Gift Certificates
Best of 2007

EditorsPick: The subtitle here is featuring Bobby Sanabria and Ascension, and what has been produced is one of the more fertile musical projects I've heard in the last year, a meeting between Rudd, on of the great figures of the jazz avant guard on trombone, the master quatro player Yomo Toro and the imposing drummer Bobby Sanabria and his group. The music, well there's nothing like this around, at times a descarga working out on pieces by Rudd and Toro, at times more composed. There's a pile of polyphony, with horns climbing all over each other. The band, often but not always Sanabria's band, works wonders on cumbias and more, and there's shouting and coros and modern jazz harmonies, dissonance and deep, deep rhythm and a butt-load of joy and pleasure. At times it sounds Mingusian, uproarious, and at times almost like the music of Astor Piazolla. A work of genius, a full throated shout of appreciation and interest and pleasure. Amazing.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
SONG TITLES:
1. Poochie & The Bird (7:34) 2. Tango For Chris (6:44) 3. Tres, Cuatro (8:20) 4. Preludio (3:52) 5. El Amor (11:08) 6. Bamako (4:44) 7. Loved By Love (5:46) 8. Inspiracion (5:55) 9. Mayor G (7:03) 10. Este Es Yomo Toro!
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EditorsPick: Here's a huge, huge surprise, a thrilling masterpiece of modern Puerto Rican salsa, with plenty of hits and a big, big D.J. alert. The band, really two singers, has put out a showcase of coro writing, with monster coros powering through the tunes - check out "Dejame el Camino Libre." And while these projects have a sense of formula to them, the two throw carnival into the proceedings on "Ella Menea," open with percussion on "Mi Salsa Se Respeta," and do a ton of soneando. And they can sing, sometimes in harmony, sometimes in between the turbocharged blasts of the coro. Great band, rocking coros, high level pop salsa production, and great singing. Big commercial appeal, with very little downside to the proceedings.
Highly recommended. (Peter Watrous)
SONG TITLES:
1. Buscando Amor (4:12) 2. Por Amarte (4:21) 3. Dejame El Camino Libre (4:31) 4. Ella Menea (4:30) 5. Mi Salsa Se Respeta (4:23) 6. Reclamo Por Tu Cuerpo (3:53) 7. Pero Ya Cambie (3:48) 8. Si Tuviera Que Elegir (4:31) 9. Si Tu Sabes Que Te Quiero (3:27) 10. Por Amarte (version Balada) (3:31)
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EditorsPick: Colombia and Miami mix it up in the new salsa project. With Dante Vargas, Alberto Barros, Alex Duque, Pablo Grajales and others. Review to follow shortly. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Me Movio El Piso 2. La Casa De Cuco 3. Un Buen Amigo 4. Cuando Un Cariño Se Va 5. Que No Muera El Son 6. Homenaje 7. El Chivo De La Campana 8. Son Montuno Sibanicu 9. Ay Que Bueno 10. Mosaico Cumbias: Cumbia Candelosa 11. La Pollero Colora
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EditorsPick: New salsa from Colombia. Review to follow shortly. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Goza La Vida 2. Corazon Herido 3. Salsa Latina 4. Mirame 5. Muchacha De Ojazos Negros 6. Un Nuevo Amor 7. Me Gusta La Rumba 8. Dime Que Harias 9. Canto A Cali 10. Mi Negra 11. Razon
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EditorsPick: Singer Marlon takes on the repertoire of bachata master Juan Luis Guerra. Backed by Diego Gale and his crew: Sergio Munera, Morist Jimenez, Giovanni Montoya, Alex Duque and others. Review to follow shortly. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. La Bilirrubina (4:16) 2. Bachata Rosa (3:37) 3. Si Tu Te Vas (4:27) 4. A Pedir Su Mano (4:16) 5. Frio, Frio (4:39) 6. Visa Para Un Sueño (3:53) 7. Ojala Que Lluvacafe (3:40) 8. Estrellitas Y Duendes (4:40) 9. Burbujas De Amor (4:21) 10. Woman Del Callao (3:40)
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EditorsPick: Just in: New release by bandleader and guitarist Luis Mario Ochoa. With Hilario Duran, Francisco "Paco" Luviano, Luis Orbegoso, Jorge Luis Torres "Papiosco" and David Virelles. Review to follow shortly. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. El Carbonero (5:00) 2. Un Habanero En Brasil (4:41) 3. Canto Siboney (5:06) 4. Momentos Cubanos (4:01) 5. Y Deja (4:53) 6. Si La Rumba Va A Empezar (4:52) 7. Perla Marina (5:44) 8. Simbiosis (4:58) 9. Flor De La Canela (5:08)
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EditorsPick: Highly respected charanga orchestra from Colombia. Review to follow shortly. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. La Mulata De Mi Bario 2. Arrepientete 3. Al Pasito Cañandonga 4. Salud, Dinero Y Amor 5. Mañana 6. Cartagena 7. Pa' Crear Una Charanga 8. Mi Charanga 9. Mi Conquista 10. Total 11. Bonus Tracks: La Historia 12. 1989 Al Pasito Cañandonga 13. 1989 Mezcladita Con Salsa 14. 1988 El Rey Del Sabor 15. 1985 Paz En La Tormenta 16. 1987 La Bochinchera
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EditorsPick: Pop salsa from Venezuela. Barrios has a high, quivering voice. He and the music are very dramatic; get the sense that sobbing is the ultimate goal. For that, recommended. (Peter Watrous)
SONG TITLES:
1. Voy A Tener Que Olvidarte 2. Mil Canciones 3. Que Puedo Hacer 4. Sigues De Lejos 5. Divina Pastora 6. Tu Recuerdo En La Arena 7. Dejeme Tranquilo 8. Parte De Mi 9. Cantando 10. Que Puedo Hacer (merengue) 11. Voy A Tener Que Olvidarte (pop) 12. Mil Canciones (pop) 13. Que Puedo Hacer (regueton) 14. Sigues De Lejos (pop) 15. Parte De Mi (pop)
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EditorsPick: Colombia's in the house again with some salsa dura, Colombian style, with high voices high velocity etc. There are tributes to Ray Barretto and to Hector Lavoe, and while there's not much new here, it's solid Colombian-styled salsa. Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
SONG TITLES:
1. Intro 2. Mas Cerca De Las Estrellas 3. Medley Barreto 4. Contraste 5. Homenaje 6. Tomate Pinton 7. TV 8. Medley Lavoe 9. Todo Es Naderia 10. A Golpe De Timbal 11. Sara
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EditorsPick: New salsa release by singer Elvis Magno. Review to follow shortly. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Hasta Los Huesos 2. Me Parece Un Sueño 3. Mi Historia 4. Amarte Tanto 5. Quiero Saber 6. Robandote En Sueño 7. Se Me Parte El Alma 8. Te Culpare 9. Volvere 10. A Tu Lado
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EditorsPick: Excellent compilation of '60s and '70s Latin funk by Fania artists Ray Barretto, Seguida, Jimmy Sabater, Monguito and Mongo Santamaria, Gilberto Cruz, Cafe, Azuquita, Ralfi Pagan and others. Assembled by Adrian Gibson.
Recommended. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Together - Ray Barretto 2. You Need Me - Moguito Santamaria 3. I'm Satisfied - Joe Bataan 4. Identify Yourself - Cafe 5. Everybody's Got Soul - Flash & The Dynamics 6. Hot Pants (She Got To Use What She Got To Get What She Wants) 7. Black Dice - Mongo Santamaria 8. Dynamite! - Harvey Averne 9. I'm Gona Get To You Yet - TNT Boys 10. There You Go - Fania All-Stars 11. La Vida - Ralfi Pagan 12. I Got The Feeling/Tengo Sentiments - Chollo Rivera & The Latin Soul Drives 13. Funky Felix - Seguida 14. Kool It Here Comes The Fuzz - Jimmy Sabater 15. Guajiro Bacan - Azuquita Y Su Orquesta Melao 16. Stablishment - Harvey Averne
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EditorsPick: Back in stock! (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Semilla De Amor (7:07) 2. Dime Que Te Pasa (4:52) 3. Voy A Vivir Para Siempre (7:05) 4. Nina (5:42) 5. Bilongo (5:44) 6. Mi So Den Boso (3:28) 7. El Caminante (7:14) 8. La Montaña (4:14) 9. Rosa En El Fango (7:51)
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EditorsPick: Back in stock! (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Horsin' Up (3:54) 2. La Contraria (3:54) 3. Mi Manera De Sur (2:40) 4. Jaguey (3:46) 5. Yo Me Voy (4:23) 6. Grazin' In The Grass (Una Maradita De Amor) (3:15) 7. Lamento Cubano (4:44) 8. Quiero (Bobby's Boogaloo) (3:16) 9. Rumba A La Vida (4:54) 10. Mi Guajira Si (3:55)
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EditorsPick: Well chosen gems by the Queen of Salsa. With "Quimbara" (with Johnny Pacheco), "Usted Abuso" (with Willie Colon), "La Sopa En Botella" (with Johnny Pacheco), "Besito De Coco" (with Johnny Pacheco, Justo Betacourt, & Papo Lucca), "Cao Cao Mani Picao" (with Tito Puente), "Bemba Colora" and many other top picks. A perfect Celia primer.
Recommeded. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Quimbara (with Johnny Pacheco) 2. Usted Abuso (with Willie Colon) 3. Cucala (with Johnny Pacheco) 4. Toro Mata (with Johnny Pacheco) 5. Bamboleo (with Fania All-Stars) 6. A Papa (with Willie Colon) 7. Lo Tuyo Es Mental (with Johnny Pacheco) 8. La Sopa En Botella (with Johnny Pacheco) 9. Nadie Se Salva De La Rumba (with Ray Barretto & Adalberto Santiago) 10. El Guaba (with Johnny Pacheco) 11. Latinos En Estados Unidos (with Willie Colon) 12. Oriza Eh (with Johnny Pacheco) 13. Besito De Coco (with Johnny Pacheco, Justo Betacourt, & Papo Lucca) 14. Yerbero Moderno (with Johnny Pacheco, Justo Betancourt & Papo Lucca) 15. Cao Cao Mani Picao (with Tito Puente) 16. Bemba Colora
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EditorsPick: Since the mid-'90s this curiously named Venezuelan salsa orchestra has been heating up passions and filling dance floors throughout South America and beyond. Though the three vocalists featured on this live CD/DVD collection are indeed youthful, they are by no means adolescents, and the band cooks like a bunch of old pros. At times, the whole production teeters on the edge of pandemonium, with out-of-control brass, breakneck percussion, and a set of eye-distracting and humorously manic dance moves courtesy of the vocalists - Menudo this ain't. Through it all though, band-leader/guru Porfi Baloa keeps a semblance of order, exhorting the large Medellin crowd to get up and dance, playing some mean keyboards, and urging his furiously swinging band mates on to new heights of mambo madness. The slightly amateur DVD is interesting because it shows us how they pull it all off on stage, and puts it in the context of adoring salsa fans, but for my money the real treat is the live CD as the great sound quality makes it all worth it, and the funky rendition of "Cuerpo Sin Alma" provides a welcome mid-tempo hard salsa breather, with meaty trombones and juicy bari sax. There's also a very hot merengue thrown in that proves you certainly don't have to be from Quisqueya to nail the genre's tricky speed and intricate polyrhythms. Great stuff.
Highly recommended. (Pablo Yglesias)
Description: Original Price: $19.98
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SONG TITLES:
1. DVD: Intro - Ponte Pila 2. Ahelo 3. Envidioso 4. Se Acabo El Amor 5. Amor Amargo 6. Persona Ideal 7. Cuerpo Sin Alma 8. Folclore Domincano Me Gusta 9. Virgen 10. Recuerdos 11. Me Negu 12. Arrepentida 13. Aquel Lugar 14. CD: Ponte Pila 15. Anhelo 16. Envidioso 17. Se Acabo El Amor 18. Amor Amargo 19. Persona Ideal 20. Cuerpo Sin Alma 21. Folclore Domincano Me Gusta 22. Virgen 23. Me Nego Arrepentida 24. Aquel Lugar
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EditorsPick: Candido Fabré is definitely one of Cuba's best vocalists, and a great composer, giving us seminal tunes like "Comenzó la Fiesta," "A Palo No," and "¿Quién Ha Visto Por Ahí Mi Sombrero De Yarey?" - and in the '80s and '90s, with Pachi Naranjo's influential Orquesta Original de Manzanillo, Fabré found the best vehicle for his sonorous voice, impeccable improvisations, and adventurous spirit. La Original was truly original, bringing in new sounds and rhythms, giving Revé and Van Van a run for their peso, and impacting Latin groups beyond the sugar cane curtain.
Fast forward to the later 90s and Candido is now fronting his own band, still working within the charanga moderna format, but with a more folky, acoustic sound, including a prominent role for the tres. However, his voice is not what it used to be, now sounding rather rough, seemingly seasoned with gravel and tobacco. In 2005, Fabré and his 14 piece band was invited to headline two performances in Edinburgh, Scotland, as part of The Fairtrade Gathering World Music Concert and the Make Poverty History concert the next day. The DVD features footage from these two events as well as interviews in Cuba with Fabre and his mother. Some old classics from the Manzanillo days are covered, as well as some from Fabré's Tumi output. Unfortunately, the production values on this DVD are sub-par, with jerky camerawork, some poor lighting, and patchy sound; nonetheless the concert footage is fun, and the interview is interesting, providing a tantalizing but all too brief glimpse of this great sonero/composer and his fabulous band. When will the real Candido Fabré/Original de Manzanillo documentary be made? (Pablo Yglesias)
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EditorsPick: Back in stock! (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. De Parte De Un Boricua Para Los Colombianos (5:34) 2. Silueta (5:24) 3. Cuando Se Acabe La Rumba (5:35) 4. Sealed With A Kiss (5:00) 5. Sleep Walk (4:19) 6. Afinado Y Afincado (5:10) 7. All In The Game (3:52) 8. Quiero Mirarte A Ti (4:58) 9. Ahora (4:47) 10. Somewhere (4:16)
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EditorsPick: Oh man, another great record from the Venezuela/Cuba/U.S. matrix. Grau, a pianist and bandleader from Venezuela (by way of Berklee College of Music in Boston) and participant in a bunch of important projects (search this website and you'll see what I mean), has changed the name of his band from La Timba Loca to La Clave Secreta, and has put out a pretty much amazing timba dance record that suggests that timba is going to be the lengua franca of modern Caribbean dance music. It's timba made international, by which I mean that it takes away the insularity of Cuban timba (think crappy keyboard sounds) and brings it into a more experimental place. Grau's a great writer and arranger and he takes on some standards, like Willie Colon's "Calle Luna, Calle Sol," bringing a sophistication to the coro; on all the tunes there's an attention to detail that's just spectacular arranging. The music opens up into new rooms over and over again, new colors and textures, wanders into timba breaks, piano montunos, spoken works pieces, driving horn lines. This is for fans of Guaco, timba, Goza Pepillo, Descemer, Robertito Carcasses, Azucar Negra, etc.: all the new and old bands that aren't worried about taking on timba and bringing to it the modern world of experience. Glorious, this stuff.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
SONG TITLES:
1. Frutero Moderno (4:51) 2. Calle Luna, Cale Sol (4:47) 3. Siacara (5:07) 4. Sabor, Swing Y Sahoco (4:47) 5. Buche Y Pluma (5:07) 6. Amanecer En Calithea (2:11) 7. A La Griega (5:43) 8. La Polenica De La Mandarina (2:35) 9. Fachada O Nada (4:48) 10. Mujer Divina (4:25) 11. Abre Que Voy (5:20) 12. Alarma (7:28)
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EditorsPick: First time on DVD: The historic premiere U.S. performance of the venerable Cuban dance band. Recorded in New York on December 13, 1996, Juan Formell and Los Van Van perform their classics "Empezó La Fiesta," "Que Le Den Candela," "Sandunguera," "Soy Todo" and much more. With singers Mayito Rivera, Pedrito Calvo and Roberto Hernandez. Also with keyboardist/arranger Cesar "Pupy" Pedroso.
Highly Recommended. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Comienzo 2. Empezó La Fiesta 3. Que Le Den Candela 4. Sandunguera 5. Deja La Ira 6. Soy Todo 7. Presentacion 8. Se Acabó El Querer
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EditorsPick: Here's vintage Clasico, from the '80s in New York, that features singers Johnny Rivera, Ramon Rodriguez and Ramon Castro. The band plays their well known hits like "Vamonos De Rumba," "Señora Ley," "Los Rodriguez," "Amanecer En La Romano" and others.
Recommended, especially for the collectors. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Vamonos De Rumba 2. Vigilandote 3. Pierdes 4. Señora Ley 5. Los Rodriguez 6. Teresita 7. Amanecer En La Romano
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EditorsPick: Ruiz, in 2004, convened an extraordinary group, including George Coleman on saxophones, Leon Dorsey on bass and Grady Tate on drums. It's a straight-ahead jazz session, the sort, that if one heard it on the radio, would make you wonder who it was. Per usual, Coleman, a giant saxophonist, plays lines that are filled with substitutions, cramming his solos with harmony. The recording itself is beyond fine, with every tap of Grady Tate's drumming easily heard. And Ruiz's playing, in this context, is perfectly idiomatic; the man could play the blues and swing. It's a language that's rapidly being forgotten, straight ahead swing, and Ruiz was a master. This is beauty in the form of music, highly intelligent, relaxed, verbal without being overwrought. It's music that could only be made by adults.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
SONG TITLES:
1. A New York Story 2. Slow And Easy 3. Another Kind Of Blues 4. A Trio In Manhattan 5. Double Bass Blues 6. Slow And Easy 7. Another Kind Of Blues
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EditorsPick: Another piece of amazing music by Ruiz, but this one a solo recording. From the opening blues "Home Cooking" to the end of the album, Ruiz's time is astonishing, as is his ability to move between clave feeling and straight ahead swing; his bebop playing is fairly perfect, and on "Michael's Mambo" it's hard not to fall in love with his montuno playing, filled with space and percussion at the same time. This is a serious document by a serious player whose death in 2006 was a real loss to the cultural life of the United States.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
SONG TITLES:
1. Home Cooking 2. Jazzin' 3. Michael's Mambo 4. Blues For Cos(dedicated To Bill Cosby) 5. Island Eyes 6. Miami Girl 7. New Arrival 8. Old Arrival (dedicated To Tito Puente) 9. Shades Of Thelonious (dedicated To Thelonious Monk) 10. Sonny's Mood (dedicated To Sonny Rollins) 11. Sweet Cherry Pie 12. For Max (for Max Roach)
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EditorsPick: A thoroughly enjoyable homestyle salsa dura album from bassist Nelson Torres. No-nonsense double trombone attack, upfront and meaty bass, hypnotic piano, and thankfully, a tres that can actually be heard (many albums seem to leave the tres way down in the mix these days). The arrangements call to mind golden 70's era "garage" burners from small label groups like Brooklyn Sounds or Wayne Gorbea. Some of the vocals sound like they were recorded in a living room, which I love - this record has cojones. Though the album starts with the millionth cover of that old warhorse "Anacaona," with other chestnuts like "Mango Mangue" and "Plante Bandera" to boot, these classics are well done here, and the originals are nice too. Standouts are two jams sung primarily by Spanish Harlem Orchestra vocalist Willy Torres, who has a warm and authentic style: the infectious party tune "Las Muchachas" and Willy's own salsa brava composition, "Llegaron Los Cantantes" (a hot musical throw-down between soneros). Support your local independent productions, and grab this heartfelt and honest recording today.
Highly Recommended. (Pablo Yglesias)
SONG TITLES:
1. Anacaona (4:52) 2. Cerca De Ti (4:43) 3. Las Muchachas (4:41) 4. Llegaron Los Cantantes (5:23) 5. Mango Mangue (4:39) 6. Mariana (3:57) 7. Plante Bandera (4:55) 8. Rumba (4:10) 9. Señora Ley (4:32)
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EditorsPick: Multitalented Peruvian percussionist and bandleader Coco Lagos is slowly gaining recognition among Latin music fans outside of South America. If you like the '50s and '60s descarga jam sessions by Cachao, the Tico-Alegre Allstars, or Bebo Valdés, you owe it to yourself to pick up this gem from the MAG label, recorded in Lima in 1968. Though there is a feeling of looseness overall, and plenty of hot soloing for each instrument, these recordings are somewhat tighter than the Tico-Alegre Allstars, and feature more vocals than Cachao. There is a gritty, hard-core feel to many of these tunes, and to me they sound much more like salsa than so-called Latin jazz - kind of like Joe Cuba meets Eddie Palmieri. Joining Coco on the date is the ace MAG in-house studio team of Mario Allison on timbales, Nilo Espinosa on sax, the great arranger/composer Alfredo Linares on piano (and bass along with Joe di Roma), Tito Chicoma on trumpet, Charlie Palomares on vibes, with Kiko Fuentes, Carlos Muñoz, and the guy with the 'old man voice', Melocochita, on vocals. Great sound quality and packaging, this reissue fits right in with Vampisoul's Peruvian "¡Gózalo!" series. A must have for any serious lover of Latin music, and closes the gap on the untold story of Peru's role in spreading Antillean music beyond the Caribbean.
Highly Recommended. (Pablo Yglesias)
SONG TITLES:
1. Guajira Boogaloo 2. A La Capital 3. Coco's Descarga 4. La Rumba Empezo 5. Ahi Viene Coco 6. Descarga Jala Jala 7. Recuerdeme 8. Gozando Descargas
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EditorsPick: Excellent quality Volume II DVD & CD package of the legendary Sonora Ponceña's 50th anniversary concert at the jam-packed Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez de Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Recorded in February 2004, this is a well-produced multi-camera presentation featuring the Ponceña big band led by maestro Papo Lucca.
With singers Héctor "Pichie" Pérez, Fernando "Wito" Colon, José Alberto "El Canario", and Danny Davila . This DVD also includes guests Antonio Cabán Vale "El Topo" and the venerable Johnny Pacheco who sings and plays flute on "Sonero." There's a simply amazing cuatro solo by Maribel Delgado and a wonderful appearance by Roberto Roena who takes part, with Domingo "Tito" Gutierrez, in the first battle of the cowbells on DVD. It's pretty cool. A fine show not to be missed.
Very Highly Recommended. (BP)
Description: Original Price: $27.98
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SONG TITLES:
1. Ahora Yo Me Rio 2. Sonero 3. Suena Tu Bongo 4. No Vive En Este Planeta 5. Yambeque 6. Ramona 7. Date Cuenta 8. CD also includes: Bomba Carambomba
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EditorsPick: A recording like this will probably be overlooked today, though not tomorrow. The greatness of the groove, the explosion of the Puerto Rican/New York style so late in the day will be appreciated in historical terms - you know, a work of genius after the genre had flowered, etc. My suggestion: buy some of these now, give them away to friends and neighbors, get insistent with them, make them pay attention as the recording, essentially a descarga led by the ferocious montunos of Colon's piano, is a celebration of all the best things that have happened in what's called salsa. And Colon's a mean pianist, taking the band down to a whisper in some of his solos, and setting up all sorts of tricky tempo changes - listen to "Tirandote Flores" - to take the recording out of the range of the ordinary, and placing it where it should be, in the world of improvisation. Good musicians all over the date, too, including Chino Nuñes, Jorge Gonzalez, Chembo Corniel, Johnny Rivero and Richie Bastar on percussion, a coro including the lead singer Papote Jimenez, and Jorge Maldonando and Eddie Rosado. Jose Santiago and Ray Martinez show up on bass, and there's a trombone section including Jose Davila, Luis Cruz and Joe de Jesus. What I like about this date is its naturalism: it sounds like a live session, really well recorded, enjoyed by both the band and the audience. Going to be hard to bump this from '08's top ten list.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)

SONG TITLES:
1. Tirandote Flores (6:15) 2. Intense!! (6:42) 3. Apariencia (4:46) 4. Hot Bread (6:30) 5. Porque Te Empeñas (7:02) 6. Clara's Lament (7:17) 7. Sonero Mayor (5:43) 8. Cross Body Groove (5:43) 9. Soñando Con Puerto Rico (5:52) 10. La Murga (7:44)
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