover - Duo: Manzanero/Lissef 10. Te Extraño - Simon Diaz 11. Te Extraño - Duo: Manzanero/Ricardo Montaner
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SONG TITLES:
1. Sukiyaki 2. La Vie En Rose 3. La Carcel De Sing Sing 4. La Historia De Maria 5. Havanaguila 6. Tronquin Palanquin 7. Dime Por Que Lloras 8. No Olvides El Son 9. Solo Tu 10. Mambo #5 11. Volare Payaso 12. Cheverin Conquin 13. Mambo #8 14. Pachito Eche 15. Que Pasa En El Mundo 16. Asi Lo Quieres Tú
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EditorsPick: Dance-club ready debut salsa release from vocalist Fabian Nodarse who comes to us via the Netherlands. This is pop salsa with stylish, crescendo building arrangements with some tracks reminiscent in the style of, say, Marc Anthony with romantic introductions turning into something driven much harder. There are also winks to Puerto Rico, and later to Colombia - with the almost timba-cumbia blend "Te Anduve Buscando." "Renacer" and "Sigue Sin Mí" are also fine DJ picks. Recommended. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Renacer (4:15) 2. Vida Mia (version Salsa) (4:51) 3. Dile (5:14) 4. Amor Loco (3:37) 5. Sigue Sin Mi (5:33) 6. Hechizo (4:30) 7. Te Anduve Buscando (4:43) 8. Vida Mia (version Balada) (3:27) 9. Piensa En Ti (4:51) 10. Donde Nadie Me Ve (4:31) 11. Obsesion (4:13) 12. Baila Mi Musica (3:59)
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EditorsPick: Here's a real beauty: it's in the tradition of the great Latin-jazz big bands like Machito and his Afro-Cubans, Tito Puente, Mario Bauzá, and Chico O'Farril. Bandleader/pianist Arturo O'Farril (Chico's son and heir apparent of the genre) and His Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra clearly fills the big shoes with style as he pays homage to the great singers of that era: Tito Rodriguez, Vicentico Valdés, Celia Cruz and Beny Moré. A live recording, performed at the celebrated Rose Theater in New York's Lincoln Center, O'Farril manages to fill the space with lush waves of hip-shaking rhythm. He chose his band-members with obvious care - some names of note are Bobby Porcelli, Mario Rivera, Michael Philip Mossman, John Walsh, Reynaldo Jorge, Luis Bonilla, Milton Cardona, and Rubén Rodríguez. The weight, however, lies heavily on the inspired singers: Herman Olivera and Claudia Acuña have both obviously done their homework. They interpret these classic compositions with a great swing and soul. The uptempo dance numbers and the couple of heartfelt boleros (a la Graciela) are fine selections, that represent the best of the big band style. "Havana Special," "Estoy Como Nunca," "Buscando La Melodia," La Ley Del Guaguancó," and "Avisale A Mi Contrario" are some highlights here. With most arrangements by Rene Hernández, Ray Santos, Chico O'Farril, Michael Philip Mossman, and Matt Hilgenberg, this one is... Highly Recommended. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Havana Special (3:18) 2. Buscando La Melodia (6:42) 3. Somos Novios (3:19) 4. Estoy Como Nunca (3:22) 5. Volver A Los 17 (5:59) 6. Encantado De La Vida (3:19) 7. Enseñame Tu & Piensalo Bien (9:56) 8. Pianarabatibiri (2:50) 9. Corazon Rebelde (6:27) 10. La Ley Del Guaguanco (3:44) 11. Mi Amor Fugaz (2:42) 12. Don Fulano (3:06) 13. Avisale A Mi Contrario (5:07)
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EditorsPick: Maria is the sister of Bueva Vista Social Club star Eliades Ochoa who, by the way, appears on tracks #4 and #7 on this CD as a special guest. It's in the genes, apparently, because this mostly son recording is a lovely effort. The band is very complementary, never over-shadowing Ms. Ochoa's vocals. The tres player, Rey Cabrera Castelanos, does a remarkable job adding accents that seem to fade in and out -- like a butterfly dancing around, and through, of a ray of sunlight. Recommended. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Camina Y Ven - Son Montuno (3:21) 2. Asi Quiero Vivir - Danzon/Danzonete/Son Montuno (4:31) 3. Que Viva Changó - Son (5:35) 4. El Reto - Son/Jibaro (4:00) 5. Comentario Del Solar - Son/Sucu-Sucu (2:47) 6. Soltando Chispa - Guaracha (4:03) 7. Como Estoy Sufriendo - Cha Cha Chá (2:43) 8. No Quiero Celos - Son Montuno (2:52) 9. No Te Subas Que Te Caes - Guajira De Salón (3:48) 10. Págame El Beso - Son Montuno (3:11) 11. Guajiro Guarachero - Son Montuno (4:09) 12. El Carrerero - Son Montuno (3:18) 13. La Alborada - Guajira De Salón (4:34) 14. Suena La Timba - Son (3:51)
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SONG TITLES:
1. Canto Al Arriero (Guajira Son) (4:33) 2. Como Siento Yo (Bolero) (3:36) 3. En Tiempo De Tomate (Guaracha Son) (3:39) 4. Vistete (Bolero) (3:39) 5. Tu Razon Y Mi Razon (Chachachá Son) (4:28) 6. Estoy Suave (Son Plena) (3:30) 7. Palabras Sobran (Bolero Chá) (3:51) 8. Se Me Fue Mi Negrita (Bachata Son) (3:56) 9. Sola Estas (Bolero Chá) (3:51) 10. Demuestra Lo Que Tu Sabes (Guaguancó) (4:34)
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SONG TITLES:
1. Azúcar (3:58) 2. Chocolate (3:46) 3. Caliénte (4:25) 4. Feel It (4:03) 5. Vamos A Bailar (3:44) 6. Extraño Tu Forma De Besar (3:49) 7. La,la, La, Hey, Hey (3:39) 8. Todo El Mundo Bailá (4:00) 9. Oye Como Vá (Millenium Mix) (3:40) 10. Azúcar (Norty Cotto Mix) (3:11)
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EditorsPick: Just the rhythm section is enough to make this record: John Benitez on bass, Richie Flores on percussion and El Negro on drums transform a handful of tunes identified with Miles Davis into a lesson on how groove works, and how it can totally change the character of a piece. Ramirez, a trumpeter, plays cautiously, as do Michael Brecker on tenor saxophone and Edward Simon on piano; they're some of the best musicians of their generation. But I keep coming back to the deep, greasy groove the rhythm section generates on "So What" and "Someday My Prince Will Come." Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
SONG TITLES:
1. So What (8:02) 2. Someday My Prince Will Come (6:55) 3. My Funny Valentine (10:20) 4. Straight, No Chaser (6:01) 5. Tutu (8:31) 6. Round Midnight (7:06) 7. Four (6:36) 8. Transcendental (8:18)
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EditorsPick: Old stock unearthed! This 1987 classic salsa from singer Ray Ramos features Gil Lopez as musical director and pianist, bassist Alberto Mangual, and a four trumpet section with Ray Vega, John Nieves, Steve Gluzband and Willie Rodriguez. The coroistas include the one and only Ray De La Paz and Adalberto Santiago too. Recommended. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Si Volviera (5:28) 2. Yo Soy El Son (3:45) 3. Vamo A Guillarno (5:15) 4. Avisale A Mi Contrario (4:58) 5. El Manguero (5:10) 6. Veinte Mil Cosas (4:39) 7. I've Got You Under My Skin (3:00) 8. Tambo (5:20)
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EditorsPick: The venerable Cuban dance band featuring the tracks "No Quiero Quedarme En Eso," "Tremenda Habana," "Adelante Los Tambores," "Déjame Volver Contigo," "Llévame Con Tu Habalao" and others. (DR)
SONG TITLES:
1. No Quiero Quedarme En Eso (5:20) 2. Tremenda Habana (4:24) 3. Qué Clase De Cara (4:20) 4. Adelante Los Tambores (4:52) 5. De Las Mujeres No Se Habla (4:46) 6. El Que Más Goza (4:28) 7. Déjame Volver Contigo (4:16) 8. Llévame Con Tu Habalao (5:16)
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EditorsPick: Produced by Jose Mangual Jr. (who sings here too) and Isidro Infante. From 1989. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Barranquillero Arrebatao 2. Que Seas Feliz 3. Abrazame 4. Tu Pañuelo 5. Maria 6. Cali Rumbera 7. Reproches 8. Cualquier Cosa
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The story of La Sonora Matancera, the oldest continually performing musical group in the world, and one of the most beloved. The book contains over two dozen interviews with many of the key figures in the history of the band including Celia Cruz, Mario Bauzá, Daniel Santos, Bobby Capó, Vicentico Valdés and numerous others. With a discography and black and white photographs. 199 pages. In Spanish.
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