EditorsPick: This one jumps right out at you, a high-speed son/salsa blowout from Puerto Rico. The leader Juan Jose Hernandez - singer, bassist - has made a point to bring together traditions and musicians from Cuba and Puerto Rico (check the maracas on the cover of the cd), and the result is overpowering salsa, with Hernandez's intense singing cutting through the music. It's based in the son, and the cuatro shows up, as do Ismael Miranda, Pupy Santiago, Sammy Garcia and more, and the music just doesn't stop, roaring through son, bombas, and more. Just pure pleasure, that's all, acoustic music at its best.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
SONG TITLES:
1. Llego San Juan-Habana 2. Mar Y Tierra 3. La Marijuanita 4. Por Lo Que Yo Te Amo 5. El Pregon Del Chocolate 6. San Juan-Habana (a Duo Con Ismael Miranda) 7. Mujeres 8. Las Musas 9. Yo Quiero Que Tu (a Duo Con Pupy Santiago) 10. Se Va San Juan-Habana
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EditorsPick: Just in! New release by salsa superstar Victor Manuelle. With a coro section featuring Domingo Quiñones, Jose Luis Ramos, Ramon Rodriguez, Yanira Torres, Pichi Perez and Luis Fonsi. Musically directed by pianist José Lugo. Trumpets: Angel "Angie" Machado, Jan Duclerc and Jesús Alonso. Trombones: Antonio Vazquez, Victor Candelario and Eliut Cintrón. Many, many others. Highly Recommended.
Review to follow shortly. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Yo Te Queria Querer (5:03) 2. Yo No Se Perdonarte (salsa) (4:50) 3. Dime (salsa) (4:22) 4. El Amor Es un Casino (3:52) 5. No Soy Quien (salsa) (4:41) 6. Mi Salsa (4:13) 7. No Me Niegues La Vida (salsa) (4:52) 8. Mi Mejor Amiga (3:45) 9. No Soy Quien (balada) (4:20) 10. Dime (balada) (3:39) 11. Yo No Se Perdonarte (balada) (3:38)
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EditorsPick: A Caracas band, Rumberos del Callejon says that it's dedicated to old school dance salsa, and that's certainly true on most of the tracks. Recorded in Long Island and in Caracas, the band rocks through pieces by Justi Barreto, Tite Curet Alonso and more and it's never less than totally committed, playing with the sort of intensity one expects from a Saturday night throw-down; listen to the extended "Tributo A Ismael." Led by the percussionist Carlos Padron, the band features its percussion up front, well recorded and present, and the result is a hard, unpretentious recording that is perfect for a club, a super D.J. Alert on this one.
Highly Recommended. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Aqui Se Puede (5:04) 2. Lo Que Yo Tuve Contigo (5:36) 3. Ven Cariño (4:20) 4. Sobre Vivi (5:28) 5. Tributo A Ismael (5:24) 6. Chenchere Guma (3:58) 7. Rumberito (4:01) 8. Pa' Lante Otra Vez (4:27) 9. Sigo Bravo (4:37) 10. Cancion Con Todo (4:34) 11. Otra Igual Que Tu (4:38)
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EditorsPick: Nice warm instrumental mambo and Latin jazz, all original compositions, no filler or jazz lite, gracias. If you have not heard these Michigan-based cats before, this is as good a place to start as any. As has been pointed out before, you can dance to what these bravos are laying down, or just sit back and listen to the groove. Real acoustic piano, smoking flute, plenty of solos all around, crisp ritmos and tumbaos - all the ingredients for your summer BBQ or for the dance floor when you are tired of the vocals. Personal faves are "Sayulita," the Russian mambo "Pushkin, My Friend," and the band's intense call and response theme song, "Ritmo Bravo." For the mellower side, there is the enchanting funky danzón/cha "Victoria," and for the more straight up jazz lovers, there is "Mojicarrific." These guys know what they are doing, and you should too.
Highly Recommended. (Pablo Yglesias)
SONG TITLES:
1. Sayulita (5:48) 2. Un Systema Para Todo (4:45) 3. Victoria (5:10) 4. Mojicarrific (5:18) 5. Habla (4:40) 6. Serenata (6:04) 7. Schiphol (6:00) 8. Pushkin, My Friend (5:53) 9. Caminos (5:56) 10. Sharonesque (5:40) 11. Ritmo Bravo (4:43)
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EditorsPick: Just in! New Latin jazz trio made up of pianist Bill O'Connell, flautist Dave Valentin, and percussionist Richie Flores who plays congas, timbales, cajon and more.
Review to follow shortly. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Triple Play (4:17) 2. Flying By (6:29) 3. Machu Picchu (5:54) 4. A Call For Sanity (6:02) 5. Just In Time (4:31) 6. Second Son (5:48) 7. Crayo E Candela (6:32) 8. You've Changed (5:35) 9. Afro Blue (6:15) 10. Dansette (6:10)
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EditorsPick: The Colombian pianist, who has played and worked with Tito Puente, Ron Carter and bunch of other people, turns in a beautiful piece of orchestral Latin jazz. The arrangements, by Martinez, are modern but absolutely redolent of everything from Gil Evans to the great orchestrations of the mambo orchestras. There a bunch of great musicians playing here, from Ruben Rodriguez on bass to Claudio Roditi and Philip Mossman on trumpets; Jimmy Delgado, Ernesto Simpson and Samuel Torres handle most of the percussion and Dave Valentin sits in on flute. Martinez moves from piano to organ and Fender Rhodes piano, and his solos are models of patient improvising, modern but swinging and thoughtful. A small masterpiece.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
SONG TITLES:
1. Suite For Piano, Percussion & Jazz Orchestra 2. Guaneña 3. Children 4. Dissapear 5. Manuela Si 6. Midnight Jazz Affair 7. Hard Drive Blues 8. Mother's Day 9. Celebration
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EditorsPick: This is a really interesting Latin jazz album. Different to say the least. Boston based pianist and man of many talents Joel "Masacote" Massicot brings a lot of intriguing influences and disparate sounds to this production. There is an independent spirit at work here, a sense of playfulness and adventurousness lacking from a lot of other recordings that get lumped into this kind of R&B-tinged "contemporary Latin jazz" category. The Ritmo Masacote band are a fabulous bunch of players, and on this date their talent really shows. Massicot's piano playing is fluid and inventive, easily switching from intense Latin figures to gentle, almost classical ruminations. The fact that Fantagious features Pablo "Chino" Nuñez on timbales and bongo, Luisito Quintero on congas, and trumpet player Richie Viruet gives it salsa cred and a firm Afro-Cuban underpinning; but it is bassist/vocalist Panagiotis Andreou who is the real wild card here, and bless Masacote for allowing Andreou to bring a new sensibility to the proceedings. As a leader, it is Masacote's fearless will to create something unique and enjoyable that is most inspiring, and I think the musicians respond to that here quite well. Andreou really shines on a trio of Middle-Eastern and Greek tinged tracks that serve to center the album, and I particularly enjoyed "Clowning Around," which, contrary to its oddly light-hearted title, is actually quite seriously funky and moving, combining the afore mentioned Middle-Eastern melodies with slinky Mediterranean vocals, Afro-Cuban sentido, and nasty funk elements in the bass and drumming - it's a combination that makes sense, given the fact that Spain was really a part of North Africa for 700 years! Viruet really lights one up with a burning trumpet solo during the montuno. Other tracks like "Fantasia" and "Machete Son" cook like nobody's business, plus versions of standards like Herbie Hancock's "Maiden Voyage" and Brubeck's "Take Five" stand on their own as reinventions that are fully satisfying. On the whole, at 72:50, this rather lengthy recording keeps you entertained throughout. Masicot also is involved in dance theater, and I can certainly imagine some rather hot moves being executed to this fusion soundtrack fantasy. Well done, and a worthy follow-up to the debut disk, Massacote.
Highly Recommended. (Pablo Yglesias)
SONG TITLES:
1. Maiden Voyage (5:10) 2. Fusion (7:24) 3. Take Five (6:28) 4. 11 Ways (9:40) 5. Endoskopisi (3:13) 6. Clowning Around (6:12) 7. Rumba Walk (7:22) 8. Fantasia (5:25) 9. Fantagious Intro (2:16) 10. Fantagious (7:47) 11. Melancholy Intro (1:15) 12. Melancholy (4:44) 13. Machete Son (5:26)
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EditorsPick: Some recordings tell you everything in the first few notes; they're blessed with perfection. Volviendo a las Raices is one of those, in that from the get go it flashes a deadly swing combined with great melodies and fine coro singing, and by the time the album ends you want to keep it in the car with you, and turn it up. Based in Puerto Rico, and run by the composer and producer Ramon Rodriguez, who wrote all the material, the band features some of the best musicians in Puerto Rico, including a brass and reed section that includes Piro Rodriguez, Angie Machado, Rafi Torres and Angel Torres, along with a rhythm section that features Eric Figueroa on piano, Alfredo Llop, Charlie Sierra and Tato Gonzalez on percussion with Johnny Torres on bass. And in between the ferociously cool dance music, people actually improvise, with fine trumpet and piano solos. The horn section, built around the traditional Puerto Rican baritone saxophone, is thick and wonderfully heavy, another element of the wildly complicated interaction between horns, coros, lead singers, and various parts of the rhythm section. This is dance music, Puerto Rican style, at its best, and there's nothing like it, no fishing in the waters of pop or reggaeton, no ballads, just house rocking salsa, with a swing that makes you want to live the music.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
SONG TITLES:
1. La Miramar (4:27) 2. La Piquiña (4:14) 3. Sientate (4:35) 4. Como Te Quedo El Ojo (4:34) 5. La Mala Racha (4:06) 6. El Bobo (3:46) 7. Que No Se Vaya (3:51) 8. No Puedo Prometer Nada (3:50) 9. Ella (4:08) 10. Tengo Que Llegarle (4:24)
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EditorsPick: New Latin jazz by percussionist Steve Kroon. With pianists Oscar Hernandez, Igor Atalita and John Di Martino, bassist Ruben Rodriguez, vibes player Bryan Carrott, drummers Vince Cherico and Diego Lopez and others. With guests vocalist Freddy Cole.
Review to follow shortly. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Bo Bo's Blues (5:56) 2. Matana (5:45) 3. Precious One (5:14) 4. Brazilian Sugar (6:16) 5. I Wish You Love (5:31) 6. Used To Be A Cha Cha (6:36) 7. Steppin (6:22) 8. Superwoman/Where Were You (5:14) 9. Don Ramon (5:39) 10. Minha Saudade (5:59)
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EditorsPick: It is impossible to overstate the importance of saxophonist and composer David Sanchez has had with respect to modern improvised music, whether it be jazz, or Latin jazz. It's easy to forget that he in a sense opened the world to the sort of modern group improvising that's a commonplace today, a group improvisatory conception that's based on a real knowledge and ability to play both idioms, mainstream jazz and the clave. Few people were able, much less trying, to do so when he arrived, and his growth since then has been spectacular, with Cultural Survival perhaps his most sophisticated and satisfying album. He's joined by the guitarist Lage Lund, and Lund gives the group a contemporary sound, not only in the harmony he chooses and his improvisations, but in the group sound; Sanchez's conception sounds Brooklyn Modern. Long tracks, including a 20 minute piece called "La Leyenda de Carnaval" - a response to a beautiful poem by Sanchez's sister - allow the composer to stretch out, and in the political underpinning of the album, one can feel the deep intelligence, the layered approach to music, politics and more that Sanchez brings to the table. This stuff's going to last a long time; it's also where jazz is today.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
SONG TITLES:
1. Coast To Coast (10:36) 2. Manto Azul (6:09) 3. Adoracion (9:43) 4. Monk's Mood (6:10) 5. Ay Bendito (9:38) 6. Cultural Survival (8:17) 7. The Forgotten Ones (4:46) 8. La Leyenda Del Cañaveral (20:31)
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EditorsPick: Colombian salsero/lawyer Charlie Cajares' album is not as wild and crazy as the title would have you believe, though at times it gets pretty intense. There are some fine tracks on this well-rounded and not particularly challenging CD. The standout cuts are the originals, "Rompecabezas" and "Cuando Quiero Llorar No Llorar" being the best of the lot because their intensity saves them from being not too pop or smooth. Though Cajares voice is nothing to get too excited about, and he is no Yuri Buenaventura, he does the job well, and thankfully without all the R&B hysterics that so many of these young pop-salseros employ in their vocal stylings these days. The arrangements are bright and up tempo, and occasionally pleasantly surprising (the rap section in "Mujer Ajena" is a good example). There are plenty of danceable numbers here, and a fine version of Justi Barreto's "Lo Que Dice Yusty" is a welcome addition (though no one can equal Wayne Gorbea's definitive version). Cajares also does a vallenato/salsa number, a la Carlos Vives. I actually really dig the last cut,"Y Quema Mas," a nice hybrid of reggaetón, salsa, and cumbia that marries digital beats and the acoustic sounds of the trumpet and tres. Good production values make for a nice sound and handsome package. Now if Charlie's skills as an attorney are as well rounded as his salsa talents, I will definitely call him next time I am in trouble with the law.
Recommended. (Pablo Yglesias)
SONG TITLES:
1. Quisiera Ser Demente (Demente) (4:20) 2. Mujer Ajena (4:29) 3. Porque Yo Te Amo (4:31) 4. Lo Que Dice Yusty (4:38) 5. Caso Familiar (4:30) 6. Ya No Eres Tu (Vallenato Salsa) (4:41) 7. Rompecabezas (4:39) 8. No Volvimos A Encontrar (4:39) 9. Cuando Quiero Llorar No Llorar (4:14) 10. Y Quema Mas (3:39)
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EditorsPick: The Caribbean Jazz Project's dropped the great guitarist Steve Khan and added a big band. And the big band does some shouting, tearing through modern arrangements of standards by Oliver Nelson, Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane and Dizzy Gillespie; Dave Samuels, the leader and vibraphonist wrote a bunch of tunes for the date as well. And it's modern music that'll sound great on the radio, big and brassy and energetic and full of modern harmonies and re-harmonizations of the standards, plus rhythmic drive; Roberto Quintero's in the rhythm section along with Joe McCarthy on drums. Very serious music.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
SONG TITLES:
1. Rendezvous (4:55) 2. Naima (6:11) 3. Five For Elvin (8:45) 4. Soul Sauce (5:20) 5. Picture Frame (6:30) 6. Stolen Moments (8:35) 7. Birds Of A Feather (4:55) 8. Afro Green (7:42) 9. Bemsha Swing (7:54)
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EditorsPick: Rafael 'Chivirico' Dávila sang lead and/or coro with a who's who in Latin music: most famously with the orchestras of Tito Puente and Joe Cotto, but also with Cortijo and Kako, the Fania and Alegre Allstars, Eddie Palmieri, Larry Harlow, Richie Ray, and even down in Peru with Ñico Estrada y su Sonora in the '60s. He was also a composer of some note. But for me, it is his solo albums of the '70s where he really shines, and Para Mi Gente is arguably his best. Pianist, painter, and producer Jorge Millet was a genius who died much too young, and he leaves his mark all over this disk. The up tempo big band salsa numbers are unstoppable and infused with spine-tingling sabor; the boleros are lush and thrilling. Victor Paz "Vitin" and Héctor "Bomberito" Zarzuela are in fine form on trumpet, the late, great, Mario Rivera kills it on sax, and the magic rhythm section of Orestes Vilató, Frankie Malabe, Nicky Marrero, plus Charlie Rodriguez on tres, and bassist Eddie "Gua Gua" Rivera, really keep things swinging throughout. DJ alert for "Para Mi Gente," "Tumba," and "Gavilán," stuff that is so smokin' it will burn a hole in your dancefloor. The good sound quality helps.
Very Highly Recommended. (Pablo Yglesias)
SONG TITLES:
1. Para Mi Gente (5:30) 2. Enamorado (3:29) 3. Tumba (5:52) 4. Quizás Quizás Quizás (2:41) 5. Gavilán (3:46) 6. Yare Yare (3:39) 7. Por Equivocación (3:47) 8. La Mujer Del Peso (4:05) 9. Cristal (2:58) 10. Mar Y Cielo (3:56)
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EditorsPick: There's some deep funk here, timba madness at its best. Simonet has been leading his band for over a decade and he's been one of the genre's most international figures, regularly playing all over the world. It sounds like it: this is super polished, hard funk dance music at its best, smart, driving, urgent, and above all cool. Simonet has figured out how to make timba a bit wider than the pure Cuban version, making sure the coros are melodically attractive, making the music sound radio ready with a recording quality that's much better than the average Cuban disc, integrating the bright strings perfectly. Here's something else about the coolness: the tempos are all mid-tempo groovers that make you go ummmmm, no kid stuff here, just grooves to live by. There's even some Andy Montañez, acoustic guitar, and a bossa introduction and a bit of reggaeton; all gets subsumed into the maw of timba. An achievement, this stuff, history.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
SONG TITLES:
1. Relampago 2. Locos Por Tu Besos 3. Comenzar 4. La Habana Me Llama 5. Coleccionista De Canciones 6. Muevete 7. Niebla Del Riachelo (feat. Andy Montañez) 8. Corazon 9. Popurrit (Salidita Contigo, Tu Me Dijiste Mentira, Tu Me Recordarás, Caballo Grande Ande O No Ande, Llegó La Musica Cubana, Linda Melodia) 10. Güines Que Le Pasa A Tata (feat. Tata Güines) 11. Control
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EditorsPick: Arguably Miranda's last album of all around classic material, Este Es Ismael contains some very intense Cuban-styled burners, as well as an authentic Puerto Rican-sounding number with plena flavors, a humorous cover of a merengue by Wilfrido Vargas that lampoons many of Miranda's fellow salseros, and even a neo-tango version of the bar room tear-jerker, "La Copa Rota," made famous by José Feliciano in the same era. Miranda, known as the "pretty boy" of salsa, is presented on the album cover and back as a romantic idol, but for the most part, this is a misrepresentation, as the diversity of material, coupled with the authentic sounds, overall intensity, and seriousness of the recording belies this marketing approach. Amazing that he was only 25 when he and Pacheco cut this collection; for my money, "María Luisa" and "La Cosa No Es Como Antes" stand right up there with his best songs. I always play "Madre" when it's Mothers Day at the club, and "Cipriano Armenteros" is a great piece of art-salsa, benefiting as it does from the poetry (and backing vocals) of the great Rubén Blades. Some Fania reissues sound bad, some good; this one is relatively clean, but the sound quality takes a dip during "En Mi Viejo San Juan" when you can actually hear crackling noises. But no matter; still very ...Highly Recommended. (Pablo Yglesias)
SONG TITLES:
1. La Cosa No Es Comos Antes (3:29) 2. Puerto Abandonado (3:43) 3. Yo No Me Quejo (2:24) 4. Cipriano Abmenteros (5:28) 5. Madre (6:18) 6. Maria Luisa (4:43) 7. En Mi Viejo San Juan (3:59) 8. Si La Muerte Pisa Mi Huerto (2:39) 9. La Copa Rota (3:11) 10. Recordando (5:03)
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EditorsPick: Damn, the return of the Cuban vocal group tradition, and baby, I'm a sucker for this sort of mildly corny elegance. Unlike Gema Quatro and Vocal Sampling, the female quartet runs their sophisticated harmonic explorations over a rhythm section that favors say, the 80s, for its groove, dragging the proceeding down a bit - I'd like to hear the four women doing their thing without help. Formed in 1997, the group works the adult contemporary format, Cuban style, and throughout the brilliance of the singing and arrangements struggle a bit with the group. On tunes like "Al Fin Amor," which opens with just them singing, there's almost a modern classical music density to their sound; then the band comes in. They cover some great material, pieces by Descemer Bueno, Rene Touzet, and Marta Valdes; get thee a producer, and head out into the real world.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
SONG TITLES:
1. Tu, Mi Delirio (2:52) 2. No Te Vayas (3:38) 3. Al Fin Amor (3:09) 4. En Tu Voz (4:53) 5. Cancion Estudio (2:56) 6. En Nosotros (3:53) 7. Eres Feliz (4:01) 8. Llora (3:32) 9. Fragil Y Minima (3:15) 10. Cancion Dificil (5:00) 11. Cocodrilo Verde (4:29) 12. No Me Platiques (2:47)
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EditorsPick: Wow, who knew they could charanga with the best of them down in Venezuela? This is a very good value: two super obscure and really interesting charanga albums on one CD! The first five tracks feature mostly coro type vocals, and the arrangements are traditional without quite hitting the Cuban sound; but after that, look out: things really heat up! I agree with john Child - some very good stuff. There are interesting arrangements (with solos on electric guitar, Venezuelan cuatro, and piano), and "De Que Te Quejas" starts off with a really cool rumba callejera intro. Nati's version of Palmieri's "Pa La Ocha Tambo" really knocked me out, and what I liked the most about the second half of the CD is the Nuyorican salsa sensibilities lurking just under the surface, giving the sound a youthful, muscular feeling that is lacking on the first couple of tunes, which are more old-school (as in 50s-60s). For my money, when the ensemble coros drop out and Carlos "El Grande" comes in on lead vocals, the session really starts to cook.
Highly Recommended. (Pablo Yglesias)
SONG TITLES:
1. Sandra Mora 2. Son De Bailadores 3. Me Tiene Loco 4. Sigue El Ritmo 5. Suena La Flauta 6. Hay Que Gozar La Vida 7. Ahora Me Toca Bailar 8. De Que Te Uejas 9. Vas Acabar Conmigo 10. No Hay Pa' Nadie 11. Me Siento Bien 12. Pa' La Ocha Tambo 13. Ya No Te Quiero 14. Salundando (Llegaron Los Charangueros) 15. Que Esta Pasando
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EditorsPick: Led by the percussionist Nick Herman, the local New York son band branches out. Herman's pushed the group in an electric direction, and on the title track we can hear what happens. Over a conga rhythm, Octavio Kotan opens up on electric guitar; the music pushes into electric Miles Davis territory. This is good; there's Brazilian percussion also. Herman's brought together a bunch of good musicians to do it all, and they play the son well, too. The band's proven itself to be part of the backbone of the Latin music scene here in New York, and it's hard not to hope the electric experiment keeps on going.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
SONG TITLES:
1. Cuando Tú Vayas A Oriente 2. Conga Eléctrica 3. Qué Me Inporta A Mi 4. Todavía Me Qua Voz 5. Añorado Encuentro 6. ¡Ay! Cantando Mi Son 7. El Comelón 8. Interludio 9. Con El Trapo Rojo 10. Llegaron Las Viandas
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EditorsPick: Just non-stop improvising, descarga-esque perfection, with the Cuban pianist Rodriguez setting mood after mood on a recording that draws together a bunch of live dates. And here's the cast: the pianist is joined by Tata Güines and Changuito on percussion, Ruben Chaviano on violin, plus a bunch of other great musicians. The tracks stretch out and Rodriguez, who may be the most underestimated pianist of his generation, works through pieces by Emiliano Salvador, Bobby Carcasses and Chucho Valdes. Again, medium tempos, adult music with patience. The recording's so relaxed it should be studied as a model of how to play with the longer distance in mind. Just beautiful.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
SONG TITLES:
1. Claudia (ballade) Jesus "Chucho Valdés (9:27) 2. Aguardiente (descarga) Tata Güines (7:59) 3. Longina (trova) Manuel Corona (6:15) 4. Mario's Blues (Latin-jazz) Bobby Carcassés (9:54) 5. Puerto Padre (son montuno) Emiliano Salvador (5:40) 6. Almendra (danzón) Abelardo Valdés (9:57) 7. Summertime (Latin-jazz) George Gershwin (9:31) 8. Tres Palabras (bolero) Osvaldo Farres (4:30) 9. Oye Afra (Yoruba-son) Alfredo Rodriguez (9:26)
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EditorsPick: I hear a lot of similar independent productions these days that suffer from the same thing: the arrangements are decent enough but lack the dynamism, organic depth, and diversity of most 70s salsa; the recording quality sounds thin, digital; the vocals are just plain boring or out of tune; the album is short or hurried sounding. If the vocals on some of these productions were at least possessing of some kind of personality or grit, that would make up for the sameness of the musical backing tracks. The latest salsa album by Hector Ramos suffers from these ailments on most of the cuts, I am afraid. To say it is inconsistent is an understatement. While tunes like "Si Estoy Aqui" and "Que Las Dos Me Quieran" are mildly interesting and have some cojones, and "Cabiosile Abacua" is actually quite good, something about Ramos' thin, reedy, voice, coupled with the use of synthesizers and slightly sappy arrangements on tracks like "Te Sigo Amando," "Deseo Salvaje," and "En Mi Puertorro," makes for a dissatisfying blend that leaves you wishing it were better overall. If you are going to cover an old classic, it better be good. "Save The Last Dance For Me" (which is not by "D.R." as claimed) is simply bad and almost sinks the whole show. However, the exception is "Mi Cumbia," which, you guessed it, is a killer cumbia, but with hot salsa brass and accordion accents (a departure from the generic sound of the rest of the album). But two great tracks out of eight do not make a highly recommended disk. (Pablo Yglesias)
SONG TITLES:
1. Si Estoy Aqui 2. Que Las Dos Me Quieran 3. Cabiosile Abacua 4. Te Sigo Amando 5. Save The Last Dance For Me 6. Mi Cumbia 7. Deseo Salvaje 8. En Mi Puertorro
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EditorsPick: Listening to this nostalgic album is like going back in time - which makes sense in a way, as Portuguese pop star and singer/songwriter Vitorino Salomé is returning to his childhood: revisiting the music his father and his friends, all amateur musicians, used to play many years ago when Vitorino was a kid growing up in Alentejo (a beautiful part of Southern Portugal, just above the Algarve), 30 years before he became a huge pop star. Cuban music filtered into Portugal 50 years ago through Spain, Brazil, and Macao. Now Portugal's prodigal son has returned to his earliest influences at the request of Septeto Habanero. Vitorino traveled to La Habana in 1999 (hence the title) and recorded a bunch of old chestnuts like "Capullito De Aleli" with the venerable fogies from Septeto Habanera, and this previously unavailable album is the result. His clear, mournful, European-sounding voice, with its slight Portuguese accent and romantic quaver, puts an odd spin on the Cuban sound of Buena Vista vintage. An acquired taste for sure; an interesting experiment I have to admit. I almost wish he had crooned in Portuguese, just to bring something a little different to the mix and push the parameters. None-the-less, this recording is fascinating because it points out the similarities between bluesy Portuguese forms like fado, and the son cubano and bolero. If you like old time music, but without the crackles and pops, this is for you. With German Pedro Ibañez (Pedrito), Felipe Ferrer Caraballo, Gonzalo Emilio Moret Lopez and others. Recommended. (Pablo Yglesias)
SONG TITLES:
1. Desde El Dia En Que Te Vi 2. Nunca 3. Tres Palabras 4. Inolvidable 5. Toda Una Vida 6. Capullito De Aleli 7. Si Llego A Besarte 8. Te Quiero, Dijiste 9. Un Poquito De Tu Amor 10. Perla Marina 11. Contigo En La Distancia 12. Revive La Ilusion 13. Perfidia 14. La Ultima Noche
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EditorsPick: Back in stock! Here is a lovely, long awaited, new release featuring legendary Cuban pianist Bebo Valdés. For those of you who didn't know, Bebo is the father of legendary Cuban pianist Chucho Valdés. Legendary runs in the family. This is a rich celebration of Cuban standards done in an eloquent fashion. You may have heard many of these songs before, but not with the soul and swing that Bebo imbues. Did I mention the rhythm section featuring a couple of other legendary figures? Patato Valdés on conga and Israel Lopéz Cachao on bass complete a trio that existed only in dreams before this session. Special guest Paquito D'Rivera. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Lamento Cubano (3:29) 2. Son De La Loma (3:24) 3. El Marañon (3:13) 4. Bolero Popurrí: Se Fue (3:09) 5. Quizas, Quizas, Quizas 6. Aurora 7. Priquitin Pin Pon (4:25) 8. Negro De Sociedad (2:15) 9. Buche Y Pluma "Na Ma" (3:59) 10. El Reloj De Pastora (3:50) 11. Conga Popurri: Mirala Que Lindo Viene (3:39) 12. Las Bolleras (Adios Mama) 13. Los Dandy 14. La Chambelona 15. Una, Dos Y Tres 16. Ogguere (6:44) 17. Pare Cochero (2:14) 18. Cumbanchero (4:30) 19. Si Llego A Besarte (3:39) 20. Guaracha Popurri: Virgen De La Regla (3:32) 21. Ay Que Me Vengo Cayendo 22. Para Camauey Se Va Panchita 23. En Manzanillo Se Baila El Son 24. A Lo Loma De Belen 25. Se Acobo La Choricera.. Plus 3 More Tunes!
Price: $17.98
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EditorsPick: Back in stock! El Maestro Cachao is back with a highly anticipated new release -- and a beauty it is. Although I thoroughly enjoy the Master Sessions releases, Cuba Linda seems a tad bit smaller in scale in its production, allowing for a more intimate connection with Cachao and his pure Cuban sensibility. The mixing is just perfect, and, in some cases, if your mind is clear and the volume is set just right, you will be transported to a late-night smoke filled dance hall in Havana. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Goza Mi Mambo Cubano 2. A Francisquita Le Gusta El Cusubé 3. Rendención 4. Prisionero De Amor 5. Guajira De Mi Corazón 6. Why? Why Not! 7. Los Tres Ases 8. Otan Efó 9. Emboba 10. La Danza/Báilalo Si Puedes 11. Rapsody In Blue 12. Cuba Linda 13. Yényere Guma
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EditorsPick: Kitsch lovers rejoice: Latin music with corny keyboards!!! Hot damn. The orchestra, founded by the Cuban government in 1967, started out as a good idea - bring together the best musicians on the island to play jazz, pop and rock in a Cuban style. Check out the musicians: Chucho Valdes, Arturo Sandoval, Paquito D'Rivera, Cachaito Lopez, Juan Pablo Torres, Enrique Pla, Guillermo Barretto, El Guajiro Mirabal. But. In the history of music, there has never been a group that so seriously dismisses its talent. The music here is soundtrack perfection, with little or no improvisation, and it's fine for what it is, but it's hard not to imagine what might have been; lot of heartbroken musicians on that gig. Big heads up for those people who need Latin kitsch for films.
Recommended.
[Two original albums: Cuba, Qué Linda Es Cuba (1969) and Orquestra Cubana de Música Moderna, Vol III (1970)] (Peter Watrous)
SONG TITLES:
1. Cuba, Qué Linda Ed Cuba (2:41) 2. Y Tú Qué Has Hecho (3:41) 3. El Niche (3:59) 4. Me Siento Libre (3:13) 5. La Comparsa (3:13) 6. La Era Está Pariendo Un Corazón (4:09) 7. Ay, Mama Inés (3:49) 8. Te Vas A Casar (3:01) 9. El Ñame Con Bacalo (4:35) 10. De Mi Recurdos (2:47) 11. La Perlas De Tu Boca (3:05) 12. Con La Mano Extendida (3:07) 13. Modo Cubano (2:59) 14. Son De La Loma (4:11) 15. Tema De Un Africano (2:53) 16. Lagrimas Negras (3:15) 17. Recordando El Blues (6:31) 18. Almendra (4:41) 19. Bufón (3:07) 20. Porque Ya No Estás (4:13) 21. Pastilla De Menta (5:15)
Price: $22.98
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EditorsPick: Terrific Cuban compilation featuring an unlikely spread of modern timba, old school salsa, son and more - a real party mix that, surprisingly, flows just great. Features Yumuri, Maraca, Bamboleo, Roberto Torres, La Lupe, Chico Alvarez, Teresa Garcia Caturla, Linda Leida and others. This one, folks, has been in the CD player all day. Compiled by Pablo Yglesias who also wrote the superb liner notes. Perfect for the summer all-nighter. Turn the volume way up and dance!
Highly Recommended. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Acarmelao - Yumuri Y Sus Hermanos (4:14) 2. Castigala - Maraca (3:54) 3. Mientes - Adalberto Alvarez Y Su Son (5:01) 4. Llego Tete - Teresa Garcia Caturla (4:56) 5. Yo No Me Parezco A Nadie - Bamboleo (6:40) 6. Mi Son - Barbarito Torres (4:22) 7. Pa' Quien Un Pollito (Version Libre) - Sierra Maestra (3:23) 8. Tres Dias De Carnaval - Celia Cruz & Johnny Pacheco (5:00) 9. En Casa De Mi Compay - Roberto Torres (2:52) 10. Sin Maiz - La Lupe (3:15) 11. A Comer Chicharron - Linda Leida (6:15) 12. El Indio Canaobo - Chico Alvarez & The Palomonte Afro-Cuban Big Band (8:15) 13. Angoa - Edwin Bonilla Y Jesus "El Niño" Perez (4:50) 14. La Barbara - Echo A Mano Feat. Roberto Linares Brown, Ernesto Brooks & Corey Paul (3:40)
Price: $16.98
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EditorsPick: Another fine entry to the Think Global division of the World Music Network. This smorgasboard of dance music mixes up a nice blend of salsa, merengue and bachata featuring the bands Grupo Caribe, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Pochy & La Cocoband, Monchy Y Alexandra, Mayito Rivera and many others. A *lot* of fun is packed into this 72 minute collection. Assembled by Pablo Yglesias. Good liners, too.
Recommended. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Grupo Caribe - Tambo A Rumba (4:22) 2. Ahora Si- Spanish Harlem Orchestra (5:27) 3. Me Voy P'al Pueblo - Los Hermanos Rosario (4:46) 4. El Cacu - Pochy & La Cocoband (4:29) 5. La Avispa - Zacarias Ferreira (4:25) 6. C'mon Get Dancing - Los Fulanos (4:03) 7. Todo Se Va A Poder - Ray Barretto (6:09) 8. Hoja En Blanco - Monchy Y Alexandra (5:08) 9. Ay Chave - La Sonora Dinamita (3:18) 10. Amor De Locos (rap Version) - Eddy Herrera Feat. Vladimir Dotel (4:31) 11. Whoa - Orlando Conga (4:16) 12. El Tono Que Traigo - Mayito Rivera (5:30) 13. Open De Door - Roberto Linares Brown (4:57) 14. Jaloux Jaloux - Colomobiafrica-The Mystic Orchestra (6:06) 15. Si No Saliera La Luna - Frankely (4:19)
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EditorsPick: The Rough Guide series continues with this terrific modern Brazilian primer. With Funk 'n Lata, Afroreggae With Manu Chao, Joao Sabia, Chico Salles, Comadre Fulazinha and many others. Recommended. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Baile Funk (Live In Berlin) - Funk 'n Lata (4:34) 2. Princesinha Da Mare - Capoeira Experience (2:52) 3. Meio De Transporte - Ze Cafofinho E Suas Correntes (3:27) 4. Benedito - Afroreggae With Manu Chao (4:30) 5. Renata, Renatinha - Joao Sabia (4:03) 6. Batucada Ostinata - Ashen & Walker (4:44) 7. Sorriso Aberto - B Negao & Digitaldubs (3:50) 8. Brasis - Gabriel Moura (3:52) 9. Favela - MC Marcinho (2:25) 10. Coco Trocado - Chico Salles (2:27) 11. Zumba - Comadre Fulazinha (4:36) 12. Plim Plim - Marcelinho Da Lua Feat. Martiho Da Vila (4:18) 13. Tirar Onda - Think Of One (3:36) 14. Baiuca's Bar - Maroc Andre (3:51) 15. Coco Dom (Digital Groove Remix) - Silverio Pessoa (3:50) 16. Do Zero - Anna Luisa Feat. Pedro Luis & A Parede (3:33) 17. Na Gloria - Sururu Na Roda (2:09)
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EditorsPick: Nice compilation of material featuring work by Jose Conde Y Ola Fresca ("El Chacal"), Pedro Luis Ferrer ("Ay, Mi Vidita"), Armando Garzon ("Escandalo") and Felix Baloy ("Despues De Esta Noche"). A very interesting mix, here.
Recommended. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. El Chacal - Jose Conde Y Ola Fresca (4:28) 2. Lagrimas Negras - Ignacio "Mazacote" Carrillo (5:05) 3. Ay, Mi Vidita - Pedro Luis Ferrer Feat. Lena Ferrer (2:58) 4. Como A Cada Mañana - Rene Ferrer (3:43) 5. Morenita - La Orquesta Magica De La Habana (5:24) 6. Pincel Campesino - German Obregon (4:31) 7. Escandalo - Armando Garzon (2:13) 8. Corazon - Asere (5:05) 9. Despues De Esta Noche - Felix Baloy (3:08) 10. Fue Una De Mambo - Kelvis Ochoa (3:38)
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