The Descarga Review: Colombian Heat!

Sat Feb 17 13:41:57 EST 2007

The Descarga Review • February 17, 2007
Colombian Heat!
Bad links? No images? click: HERE

In recent years Colombia has become an incubator of superlative  
salsa, charanga and jazz. Whether it is the new epicenter of Latin  
music is debatable — but what is certain is the high quality and  
shear volume of Colombia's output. Something is going on, and we're  
liking it. Even some Puerto Rican and New York heavyhitters are going  
there to record — Luisito Carrion, Maelo Ruiz and and Junior Gonzalez  
for example. Below is a sampling of some of best material from the  
region. Enjoy!
For manageability, we've broken it up into three sections...

• PART I
• PART II
• PART III

PART I

KIMBAWE
Salsa Pura - Para Aprender
Casa Buenavista/Creative Commons / original import
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA COLOMBIA; COLOMBIA
EditorsPick: Killer trombone based slow-cooking salsa. More great  
stuff from Casa Buenavista, Colombia. Highly recommended. Review to  
follow shortly. (BP)
Price: $17.98
• Click here to Order Salsa Pura - Para Aprender Now!

CALAMBUCO
Como En El Barrio: Salsa Brava
Casa Buenavista/Creative Commons / original import
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA COLOMBIA; COLOMBIA
EditorsPick: What a great way to begin a new year! Calambuco, from  
Bogotá, Colómbia, has produced an infectious, finely crafted salsa- 
packed CD for the discerning listener and, of course, the dancers. I  
was at one of my distributors talking with conguero Papo Pepín when  
the track "Candelaria" started to blast through the stereo speakers.  
We both looked up and did as mutual "Wow!". Directed by pianist  
Andrés Felipe Succar, Calambuco is a first class band whose  
repertoire encompasses not only sizzling salsa like "Africa Salsera"  
but the slow-cooking "Guajira de Un Abandonado". Check out the heat  
on the descarga-mambo "Ritmo De Succar". Or listen to Santiago  
Jiménez' tres work on "Te Falta Ritmo". Como En El Barrio just may be  
one of the highlights of 2007. Each track here is a gem. With Angela  
(yes, Angela) Tapiero on timbales. She rocks. With liner notes by the  
esteemed writer Umberto Valverde. DJ Alert! Very Highly Recommended.  
(BP)
Price: $17.98
• Click here to Order Como En El Barrio: Salsa Brava Now!

BENEDICT & THE MAGIC BAND
Tengo Un Tumbao
Col Musica / original import
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA COLOMBIA; COLOMBIA
EditorsPick: Smokin', güiro ripping salsa from singer Benedict  
Patiño. Here's a hot number right out of Medellin, Colombia, where  
salsa is still spelled with a capitol "S." Now, six of these tracks  
appeared on Benedict's first release (2001, also titled Tengo Un  
Tumbao). So, we're assuming the remaining nine tracks are new and  
have been combined with the earlier material to create a more  
extensive 15 track disc. It's all fiery montuno and moña driven salsa  
with deep, deep grooves - high impact, without overproduction  
clutter. Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $16.98
• Click here to Order Tengo Un Tumbao Now!

LUISITO CARRION
Clasicos En Vivo - Live In Calí, Colombia CD
Codiscos / original import
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA COLOMBIA; COLOMBIA
EditorsPick: Terrific live performance from Colombia. Also available  
as a DVD. Review to follow shortly. Highly recommended. (BP)
Price: $14.98
• Click here to Order Clasicos En Vivo - Live In Calí, Colombia CD Now!

ORQUESTA EL EQUIPO
Invencibles - Salsa, Sabor & Rumba
Fuentes / original import
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA COLOMBIA; COLOMBIA
EditorsPick: Absolutely killing salsa from Colombia and Miami, fast,  
hard, and slick. The group's leader, Manolo Puerto, originally from  
Colombia, spent time in New York, and in Miami, and has picked up  
elements from all of them. Colombia wins, though, because the music  
has the light horns and fast swing of Colombian salsa, and its  
smoothness. But it has something else: it doesn't sound like a studio  
product. The band keeps pushing hard, the coros, high and pinched,  
punctuate the singing. It's made to rock the dance floor, and it  
works. Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
Price: $15.98
• Click here to Order Invencibles - Salsa, Sabor & Rumba Now!

BETTO CAICEDO
Aqui Estoy Yo!
Envidia / original import
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA COLOMBIA; COLOMBIA
EditorsPick: Wicked swinging Colombian salsa that would light up any  
radio show, and smoke the dance floor. Smooth production, hyper- 
syncopated arrangements surround Caicedo's singing; he does it with  
an occasional rasp to his voice, a slight distortion that gives life  
to his slick phrases. Caicedo was the lead singer for Grupo Niche and  
he sounds like a hardened road warrior, improvising and throwing off  
asides through the tunes. There's some balladry here, but it's  
balanced out by typical tight Colombian salsa. Highly Recommended.  
(Peter Watrous)
Price: $16.98
• Click here to Order Aqui Estoy Yo! Now!

SALSA DEL BARRIO
Sabor A Melao
Envidia / original import
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA COLOMBIA; COLOMBIA
EditorsPick: A hot little orchestra from Colombia warms up to the  
task of rocking the place. They cover tunes by Cortijo - "Fuego a la  
Jicotea," and "La Casa" by Orlando Marin, but the band sounds fresh,  
with coros that have Colombian style. The arrangements incorporate  
the percussion - check out the breaks for the timbal on  
"Montuneando." And the slurs on the trombone parts, well, that's cool  
stuff. Put this one on and keep it there; a great way to pass the  
afternoon and night. It's for moving, one way or another. Great  
music. Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
Price: $16.98
• Click here to Order Sabor A Melao Now!

REAL CHARANGA
Real Charanga
Real Charanga / original import
Category: DANCE TRADITIONS; CHARANGA; COLOMBIA
EditorsPick: A superlative charanga tipica release, out of Bogotá,  
Colombia no less. Founded by violinist Daniel Diaz Ortega in 2003,  
Real Charanga can rock hard, like on the iron-fisted "Hoy." And on  
"Volver," Julio Rojas isn't shy about adding funk to his bass-lines.  
The point is, this is no timid, pedestrian charanga. It's charanga  
con cojones. Listen to how Ortega transforms "Lágrimas Negras" - a  
classic traditional Cuban cover - into a powerhouse of a dance  
number. "Guangancó," an adventurous roller-coaster hunk of charanga  
beauty, will have you rethinking your concept of a charanga. If you  
thought you knew charanga, man, play this track loud. The classic  
Pedro Flores composition "Obsesión" is handled with equal artistry,  
with an extended, twisting, jazz-charanga break. Man, this is good  
stuff. Andrés Niño's arrangement of Henry Mancini's "Inspector  
Charanga," is yet another license to explore beyond the edges of this  
genre. This is a band worth watching out for. This debut project is  
pretty amazing. Where can they go from here? I, for one, will be  
listening. With lyrics provided in both spanish and english. Very  
Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $16.98
• Click here to Order Real Charanga Now!

ALBERTO CAICEDO
La Voz De Colombia - Gerardo Rosales Presents: Alberto Caicedo
Wallboomers / original import
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA INTERNATIONAL
EditorsPick: Alberto Caicedo's debut salsa release as a leader is a  
tremendous effort that pays off big right from the opening track, the  
Gerardo Rosales composition "La Voz De Colombia." It's a fiery dance  
number in which the singer proclaims "Por que yo soy tu voz... Yo Soy  
Tu Voz." And he seems to mean it. This is an all-embracing project  
that commands respect not only for the singer's formidable abilities,  
but also for its lofty production standards. The level of  
musicianship here is top-drawer, and Caicedo's not afraid to think  
outside the box. Whether it's the timba-tinged "Este Amor Me Mata" or  
the use of Ulrich de Jesús' electric guitar which adds additional  
power to "Un Poquito de Amor" or the Jamaican spiced "El Suavecito."  
Most of the compositions are original, penned by either Caicedo or  
the Venezuelan bandleader and percussionist, maestro Gerardo Rosales.  
Rosales' own band, the respected Netherlands based Charanga La  
Crisis, are welcomed guests on two two tracks: Caicedo's  
interpretations of two killer classic covers Grupo Niche's "Cali  
Pachanguero" and "La Vida Es Un Carnaval," the sizzling track made  
popular by La Reina, Celia Cruz. This salsero has his scope set on  
big things. And from the sound of "La Voz De Colombia," he's off to a  
fine start. This is a classy salsa project with style, power and  
extra integrity. Very Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $17.98
• Click here to Order La Voz De Colombia - Gerardo Rosales Presents:  
Alberto Caicedo Now!

SON DE CALI
Cambiando La Historia
Sony/Norte
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: The heart of Son De Cali are vocalists Javier Vásquez  
and Willy Garcia (Garcia also wrote all of the tracks). Veterans of  
Colombia's Grupo Niche, these guys have been around the block a few  
times. And if they know anything, it's how to construct a salsa tune.  
And here they go again - man, if they weren't salseros they'd  
probably be full-time pyromaniacs: these boys like to play with fire.  
Check the heat generated by "Me Emociones," "Que No Pasó" or pretty  
much any track on this CD. This is the stuff of danceclub bliss, and  
if you're a DJ, I would suggest that you begin your shopping cart  
with Cambiando La Historia. It's a great big DJ Alert. In fact, you  
just might want to check out their previous two releases as well -  
all primo salsa. Very Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $15.98
• Click here to Order Cambiando La Historia Now!

KING BONGO
Academia De Baile - DVD
Tropisounds / original import
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA COLOMBIA; COLOMBIA
EditorsPick: Now on DVD! Here was the review for the CD (sold  
separately) which contains the same tracks... If your a fan of the  
pumped up, high energy, salsa of Colombia, scroll down and click "Add  
to Shopping Cart" now. This one's the bomb, Salsa on Steroids; the  
stuff you hear at the Salsa Congress and ask "What was that!?" This  
new Diego Gale project is destined to become a pop salsa classic, but  
there are some caveats. In front of Gale's primo rhythm section, King  
Bongo's singers are John William Upegui, Jairo Andrade, Jonathan  
Bentancur, and Oti Osorio. But does that matter? Several of the  
tracks here are extended versions of Sonora Carruseles tracks  
("Micaela," "La Comay" etc.). Whatever the name is on the cover, Gale  
Productions are Gale productions. It's a widely held view that, while  
there's not much difference or individuality to the bands produced by  
the Gale factory (just change a few singers), the product is a  
perfect means to an end. This is a well greased, finely tuned machine  
that has taken over. Listen to the timbales in overdrive on "Hasta  
Que Se Rompa El Cuero" - it's got breakneck speed almost beyond  
what's humanly possible. This is the track that will bring the house  
down. On Academia De Baile, Gale went wild. Here, he looked deep into  
his bag of tricks and selected only those hooks he knew would work.  
And those hooks are sharp. Every track here is white-hot sizzling,  
and guaranteed to have the dancers scrambling to find a place on the  
dancefloor. From the opening track, "Academia De Baile" to "Levántate  
Bailador" to the incredible "La Comay," Acedemia De Baile will barely  
allow you to breathe. Protect yourself... RUN! Just in time for your  
summer party. Very Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $19.98
• Click here to Order Academia De Baile - DVD Now!

GRUPO GALE
15th Aniversario En Concierto 2 CD Set
Tropisounds / original import
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA COLOMBIA; COLOMBIA
EditorsPick: Here's the 2-CD set audio version of the recent DVD of  
the same title. Galé ordered the songs a bit differently on these  
CDs: CD-1 is called Galé Rumbero. CD-2 is called Galé Romántico. You  
get the picture. Here's what I said about the DVD, which holds true  
for this CD set: Arguably the hottest salsa band in Colombia, Diego  
Gale and his crew performed a sizzling 15th Anniversary concert in a  
swanky Medellín nightclub. Opening with their imprint "Descarga  
Galé," these guys ignite one relentless, juiced up, number after  
number. Gale performs many of his big numbers including "No La  
Descuides" which may just cause your TV set to explode. Be warned.  
Also includes an enthusiastic tribute to El Gran Combo featuring  
guest vocalist Carlos Guerrera who does a terrific job here. The  
crowd ate it up... Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $19.98
• Click here to Order 15th Aniversario En Concierto 2 CD Set Now!

LA PRESIÓN
Salsa De Ayer Con El Sabor De Hoy
JYMG Productions / original import
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: Back in stock! Excellent salsa born of international  
alliance. The idea was conceived by French producer Jean-Yves Moreno- 
Guzman who partnered with another Frenchman, composer Toni Bolanos  
who is also one of the lead singers of La Presión. The music was  
recorded in both Colombia and the United States. And while the two  
partners wrote the songs (they are all originals), they were smart to  
pull in veteran Colombian bandleader-trombonist Alberto Barros  
(leader of Los Titanez) to arrange the compositions and direct the  
band. Barros knows how to make salsa rock, and on Salsa De Ayer Con  
El Sabor de Hoy, he earned his pay. It's "old school Salsa with a  
modern touch," says Mr. Moreno-Guzman. And he's right. Building on  
the tradition of classic salsa, club-ready tracks like "Amistad a La  
Basura" and "Calle Dura" are self-igniting DJ Picks. In addition to  
Bolanos, participating singers are Diego Javier González (from Grupo  
Galé), Charlie Gómez (Grupo Raíces), Los Titanez' own Diego Morán,  
and a young rookie named Tommy Jr. Ruiz who recently joined Los  
Titanez. Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $17.98
• Click here to Order Salsa De Ayer Con El Sabor De Hoy Now!

KING BONGO
Academia De Baile - CD
Tropisounds / original import
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA COLOMBIA; COLOMBIA
EditorsPick: If your a fan of the pumped up, high energy, salsa of  
Colombia, scroll down and click "Add to Shopping Cart" now. This  
one's the bomb, Salsa on Steroids; the stuff you hear at the Salsa  
Congress and ask "What was that!?" This new Diego Gale project is  
destined to become a pop salsa classic, but there are some caveats.  
In front of Gale's primo rhythm section, King Bongo's singers are  
John William Upegui, Jairo Andrade, Jonathan Bentancur, and Oti  
Osorio. But does that matter? Several of the tracks here are extended  
versions of Sonora Carruseles tracks ("Micaela," "La Comay" etc.).  
Whatever the name is on the cover, Gale Productions are Gale  
productions. It's a widely held view that, while there's not much  
difference or individuality to the bands produced by the Gale factory  
(just change a few singers), the product is a perfect means to an  
end. This is a well greased, finely tuned machine that has taken  
over. Listen to the timbales in overdrive on "Hasta Que Se Rompa El  
Cuero" - it's got breakneck speed almost beyond what's humanly  
possible. This is the track that will bring the house down. On  
Academia De Baile, Gale went wild. Here, he looked deep into his bag  
of tricks and selected only those hooks he knew would work. And those  
hooks are sharp. Every track here is white-hot sizzling, and  
guaranteed to have the dancers scrambling to find a place on the  
dancefloor. From the opening track, "Academia De Baile" to "Levántate  
Bailador" to the incredible "La Comay," Acedemia De Baile will barely  
allow you to breathe. It is a ruthless killer disguised as a disk.  
Protect yourself... RUN! Listen closely: Big DJ Alert. A record  
spinners must-have. Just in time for your summer party. Very Highly  
Recommended. (BP)
Price: $15.98
• Click here to Order Academia De Baile - CD Now!

JUANITO Y LA AGRESIVA
Llegó Juanito Y La Agresiva
Envidia / original import
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA COLOMBIA; COLOMBIA
EditorsPick: Why is Colombia's Llegó Juanito y La Agresiva one of my  
personal favorite recent CDs? It could be the arrangements, all pure  
unadulterated salsa numbers without pretense. It could be the  
musicians - all experienced pros delivering crisp, articulated sound.  
The singers? Kike Harvey (listed in the liners as Kike Arbey), Hermes  
Manyoma, Jorge "Kini" Murillo and Fabio Castano. Not much room for  
criticism there, delivering mostly that husky, seasoned sonerismo  
style that I love. The coro? They've got that great típico nasal  
Colombian-Venezuelan thing going that works so well. Any one of the  
above would be enough to merit repeated play, but the fact that Llegó  
Juanito embodies all of the above qualities is a recipe for salsa  
magic. Listen to their beautiful interpretation of "Sin Apariencias."  
In fact, zero filler material here. A full-hearted DJ Alert stamped  
all of it. It has found repeated play on my machine. Highly  
Recommended. (BP)
Price: $16.98
• Click here to Order Llegó Juanito Y La Agresiva Now!

DE RUMBA CON ZAFRA
De Rumba Con Zafra
Zafra / original import
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA COLOMBIA; COLOMBIA
EditorsPick: Terrific salsa dura from Colombia. Directed by the  
esteemed Peruvian pianist and bandleader Alfredo Linares, De Rumba  
Con Zafra burns through a tasty course of original material like "De  
La Rumba a La Tumba" (Jairo Gañan) and "Se Prendió La Feria" (Henry  
Labiano) but also features gilded renditions of some classics like  
Wayne Gorbea's "Estamos En Salsa," a timbale-fortified dance number  
that I would put my money on. "Cuca La Loca," Willie Rosario's  
composition, is also performed with verve. But it's Linares' "Guajira  
y Son" that gets my blood flowing. This is thick, essential salsa  
without filler but with extra soul. High ratings go to vocalist- 
composers Johnny Lemmy and Jairo Gañan who both do fine work here.  
Not to be missed. Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $16.98
• Click here to Order De Rumba Con Zafra Now!

GRUPO GALE
15th Aniversario En Concierto DVD
Tropisounds / original import
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA COLOMBIA; COLOMBIA
EditorsPick: Arguably the hottest salsa band in Colombia, Diego Gale  
and his crew performed a sizzling 15th Anniversary concert in a  
swanky Medellín nightclub. Opening with their imprint "Descarga  
Galé," these guys ignite one relentless, juiced up, number after  
number. Gale performs many of his big numbers including "No La  
Descuides" which may just cause your TV set to explode. Be warned.  
Also includes an enthusiastic tribute to El Gran Combo featuring  
guest vocalist Carlos Guerrera who does a terrific job here. The  
crowd ate it up. Is it just me or is Colombia home to the most  
gorgeous women on earth? You decide. Features some pretty pulsating  
on-stage dancing, too. This multi-camera shoot sports a super sharp  
picture and pristine sound. Nineteen tracks in all. Highly  
Recommended. (BP)
Price: $19.98
• Click here to Order 15th Aniversario En Concierto DVD Now!

LA CUMBIAMBA ENEYÉ
Marioneta
Chonta Records
Category: CUMBIA/VALLENATO; CUMBIA/VALLENATO; COLOMBIA
EditorsPick: Modern New York based Colombian folk music, run through  
a jazz filter. Sometimes it sounds like a happily deranged local  
brass band. Sometimes it sounds, with the vocal straining, like deep  
country cumbia. There are reed fifes playing over percussion, and a  
coro that includes a woman, and tapes that sound like field  
recordings percolating through the music. It's all based in the sound  
of the drums, and the drums bounce all over the place, thickly  
textured, and changing up rhythms constantly. Pretty damn good. I'd  
like to go to a party that had the band playing. Drink a beer, dance  
a bit etc. Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
Price: $16.98
• Click here to Order Marioneta Now!

RICARDO GALLO
Los Cerros Testigos
Chonta Records
Category: LATIN JAZZ; LATIN JAZZ
EditorsPick: A piano quartet, that is, a piano trio with two  
percussionists. Gallo plays with the sound of McCoy Tyner, and he  
verges into free jazz at times. Gallo's a fine player - he's from  
Bogota - and is part of a larger movement of musicians working  
through their Colombian traditions with jazz ears. It's highly  
percussive music, constantly evolving; it uses lots of different  
rhythms. Very cool, and even more proof, if it were needed, how Latin  
cultures are revolutionizing the sounds of contemporary jazz in New  
York. Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
Price: $16.98
• Click here to Order Los Cerros Testigos Now!

RICHIE RAY & BOBBY CRUZ
Que Vuelva La Música Concierto DVD
Tropisounds
Category: DVD; SALSA/SON
EditorsPick: Wow, finally a high quality DVD live performance from  
the the explosive salsa super-heroes Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz. This  
performance, a polished multi-camera production from an intimate club  
in Colombia, is complete with sexy salsa dancers and backed by the  
Diego Gale orchestra, and thus, a blistering rhythm section that just  
won't quit. In perfect form, the dynamic duo put on a near operatic  
crescendo-building show that nearly blows the roof off the joint. You  
can't contain power like this. And, despite singing seated for most  
of the show, Mr. Cruz has never sounded better. One would wish that a  
show like their's would be performed in front of a dancing crowd.  
Here, however, the appreciative audience is seated nicely at tables.  
Oh well. Minor gripes aside, it's great to finally have a DVD  
documenting these important salsa collaborators. Highly Recommended.  
(BP)
Price: $19.98
• Click here to Order Que Vuelva La Música Concierto DVD Now!

LA TROPA
Buscando El Son
Envidia / original import
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA COLOMBIA; COLOMBIA
EditorsPick: Led by vocalist Jorge "Kiny" Murillo, La Tropa is a  
superb Colombia based salsa band that is a flame keeper of the  
classic salsa tradition. Opening with "Mi Son" is as much a statement  
of purpose as well as a great dance number. "Mi Son" leads into "A Tí  
Lavoe", a medley of Héctor Lavoe hits laced with a tributary rap that  
actually works. Singer Murillo does a darn good HL here. There's a  
peppering of terrific original tracks here, like "Decídete" and  
"Borracho", as well as renditions of classic numbers like Mon  
Rivera's "Lluvia Con Nieve," Adalberto Alvarez' "Tal Vez Vuelvas" and  
"Usted Abuso." La Tropa is a tight ship, a thoroughly enjoyable  
working band that sounds like they've been together for some time.  
And with some Puerto Rican imports on coro (Wichy Camacho and Pedro  
Brull), this one is... Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $17.98
• Click here to Order Buscando El Son Now!

BENEDICT & THE MAGIC BAND
Swing Sabor 3
Col Musica
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA COLOMBIA; COLOMBIA
EditorsPick: Wow, you want swing? We got yer swing right here! This  
full-metal-jacket salsa number from Medellín Colombia, the second  
release from bandleader/vocalist Benedict Patiño, is swanky and full  
of funky twists - like the fuzz toned electric guitar that winds  
through the second half of "Swing Sabor," an ingenious Patiño  
composition. The best parts of this project have the feel of a 3 a.m.  
smoke-filled nightclub where the musicians, lubricated with drink,  
are completely uninhibited, totally loose, and feel like jamming. On  
Swing Sabor 3, the Magic Band's repertoire consists of original tunes  
as well as material by the likes of Johnny Blas ("Los Huesos"),  
Ismael Quintana ("La Llave"), Frankie Dante ("Medley Paz"), Javier  
Vazquez ("Siguelo"), Manolito ("Y Todavía No"), and Juan Luis Guerra  
("Bachata Rosa"). Quite a palette. There are even a few tasty cumbias  
that oddly seem to fit right in, like Cesar Monge's "La Vela" which  
turns, halfway through, into a sparkling uptempo salsa-mambo riff.  
It's hot. Patiño's arrangements are quite unique and the early work  
of Willie Colón comes to mind - listen to the trombone structure on  
the jazzy "El Dueño De La Timba", with unexpected turns and power  
surges. This one is for you salsa connoisseurs out there - I can't  
seem to get this one off my CD player. Very Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $17.98
• Click here to Order Swing Sabor 3 Now!

YURI BUENAVENTURA
Salsa Dura
Universal/Mercury France / original import
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA COLOMBIA; COLOMBIA
EditorsPick: It's called Salsa Dura and on select tracks here, he's  
not kidding. The critically acclaimed singer, composer and bandleader  
stays the course here with capital "S" salsa alternating with the  
soulful ballad (like the quite beautiful "3046") But it's the hard  
tracks like "Salsa Dura" and "Rueda De Casino" that sparkle. With all  
but a few tracks penned by YB, the enduring sensibility on Salsa Dura  
is akin to the best material by the veterans of salsa: Ismael  
Miranda, Adalberto Santiago, or Oscar D'Leon. Listen to "Amanecio"  
and its no-nonsense attack. You get the feeling that Buenaventura is  
at the top of his game here. With the help of Diego Galé on  
percussion. Very Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $18.98
• Click here to Order Salsa Dura Now!

PABLO MAYOR Y FOLKLORE URBANO
Aviso
Chonta Records
Category: LATIN JAZZ; LATIN JAZZ
EditorsPick: The first volume of a two cd series that might just go  
down as a classic in 20 or 30 years. A synthesis of a bunch of  
Colombian rhythms and jazz improvisation - Andy Gonzalez is on bass -  
it all sounds honest. In part this is due to Mayor's piano playing.  
He's calm, and a real improviser; he's not flashing lines, but  
playing melodies and rhythms. There are a few horns to play the  
melodies, plus three Colombian percussionists; it's recorded  
beautifully. There are elements of Cuban music in some montunos, but  
it has that caballo sway of Colombian music. Because of its clarity,  
and simplicity, the music can be listened to over and over. It's  
real. Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
Price: $16.98
• Click here to Order Aviso Now!

PABLO MAYOR Y FOLKLORE URBANO
Baile/ Dance
Chonta Records
Category: LATIN JAZZ; LATIN JAZZ
EditorsPick: The dance, and second volume of the highly ambitious two  
cd series by the pianist Pablo Mayor. This one has faster rhythms,  
vocalists, and dance music arrangements. It's also brilliant music,  
laid over rhythms from Colombia. There are solos, too, and Mayor nods  
in the direction of Herbie Hancock among others. The percussion  
rhythm section boils. Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
Price: $16.98
• Click here to Order Baile/ Dance Now!

RAY PEREZ
Exitos De Ray Perez
Sonoramico / original import
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA COLOMBIA; COLOMBIA
EditorsPick: Back in stock! Excellent compilation of material  
featuring Ray Perez y su Orquesta as well as his many other  
incarnations: Grupo Casabe, Los Dementes, Los Calvos, and Los Kenya.  
Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $16.98
• Click here to Order Exitos De Ray Perez Now!

CONTINUE TO PART II
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