Gift Certificates
Best of 2007

EditorsPick: Percussionist and composer Gerardo Rosales reconnects with classic salsa and booglaoo from the '60s and '70s with this funky release of mostly original tracks. There are a few covers, too, of material from Joey Pastrana and Johnny Pacheco. Hard core dance material and a big DJ Alert. With pianist Marc Bischoff, bassist Leslie Lopez, singers Alberto Caicedo, Lillian Vleira, Dr. Salsa, Eline, and guest Javier Plaza who also wtote the track "Gira y Gira." Recorded in Amsterdam.
Highly Recommended.
Full review to follow shortly. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Our Latin Groove (2:55) 2. Doctor Salsa (2:55) 3. Tibute To Joey Pastrana (8:06) 4. Bringin' It All On Back! (2:41) 5. Sin Cuero No Hay Na' (4:10) 6. Oogo-Boo-Ga-Loo (4:40) 7. El Quinto Habla (1:36) 8. The Salsamba (4:37) 9. Recuerdos De Arcaño (5:37) 10. Que Pasa? (3:58) 11. Boricua's Groove (1:34) 12. Gira Y Gira (4:18) 13. Buenos Dias, Good Morning (3:06) 14. My Shingaling (3:52) 15. Rumbon Melon (4:19) 16. Cosas De La Vida/Chaca Boo/Malambo (3:32)
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EditorsPick: Here's a fine new salsa release out of Caracas, Venezuela, featuring singer Cheo Linares, percussionists Vladimir Quintero, Victor "Pao" Cardona Charly Peñalver, Eiter "Kiko" Gonzalez and Vladimir Quintero, pianist Irving Manuel, bassists Ruben Paiva and Jesus Torres, sax players Glen Tomassi and Frank Haslam as well as dummer Frank "Pavo" Hernandez. Many others. Full review to follow shortly.
Highly Recommended. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Aque He Llegado (4:43) 2. Psicosis (4:12) 3. Morena Magica (3:38) 4. Ojos Que No Ven (4:10) 5. Te He Perdido (4:40) 6. Niño De La Calle (4:49) 7. Enamorarme De Nuevo (4:07) 8. Mas Salsa (3:55) 9. Nos Cansamos (3:33) 10. Mujer Venezolana (4:40) 11. Caminando (5:17)
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EditorsPick: This fine Latin jazz project is one of the best I have heard in a long while. It's a collaborative effort by pianist Chiemi Nakai and percussionist Emmanuel "Manu" Bizeau that also features conguero Richie Flores, trombonist Jimmy Bosch, bassists Juan Carlos Formell, Carlos Del Pino, flautist Roberto Pitre and many others. Full review to follow shortly.
Highly Recommended. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. La Frontera (4:55) 2. Nueva Vision 2 (5:08) 3. Fragments Of Sadness (7:10) 4. Obsession (7:30) 5. Azul (7:31) 6. The Moon On The Water (6:55) 7. Mas Y Mas (4:46) 8. The Flying Gray Cat (4:22) 9. Sedona (8:01)
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EditorsPick: Terrific Changüí-son release by vocalist and bongocero Ariel Daudinot.
Highly Recommended.
Review to follow shortly. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Vini Dance Resiñe (3:16) 2. Nengon De Rios (2:53) 3. Changui - Sucu Sucu (4:35) 4. El Changui Esta De Moda Ahora (3:18) 5. Mayumbon No. 1 (3:34) 6. Conga - Changui (2:30) 7. Changui - Merengue (5:01) 8. Me Voy A Vestir De Blanco (3:23) 9. Danzon - Nengon (2:54) 10. Kitipa (1:32) 11. La Fiesta Esta Buena (3:30) 12. Kiriba A Baracoa (1:51) 13. Changui Maraciabo (2:50) 14. Soy Caribeño (3:35) 15. La Music De Haiti (3:02)
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EditorsPick: Here's some terrific salsa, with roots in both Cuba and Colombia, recorded in the Netherlands. With singers Fabian Nodarse, Nando Vanin, and coroista Alberto Caicedo. Also with percussionists Gerardo Rosales and Nils Fischer, timbaleros Jose "Pepe" Espinosa and Armando Vidal, pianist Marc Bischoff, three trombonists and many others.
Highly Recommended.
Review to follow shortly. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Doble Jugada 2. Como Le Digo Ahora 3. Te Lo Dire Todito 4. No Me Digas Adios 5. La Mujer Ideal 6. No Voy A Dejarte Ir 7. Quiero Ser Quien Soy 8. Intentalo 9. Nada Sera Igual 10. Esta Rumba
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EditorsPick: New salsa and pan-Caribbean release featuring singer Pedrito Calvo Jr. (yes, Pedrito Calvo's son). With pianist Rolanda Luna Carrillo, timbalero Rodney Igarza Barreto, trombonist Amaury Perez Rodriguez, trumpeter Orlandito Vazquez Peña and others.
Review to follow shortly. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Salsa Salsita (4:05) 2. Eres Todo (4:34) 3. Arrimate (8:47) 4. Quiero Amarte (3:51) 5. Chica Mala (3:08) 6. Se Lleva (4:10) 7. Nada De Ti (4:06) 8. Tumba El Coco (4:04)
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EditorsPick: New salsa release. Review to follow shortly. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Oro Oye Brill 2. Ultima Cancion 3. Sabroso Guaguanco 4. Asi Son 5. Idilio
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EditorsPick: New release by the Cuban vocalist Xiomara Laugart. Review to follow shortly. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Que Manera De Quererte (4:31) 2. Si Tu Te Vas (3:04) 3. Pero No Te Vayas (5:37) 4. Un Amor Asi (6:04) 5. Quiero Reencontrarme (5:46) 6. Siempre A Tu Lado (6:16) 7. Huellas De Un Mal Amor (5:49) 8. Enamorada De Ti (4:46) 9. Coppelia (5:12)
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EditorsPick: Huge 4-CD box set of traditional Cuban gems. Neno Gonzalez, Trio Matamoros, Septeto Nacional Ignacio Piñeiro, Orq. Anacaona, Arcaño Y Sus Maravillas, Miguelito Valdes, and Barbarito Diez Y Orq. De Antonio Maria Romeu are but a few of the immense selection of orchestras and singers that appear on this special compilation celebrating the 85th anniversary music broadcast over the Cuban radio airwaves. Nice liner note booklet too.
Highly Recommended. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Quirino Con Su Tres - Rita Montaner (1:42) 2. Un Meneito - Orq. De Neno Gonzalez (2:55) 3. Son De La Loma - Trio Matamoros (1:28) 4. Que Bonita Es Cuba - Septeto Nacional Ignacio Piñeiro (2:38) 5. Longina - Hermanas Lago (2:17) 6. Desespercion - Orq. Anacaona (1:23) 7. El Manisero - Bola De Nieve (2:13) 8. La Cachimba De San Juan - Orq. De Cheo Belen Puig (2:39) 9. Que Te Pedi - Esther Borja (3:19) 10. Princesa De La Noche - Rene Cabel Y Su Orq. (2:29) 11. Bigote De Gato - Orq. Casino De La Playa (:28) 12. Mamarracha - Trio Servando Diaz (3:02) 13. Atares Y Sus Castillos - Arcaño Y Sus Maravillas (5:25) 14. Te Acuerdas De Mi - Maria Teresa Vera Y Lorenzo Hierrezuelo (0:59) 15. Y Tu Que Has Hecho - Barbarito Diez Y Orq. De Antonio Maria Romeu (2:57) 16. Babalu - Miguelito Valdes (3:46) 17. Chico's Chachacha - Orq. Riverside (2:42) 18. Es Mi Hombre - Rosita Fornes Con La Orq. Hermanos Castro (2:40) 19. Mercedes - Dos Hermanas Marti (3:00) 20. Ya Te Olvide - Mariano Merceron Y Sus Muchachos Pimienta (3:00) 21. Va A Llove - Natalia Herrera (3:26) 22. Suavecito - Orq. Aragon (4:00) 23. Los Tamalitos De Olga - Orq. Almendra (3:15) 24. Pa' Fricase Los Pollos - Hermanas Marquez (2:24) 25. Ay Cosita Linda - Conjunto Jovenes Del Cayo...plus 39 More Tunes!!!! (2:40)
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EditorsPick: DVD and CD set. Part dance instructional, part pure listening pleasure. This one features the music of Los Papines, Los Muñequitos de Matanzas, Trovarroco, Orquesta Sensacion, Estrellas Cubanas, Anacaona, Orlando Valles "Maraca," and Irazú.
Recommended. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Baila Mi Yambu - Los Papines (5:06) 2. Obsesion Sublime - Los Muñequitos De Matanzas (3:13) 3. Arrarrarra En Popurrit - Los Papines (4:26) 4. Te Ando Buscando - Los Muñequitos De Matanzas (4:58) 5. Columbia Cubana - Los Muñequitos (10:03) 6. Candela - Los Muñequitos (5:03) 7. Zapateo Cubano - Trovarroco (2:31) 8. Silver Star - Orquesta Sensacion (4:30) 9. Danzon Virgen De Regla - Estrellas Cubanas (5:45) 10. El Bombin De Barreto - Anacaona (5:37) 11. Almendra - Orlando Valle "Maraca" (8:10) 12. Danzon Del Corazon - Irazu (6:26)
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EditorsPick: DVD and CD set. Part dance instructional, part pure listening pleasure. This one features the music of Teresa Garcia Caturla,Haila, Mayito Rivera, Orquesta Sensacion, Adalberto Alvarez, Paulo FG, NG la Banda, Orquesta Todos Estrellas, Pachito Alonso and Los Van Van.
Recommended. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Los Tamalito De Olga - Teresa Garcia Caturla (4:46) 2. El Huerfanito - Orquesta Sensacion (3:39) 3. Bailando Chachacha - Anacaona (:53) 4. Esto Si Sabe A Cuba - Haila (4:14) 5. Bonito Y Sabroso - Mayito Rivera (4:07) 6. Mambo No. 1 - Orquesta Todos Estrellas (5:18) 7. Mambo No. 5 - Orquesta Sensacion (3:30) 8. Murakamis Mambo - NG La Banda (6:18) 9. Para Bailar Casino - Adalberto Alvarez (3:53) 10. Confio En Ti - Paulo FG (5:13) 11. Chiquitica Bum Bum - Pachito Alonso Y Sus Kini Kini (5:09) 12. Esto Te Pone La Cabeza Mala - Juan Formell Y Los Van Van (4:05)
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EditorsPick: DVD and CD set featuring the music of Traje Nuevo, Beatriz Marquez, Luis Gómez, Muñequitos de Matanzas, Mongo Rives y Su Tumbita Criolla, Chicuela Son, Orquesta Sensacion, Trio Trovarroco and many others.
Recommended. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. CD: La Wemba - Traje Nuevo (4:47) 2. Santa Cecilia - Beatriz Marquez (3:40) 3. Los Tres Golpes - Ulises Hernandez (1:15) 4. Arrancame La Vida - Orquesta Sensacion (2:22) 5. Decimas A Jose Marti - Luis Gomez (4:40) 6. Chino Guaguao - Muñequitos De Matanzas (4:57) 7. Homenaje A Trovadores Y Soneros - Trovarroco (4:38) 8. Se Quedo Sin Ropa El Chivo - Mongo Rives Y Su Tumbita Criolla (5:07) 9. Exploto La Rumba - Chicuelo Son (4:52) 10. DVD: Guitara Mia - Luis Gomez (1:05) 11. Santa Cecilia - Beatriz Marquez (3:52) 12. Exploto La Rumba - Chicuelo Son (3:53) 13. Arrancame La Vida - Orquesta Sensacion (3:26) 14. La Wemba - Septeto Traje Nuevo (4:06) 15. Homenaje A Trovadores Y Soneros - Trio Trovarroco (3:46) 16. Chino Guaguao - Muñequitos De Matanzas (4:03) 17. Dame El Rabito De Lechon - Mongo Rives (3:57) 18. Cervantes, Cuatro Pianos - Zenaida Castro Romeu (4:34) 19. Lagrimas Negras - Septeto Nacional Ignacio Piñeiro Y Anais Abreu
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EditorsPick: New Latin jazz release by saxophonist German Velazco. This one features bassist Roberto Riveron, drummer Osmany Sanchez, trumpeter Maikel Rodriguez, Elmer Ferrer on electric guitar, and singer Manuel A. Garcia.
Review to follow shortly. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Expresso (3:13) 2. Invitacion (2:58) 3. Jungla (4:33) 4. Sax-Soul (4:02) 5. Transparencia (4:26) 6. 5/4 (3:49) 7. Sambi (2:22) 8. Corca Del Cielo (8:17) 9. The Secret Life Of Plants (4:38) 10. Oceanos (5:04) 11. West (4:08) 12. Equilibrio (4:53)
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EditorsPick: Classic late '50s jam sessions by the mambo patriarch. Review to follow shortly. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Descarga Cubana 2. Goza Mi Trompeta 3. Cogele El Golpe 4. Trombon Criollo 5. Malanga Amarilla 6. Pamparana 7. Oye Mi Tres Montuno 8. Controversia En Metales 9. A Gozar Timbero 10. Sorpresa En Flauta 11. Estulio En Trompeta 12. Guajeo De Saxos
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EditorsPick: Back in stock! (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. A Capella 2. Con Palmadas 3. Mase 4. Awueyí 5. Afrá 6. Afrekete 7. Jerbioso 8. Asoyi
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EditorsPick: They came roaring in from Costa Rica, riding a hard sound — a band that has backed Ruben Blades — and it all sounded good, with coros chopping away at the time, and the singer rising through the blows of the coro and the horns, the percussion slapping away, like wood hitting wood. And from Costa Rica they were, Son de Tikizia, a hot little salsa outfit that has no fear of strange stuff, like using computerized voices on a tune, or on "No me Importa" overdubbing the lead singer's voice, and manipulating it, and having the whole tune be like a sample, just a short fragment. Or playing a bit of Bach counterpoint against the rhythm section. Or on "Me Quite Las Vendas," laying down some 12 cylinder, salsa dura with shout outs to Johnny Pacheco and Pete "El Conde Rodriguez." At times experimental, and always grooving and right. This stuff's very, very cool, and very achieved.
Highly Recommended, on the condition that the band does even more experimenting next time around. (Peter Watrous)
SONG TITLES:
1. Jugaste Con Mi Destino 2. Pa' Los Pies 3. No Me Importa 4. Variaciones Goldberg (varacion N 18) 5. Me Quite Las Vendas 6. Juan Gonzalez 7. Son De Tikizia 8. Mi Doña 9. Par 23 10. Que Te Vaya Bien 11. Nuestra Indiferencia 12. Juan Gonzalez (version Larga)
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EditorsPick: Killer mambo moderna. This is the stuff that the Salsa Congress dancers die for. Trumpeter Dante Vargas has carved a new niche with his Mambo Dura power tracks made exclusively for the dancers. With Pablo Grajales, Alex Duque, Morist Jimenez and singers Victor Hugo Romero and Willie Panama. Zero filler. Big DJ Alert. Full Review to follow shortly.
Highly Recommended. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Mambo Lives 2. Esta Bueno 3. Mary Ann 4. Pa' La Rueda 5. Elena 6. Aprovechemonos 7. When The Cat Is Playing 8. Quiere Mambo 9. Mama Yumbeo 10. Mambo Lives (Remix)
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EditorsPick: Ah, Haila. One of the great pleasures of the Caribbean, an iron-voiced singer whose clarity, invention and distinction make her the best candidate for Celia Cruz's old position as the Best Female Singer in Afro Cuban Music. As the real lead singer of Azucar Negra, she was a hard-assed, tough improviser, a position she mostly took on her own sometimes-uneven records. Along comes David Calzado, who as a leader of Charanga Habanera has put out some of the best music Cuban music ever recorded (and continues to do so; listen to the last two Charanga recordings) to produce her newest recording. And uh, well, it's half good, Tal Como Soy being part pop, and part dance music. Go back to Charanga Habanera's pop project, Light, to understand; lots of acoustic guitar and emotionalism. On the tracks that do rock, "Soy Tuya," "Una Loca Como Yo," you get the idea that what should have happened - and what gets hinted at - is a Haila/Charanga Habanera project; hell, they could even do older Charanga tunes, and she could rip it up. She's one of the few woman singers I've heard in Cuba that can shout back at Charanga, handle that extraordinary explosion of ability and rhythmic fervor. And some of it's there on Tal Como Soy, on half the tracks, and even then, not all the time. Too bad. Half Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
SONG TITLES:
1. Soy Tuya (4:21) 2. Ya Basta De Engaños (3:45) 3. El Color De Las Noches (3:31) 4. Un Nuevo Amor (4:21) 5. Una Loca Como Yo (4:59) 6. Siempre Te Amare (3:51) 7. Decepcioname (4:03) 8. Dile A Cupido (5:03) 9. Loco Por Tu Amor (4:20) 10. No Caigo Otra Vez (5:00) 11. Quien Fue (3:41)
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EditorsPick: Here's a nice, unpretentious son/salsa recording from Cuba with Felix Baloy, a good singer with a barn sized voice. Lots of energy, and good horn charts keep everything moving well, but the truth is that all sessions out of Cuba are not equal, and this sounds sometimes hastily produced, with occasional out-of tune singing, horns and trumpet solos that would have benefited with either more rehearsal or a touch of studio help. Guests on the album include the late Tata Güines and Manuel El Guajiro Mirabal of the Buena Vista franchise.
Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
SONG TITLES:
1. Mujer (5:24) 2. No Me Busques Mas (5:43) 3. Holguin, Cuidad De Los Parques (4:26) 4. Te Voy A Amar (7:59) 5. Deja De Buscarme (3:13) 6. Canto A La Amistad (7:23) 7. Un Solo Amar (3:02) 8. Por Que Esta En Mi (3:47) 9. El Amor No Es Un Juego (5:57) 10. Despues De Esta Noche (3:09) 11. Deja De Buscarme (3:13) 12. Anto A La Amistad (7:23)
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EditorsPick: Lapidus, a tres and guitar player, has been an intelligent, talented addition to the Afro Caribbean world for a few decades, and his newest project shows why. The tresero has been important in the exploration of the Jewish communities around the Americas, and his new recording is, as he puts it, "an imaginary creation that envisions a syncretic Spanish Caribbean Jewish Liturgical music." So on the first track he has a traditional Jewish tune sung in Ladino, over a bomba from Puerto Rico. There are a ton of Jewish traditional songs, plus a few originals by Lapidus, all done in a son style. It's totally amiable music, well played, and well felt.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
SONG TITLES:
1. Ein Kelokeinu (4:05) 2. Herencia Judia (6:09) 3. Etz Chaim (3:57) 4. Alein L'Shabach (61:7 ) 5. Las Cuatro Preguntas (1:14) 6. Dayenu (5:19) 7. Limpiea Judia (10:34) 8. Son De Hanukah (5:03) 9. Ma-Nishtana (3:38) 10. Na'anu'im (3:13) 11. Los Cuatro Hijos (2:37) 12. Kaddish Para Daniel (6:26) 13. Tzadik Katamar (508 5:08) 14. Comparsa De Simchat Torah (7:29)
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EditorsPick: Just in! Albita is joined by Rey Ruiz and Donato Poveda in this celebration of Cuban son-salsa. With flautist Rene Lorente, sax player Ed Calle, bassist Omar Hernandez and many others. Review to follow shortly. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Conozca A Cuba Primero 2. Me Voy Pa' Pinar Del Rio 3. Marianao 4. Hermosa Habana, Hoy La Habana Se Acuerda De Ti 5. Seis Lindas Cubanas 6. Santa Isabel De Las Lajas 7. Un Son Para Sancti Spiritus 8. Cienfuegos 9. Hablenme De Jatibonico 10. Frutas De Caney 11. Changui De Alto Songo 12. Carnavales De Oriente
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