EditorsPick: Marvin Diz' debut release is a tour de force of Latin percussion. Here's a partial list of some of the participants: Pedro Martinez, Giovanni Hidalgo, Little Johnny Rivero, Richie Flores, Miguel Valdes, Paoli Mejias, Roberto Quintero, Eliel Lazo, Gonzalo Grau, Ramon Diaz, Tony Escapa, Luisito Quintero, Yonder Pena, Ralph Irizarry, Bobby Allende...
Here's an excerpt from Peter Watrous' liner notes:

"The best Afro Cuban music sustains a grace and dignity that's a pure, forgiving product of its tormented circumstances. It has an elegance that fights against the realities of history and the cruelty of the present. And that elegance is everywhere on Marvin Diz's first project, Habla El Tambor... Diz' huge cast of characters takes on the challenge of making music that is willing to measure itself against the highest achievements of the tradition from which it comes... There is deep rumba, and Cuban dance music, and Puerto Rican vision and ability, and jazz - both the Cuban and the American versions. There are big band arrangements, and intimate small group murmurings. There is a surfeit of virtuosity, especially among the percussionists. There are electronics and acoustic instruments, solos that reflect current New York practice, and Cuban religious music that might be nostalgic if the religion weren't such a large part of so many communities in New York - and if the music weren't so brilliantly configured as it is here... Let there be light, and more music like this."

Also with Jorge Bringas, Ruben Rodriguez, Yorgis Goiricelaya, Yosvany Terry and others.
Very Highly Recommended. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Tratado (Prelude) 2. Abre El Camino (Intro) 3. 8th Avenue 4. Parque Trillo 5. Rumba Gitana 6. Yemaya Mother 7. Habla El Tambor (La Mismísima Vida) 8. A Sigh Between Beats 9. Pensando En La Habana 10. Ochosi 11. Conga Espiritual 12. Homenaje A Congueros Y Timbaleros 13. Drume Negrita (Bonus Track)
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EditorsPick: Just in! Puerto Rican dance music has rarely been performed with the exuberance and swing that Gary Nuñez and his Plena Libre stir up. Here's a new live performance by one of our favorite live bands. With singers Kalie Villanueva, Pole Ortiz and Wichie Camacho.
Review to follow shortly. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Tumbalakatin 2. Plena Al Salsero 3. Plena Caribeña 4. Festival 5. Si, Si, Si 6. Julieta 7. Sandunguera 8. Moreno 9. Remolino Del Mar 10. Sirena Morena 11. Pa' Que Tu 12. Soy Soy Soy 13. Flores 14. Tin Tin
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EditorsPick: Nacido en Manzanillo, Pepitín a pesar de su juventud (25 años) ya ha cantado con orquestas de primerísima línea como Pupy y Los que Son Son, Orquesta Revé o Maikel Blanco. Acompañado por La Ley Mayor, dirigida por Luis A.Domínguez, y con una cuerda de siete metales al más puro estilo "Big Band", nos hace una demostración de todas sus facultades como artista revelación. Con un sonido más cercano a Nueva York que a La Habana y con unos arreglos basados en la Salsa Gorda, nos atrevemos a aventurar que más de un tema de esta producción aparecerá proximamente en los primeros puestos de las listas de éxitos.
Pepitín es la gran promesa de la música cubana. Tras su paso por orquestas como Pupy y los que Son Son, Orquesta La Revé o Maikel Blanco y su Salsamayor, debuta con su inconfundible timbre de voz y su increible swing en esta producción en la que aparece como solista.

Pepitin is the big promise of Cuban music. After his work with such orchestras as Pupy y los que Son Son, Orquesta La Reve and Maikel Blanco y su Salsamayor, he is making his debut with his unmistakable timbre and unbelievable swing on stage.

[from the press release]
Review to follow shortly. (DR)
SONG TITLES:
1. Me Llamo Pepitín (4:11) 2. No Se Puede Dormir (4:14) 3. Ruleta De La Vida (5:09) 4. A Gozan Su Dinero (4:43) 5. No Te Detengas (4:11) 6. Todo Se Aclara (4:46) 7. Atízame El Fogón (4:37) 8. ¿Quién Eres Tú? (4:30) 9. De Qué Callada Manera (4:38) 10. Nadie Baila Como Yo (3:01) 11. Tú Sin Mi, To Sin Ti (4:26)
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EditorsPick: Con la idea de ser la mejor orquesta de música popular bailable cubana y con un formato tradicional de violines y trombones al estilo de charanga moderna, se presenta la Feroz de Prado con las voces de Tirso Duarte, Lázaro Moré y Michel Pérez, entre otros. El repertorio está basado en las listas de éxitos de principios de los 90, pero con nuevos arreglos, sonido y tempo de hoy. Haciendo de esta producción un impactante disco bailable.
Con el fundamento musical para ser la mejor orquesta de música popular bailable cubana, nace la Feroz de Prado. Tirso Duarte, Lázaro Moré, Michel Pérez, entre otros, ponen las voces a esta charanga con trombones.

With enough strength and musical base to become the biggest danceable Cuban music orchestra, "La Feroz de Prado" is born. Tirso Duarte, Lazaro More and Michel Perez, and others, are the voices of this sensational Charanga with trombones.

[from the press release]
Review to follow shortly. (DR)
SONG TITLES:
1. La Expresiva (7:07) 2. El 443025 (5:26) 3. Temba, Tumba, Timba (5:45) 4. Marcando La Distancia (5:11) 5. Mi Estrella (6:16) 6. Ya No Hace Falta (4:49) 7. Caballo Grande (4:46) 8. Tremenda Parejita (5:49) 9. Sofocación (4:35) 10. Mamaita No Quiere (4:44)
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EditorsPick: Wow! The New Swing Sextet is back - after 38 years - with a salsa project that would surpass even unreasonably high expectations. It's a deeply swinging, vibes-based, dance record that, for a band who last recorded in 1970, is a pretty amazing feat. The sextet is back, and is a living, breathing, monster that is ready to show how it's done. Ironically (or maybe not) there's even a track called "The Monster" written by vibes player George Rodriguez, that cracks the salsa floodgates and lets the beast free. Timbalero Tomas Martin Lopez should be locked up - this boy is dangerous. Listen to singer Jose "Cheo" Medina's take on "Bobo Tu Te Quedaras," the pristine Jesus Santiago composition. It's what puts the "classic" in classic salsa. And while, lately, there have been quite a few bands that have resuscitated Fania gems, the spin these guys do on "El Ratón," with a little help by Mr. Bootz Wollinson (Alejandro Rodriguez), is radio-ready salsa poetry. And the slow-boil of "Ay Cariño," the iconic track that Santitos Colón made famous for Tito Puente, is pure soul-packed sabor. Encouraged by DJ Henry Knowles and produced by singer Willy Torres, the New Swing Sextet is an undeniable force to be reckoned with. The truth is, they never sounded better. The years have done nothing but distill their salsa and add a deep, rich, patina to their sound. Zero filler. A big DJ Alert and... boom!
Very Highly Recommended. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Che Che (5:25) 2. Bobo Tu Te Quedaras (5:36) 3. El Ratón (4:01) 4. Sarandonga (4:01) 5. El El Balcón (7:01) 6. The Monster (5:00) 7. Amor Jibaro (6:16) 8. Ay Cariño (4:36) 9. El Bongo (5:25) 10. Flight (4:12) 11. El Tiroteo (3:20) 12. Monta Mi Caballito (4:11)
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EditorsPick: Review to follow shortly - New CD by Japan's top timba band! Here's what was said about their previous release (ChéveRelax, 2003):
"One of the best timba releases to have come out in recent months is not from Cuba, but from Japan! The tracks on this CD swing with the frenetic energy that defines the best timba dance party experience. Complex rhythmic structures are layered seamlessly, and the horn and vocal breaks are all in the right places. Is this the real deal, or an incredible simulation, and does it really matter? Considering the low number of Cuban timba titles being produced as of late, the argument seems not worth making. This is a very good production that can stand easily on its own merits. Get it and party. References are clearly Charanga Habanera and Isaac Delgado, who singer Kenjiro Iwamura appears to listen to a lot. This one is a very hard to find import title.
Highly recommended."
Again, full review of ChéveRenacer to follow shortly... (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Se Acabo El Amor (5:09) 2. Dame Un Cielo (6:36) 3. Que Sabor Tiene (5:43) 4. Capital (5:41) 5. Otro Crucigrama (5:38) 6. Verte Cerca De Mi (5:42) 7. Niña De Fuego (4:09) 8. Contigo (5:45)
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EditorsPick: Just in! New release by flautist Andrea Brachfeld. With conguero Wilson "Chembo" Corniel, drummers Kim Plainfield and Diego Lopez, pianists Robert Quaranta, Elio Villafranca, and Mike Longo, and guest trumpeter Brian Lynch on "Descarga Del Mundo."
Review to follow shortly. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Q (5:13) 2. Mambo Yo (6:08) 3. Voces Da Rua (6:31) 4. Danzon For Richard (5:49) 5. Cha Cha Blue (6:06) 6. Passing Friends (7:53) 7. Karawak Dreams (5:21) 8. Song For Jenny (6:33) 9. California Fog (4:58) 10. Desperado (5:22) 11. The Memory Of You (6:35) 12. Descarga Del Mundo (5:20)
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EditorsPick: Wow! Here's a killer compilation of lesser known salsa and descarga tracks by The Junior All Stars, Orquesta Esencia, Wayne Gorbea Y Su Conjunto Salsa, Frankie Figueroa Y Su Orquesta La Madre, La Gente De Pais and may others.
Highly Recommended. Review to follow shortly. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Descarga A Lo Junior - The Junior All Stars 2. El Condimento - Wayne Gorbea Y Su Conjunto Salsa 3. Fuerza Positiva - Orquesta Esencia 4. La Rumba Que Tumba - Cabrerita Y Sus Hijos 5. Linda - La Gente De Pais 6. Gozando La Vida - Conjunto La Perla 7. Amor Yo Te Traigo - Johnny El Bravo 8. La Tumba - Dax Pacem Orchestra 9. Vengo Virao - Super Combo 10. Chiqui El Tumbador - Hector Santos Y Su Orquesta 11. Quien - Orquesta La Dominante 12. Muerto De La Risa - Shorty Ramirez Y Su Orquesta 13. El Mejor Soy Yo - Frankie Figueroa Y Su Orquesta La Madre 14. Descarga Moderna - Orquesta La Moderna 15. El Rumbon (12" Version) - Guito Y Su Conjunto 16. Vamonos / Let's Go - The Orchestra Soledad
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EditorsPick: Welcome to our world of Rhythm and Movement! This DVD - the first in a planned series - will help you master body isolations, control weight shift, enhance your styling and improve coordination. Our inspiration comes from the infectious rhythms of salsa. We bekeive that the rhythm itself tells you how to move, and we'll show you how to listen to it! Enjoy!
DVD Content: (Approx. 70 Min.)
* Head-to-Toe isolation exercises
* Movements applied to basics and turns
* Coordination and control exercises
* Rhythmic combinations
* Dance demos
[from the liners] (DR)
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EditorsPick: Husband and wife team, Tito and Tamara from Puerto Rico, are accomplished dancers in their own right in multiple disciplines. Together they have become a powerhouse in the Salsa world. They have visited more than 75 cities worldwide giving performances, classes and judging international competitions. They participate year round in congresses around the world, form part of the Puerto Rico Salsa Congress organization and produce the Puerto Rico Salsa and Hustle Festival.
Both of them have participated in various television commercials, dance videos and movies such as, "Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights", Yellow, El Cantante, and American Gangster. They also own and operate Rhythms Dance Studio, with choreographer Danny Lugo.
Tito is not only a Salsa Dancer, he also is the Director of the San Juan City Salsa Dance Program and has made the choreographic work for several artists such as: Gilberto Santa Rosa, Victor Manuelle, El Gran Combo, Michael Stuart, Richie Rey and Bobby Cruz, Domingo Quiñones, Ismael Miranda, Elvis Crespo, Cheo Feliciano, Modesto Cepeda, Andy Montañez y Tego Calderon. He was also the choreographer for the "Bomba" and "Cha-Cha-Cha" routine in Ricky Martin's appearance in Miss Universe 2001 and the Celia Cruz "Azucar" Special in Miami in 2003.
DVD Contents:
*4 Footwork Combinations
*4 Partnerwork Combinations
*Demonstrations with music and counts
*Demo featuring performances
[from the liners] (DR)
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SONG TITLES:
1. Ansias (2:21) 2. Solito Sin Ti (2:23) 3. Te Adoro (2:45) 4. Esperando Por Ti (2:21) 5. Pecado (2:09) 6. Sinceramente Tuyo (2:31) 7. Porque Separarnos (2:15) 8. Me Piden (2:10) 9. Suposition (3:07) 10. Al Cruzar Esa Calle (2:02) 11. Me Sorprende Al Mirarte (2:42) 12. Te Vas (3:10)
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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: 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... On the whole, at 72:50, this rather lengthy recording keeps you entertained throughout... 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: 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: 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: 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)
Price: $19.98
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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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