The Descarga Review: DVD Larry Harlow's Latin Legends of Fania, Reviews and more...

Tue May 15 09:10:12 EDT 2007

The Descarga Review • May 15, 2007
DVD: Larry Harlow's Latin Legends of Fania, Reviews and more...

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Here are some noteworthy new and reissued titles...

LARRY HARLOW
Latin Legends Of Fania: 40th Anniversary Live Concert DVD
Image Entertainment
Category: DVD; SALSA/SON
EditorsPick: Attention all Fania fans: Here's a terrific live DVD  
performance of pure, undiluted, classic salsa pleasure. The lucky  
folks who attended the packed Tabernacle performance space in Atanta,  
GA witnessed the crystallization of the salsa spirit with the  
unabashed Fania patriarch Larry Harlow at the helm to celebrate the  
pivotal salsa label's 40th anniversary. Harlow and his Latin Legends  
crew burned through a repertory of classic crowd pleasers like "La  
Loteria", "Señor Sereno", "La Catera", "Quitate Tú", "Quitate La  
Mascara" and, in tribute to Pete "El Conde" Rodríguez, a killer  
"Azuquita Pa' Ti". And what a crew was present: cuatro legend Yomo  
Toro (how fortunate we are to have this guy in the world), Lewis  
Kahn, Andy Harlow, Ray Vega, Richie Viruet, Pete Rodriguez Jr.,  
percussionists Chembo Corniel, Louie Bauzó, Nicky Marrero and Bobby  
Sanabria (who perform an explosive percussive composition called  
"Thunder Drums" where each of these veterans take diamond-crushing  
solos) - and others. There's a simply amazing scene when violin  
virtuoso Alfredo De La Fé makes he way through the jammed standing  
audience soloing during the song "Manuela". A classic moment  
thankfully documented for future generations to see and hear. Did I  
mention the singers? Adalberto Santiago, Junior Gonzalez, Frankie  
Vazquez and Emo Luciano are up front and handle the material con  
fuerza y respecto. The show was well produced and features excellent  
photography: 95 minutes plus bonus material, too. A salsa collector's  
must-have DVD.
Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $21.98
• Click here to Order Latin Legends Of Fania DVD Now!

PAPO VAZQUEZ
 From The Badlands
Picaro Records
Category: LATIN JAZZ; LATIN JAZZ
EditorsPick: Trombonist bandleader Papo Vazquez is back with a fresh  
installment from his Pirates and Troubadours band. With velocity and  
momentum, this funky, crisp, inspired project seems to generate its  
power from some place deep. Heavy on the percussion (Richie Flores,  
Anthony Carillo, Joe Gonzalez) and that's alright by me. Also with  
sax players Willie Williams and Sherman Irby, pianists Freddy  
McFarlane and Edsel Gomez, Ricky Rodriguez on bass, Yomo Toro,  
vocalists Herman Olivera, Roberto Cepeda and Milton Cardona (coro) -  
others. Originally from Puerto Rico, Vazquez has been around the  
block a few times: Batacumbele, Ray Barretto, Conjunto Libre,  
Descarga Boricua, Chico O'Farril's orchestra - these are just some of  
his credits. He's now a New York original.
Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $16.98
• Click here to Order From The Badlands Now!

MANNY KASSU
Un Sonero De Talla
Faraon Records
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: This fine rootsy son-salsa release by Dominican singer  
Manny Kassu is a savory tres laced project with Cuban spirit. In the  
liners Kassú gives props to influences such as Panchito Riset, Beny  
Moré, Miguielito Cuní and Chappotin. Un Sonero De Talla was recorded  
in New York with the help of Sonny Ovalle, Papo Pepin, Pequeño  
Johnny, Ernie Acevedo, Harry Adorno, Junior Vega, Tony Barrero,  
Victor Baro, Charlie Garcia and many others. Special guest singer:  
Santiago Cerón.
Recommended. (BP)
Price: $15.98
• Click here to Order Un Sonero De Talla Now!

THE SPANISH HARLEM ORCHESTRA
United We Swing
Six Degrees
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: Oscar Hernandez's beautiful creation cruises into its  
third album, United We Swing. And while there's a sense of mission in  
the orchestra - to preserve the glories of what happened in New York  
and Puerto Rico in the late '60s and 70s - the music is so strong and  
so alive, that it hardly feels like a preservation project. As anyone  
who's seen the orchestra live knows, this can be a vanguard type of  
experience, improvised, modern and fantastically heavy. On the  
record, that side's pulled in, with the classical side of the band  
emphasized (though there's plenty of slick harmony; check out Sonny  
Bravo's arrangement of Willie Torres' "Se Formo la Rumba", plus a new  
emphasis on pop coros, from the era. And check out the arrangements:  
on "En El Tiempo Del Palladium" Gil Lopez had the percussion slapping  
out rhythms in tandem, only to give way to a trumpet soloist, and  
then Marco Bermudez, who achieves a vocal quality that brings back  
images of Santitos Colón, Tito Puente's singer. Speaking of singers  
Ray De La Paz is on the recording and he tears it up, his  
improvisations parting the sea of horns and percussion; Paul Simon,  
with whom Hernández worked on the much misunderstood and brilliant  
"The Capeman" shows up to sing his "Late in the Evening." On tunes  
like "Salsa Pa'l Bailador" De La Paz sounds as if he's singing a  
lament to lost love; in fact, he's singing about dancers and the  
music - which makes sense, because in this world, that connection -  
between dancers and music - deserves the same weight, attention and  
power that love might have in other popular musics. It's all  
profound, and if the world were in order, Hernández would get a  
McArthur grant to keep the orchestra going another few years.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
Price: $15.98
• Click here to Order United We Swing Now!

IBRAHIM FERRER
Mi Sueño
World Circuit / original import
Category: SALSA/SON; SON, GUARACHA, GUAJIRA; CUBA
EditorsPick: Ferrer, who died in 2005, always wanted to be a bolero  
singer, and felt trapped singing sones in Tierra Caliente. His last  
recording is all boleros, and he's backed up by Roberto Fonseca's  
trio (check out the review of Fonseca's album Zamazu below), along  
with some vestigial Buena Vista types, including Manuel Galban on  
guitar, and Cachaito on bass. It's all beautiful, and graceful, and  
the song choice is fine, with pieces by Luis Marquetti, Augustine  
Lara, Marcelino Guerra and others. Fonseca is consistently  
fascinating because he throws in piano modernisms in his  
accompaniment, and, often enough, like in "Dueda", it's just Ferrer  
against the piano trio, raw and real, and unlike most productions of  
boleros. It's a good way for Ferrer to go out; like his singing, it's  
an idiosyncratic, thoughtful project.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
Price: $17.98
• Click here to Order Mi Sueño Now!

ROBERTO FONSECA
Zamazu
Enja/Justin Time / original import
Category: LATIN JAZZ; LATIN JAZZ; CUBA
EditorsPick: It takes about two seconds to realize that Fonseca's  
recording is special, blessed. Fonseca, a young jazz pianist from  
Havana, sounds sober, realized. There's non of the brittle flash that  
young musicians bring to a recording, nor the cheese of Cuban jazz;  
this stuff sounds informed, with the arrangements - check out the  
clarinet and vocal unisons surrounding Fonseca's solo on "Tierra en  
Mano". Fonseca uses batá drums, plus guests, including the Brazilian  
singer and producer Carlinhos Brown, strings, flamenco guitar plus a  
bunch of other ideas, including the great bassist Cachaito. Not only  
does Fonseca swing, but he's a driving, hard soloist, and intelligent.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
Price: $18.98
• Click here to Order Zamazu Now!

VARIOUS ARTISTS
New York Latin Hustle! - The Sound Of New York, 2-CD Set
Soul Jazz Records / original import
Category: LATIN SOUL/BOOGALOO; LATIN SOUL, CLASSIC 60s or 70s
EditorsPick: New York's melting pot of Puerto Rican, Cuban and  
African-American inhabitants led to some stunning musical and  
cultural clashes in the 1960s and 70s when Latin music mixed freely  
with Funk, Disco, Soul and Jazz to produce many new hybrid styles  
such as Bugalu, latin Soul, Latin Disco, Latin Funk and Salsa. Puerto  
Rican musicians in New York also held a fascination for new and old  
Cuban musical developments and rhythms - such as Mozambique,  
Descargas, Son Montuno, Charanga - as well as admiring the many  
styles from their homeland of El Borinquen (Puerto Rico), such as  
Bomba and Plena. The led music in New York to be one of the most  
fertile and creative of all areas of recent musical history. All  
these styles feature here on New York Latin Hustle.
- from the liners
With material from Ismael Quiñones, Ray Barretto, Nature Zone, Johnny  
Zamot, Joe Cuba, The Alexander Review, Candido, The Family Affair,  
Louie Ramirez, The Harvey Averne Dozen, Mauricio Smith, Charanga 76,  
Seguida and many others. A 2-CD set.
Highly Recommended. (DR)
Price: $24.98
• Click here to Order New York Latin Hustle! 2-CD Set Now!

VARIOUS ARTISTS
The Rough Guide To Salsa Dura NYC
World Music Network
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: Compiled by Pablo Yglesias, The Rough Guide to Salsa  
Dura NYC features some top tracks like Chino Nuñez' "Aqui Cada Uno  
Viene Con Lo Suyo", Wayne Gorbea's "Estamos En Salsa", Jimmy Bosch'  
"El Embajador", Chico Alvarez' "Oigan Mi Rumba", Los Soneros Del  
Barrio's "Babaila" and more. 61 minutes of rock-hard salsa muscle.
Recommended. (BP)
Price: $16.98
• Click here to Order The Rough Guide To Salsa Dura NYC Now!

VARIOUS ARTISTS
¡Mambo Jambo! Vintage Mambo 1948-1955
Living Era / AJS/Sanctuary
Category: DANCE TRADITIONS; BIG BAND MAMBO JAZZ
EditorsPick: Interesting compilation of mambo material recorded  
between 1948 and 1955. Compiled by Peter Dempsey and Ray Crick these  
twenty six tracks show just how deep and far reaching the genre  
became. About half here were recorded by non-Latinos. Some of the  
bands represented are: Pérez Prado, Tito Puente, Dave Barbour, Billly  
May, René Hernandez, Edmundo Ros, Perry Como, José Morand, Stan  
Kenton, Machito, Artie Shaw, Ken McKintosh and Rosemary Clooney.  
There are some expected and some quite unexpected titles here: - some  
real hard-core mambos as well as some novelty tracks.
A lot of fun.
Recommended. (BP)
Price: $15.98
• Click here to Order ¡Mambo Jambo! Now!

WILSON "CHEMBO" CORNIEL
For The Rest Of Your Life
Chemboró Records
Category: LATIN JAZZ; LATIN JAZZ
EditorsPick: Latin Jazz from the New York percussionist Corniel, who  
has put together a fine band, including Ivan Rento on saxophone,  
Ruben Rodríguez on bass and Tino Derado on piano and Vince Cerico on  
drums. They're joined by an all-star group of guests, including Grady  
Tate and Pedro Martinez, singing, Bobby Porcelli, John Walsh and  
Oriente López on wind instruments, Louie Bauzó and David Gomez on  
percussion. But the music's what counts, and the playing is all  
imaginative, and fresh.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
Price: $16.98
• Click here to Order For The Rest Of Your Life Now!

LAZARO HORTA
Mi Herencia Cubana
Colibri
Category: SALSA/SON; SON, GUARACHA, GUAJIRA
EditorsPick: Here's a lovely find. A simple, unadorned, project -  
mostly simply voice and piano (with occasional bass, violin and  
percussion accompaniment) of beautiful classic Cuban compositions  
like Miguel Matamoros' "Dulce Embeleso", Sindo Garay's "Retorno",  
"Veinte Años" from Maria Teresa Vera, and Ignacio Piñeiro's "Esas No  
Son Cubanos". Tenor Lazaro Horta's voice is just perfect for the  
task, clear, warm and inviting. And on a few tracks, like Manuel  
Corona's "Santa Cecilia" or Lecuona's "Siboney", your eyes may just  
get a bit teary. Horta is all heart. Damn... beautiful stuff. With  
pianist Roberto Lozano.
Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $15.98
• Click here to Order Mi Herencia Cubana Now!

MACHETE Y CAÑA
Machete Y Caña
Envidia / original import
Category: DANCE TRADITIONS; CHARANGA; CUBA
EditorsPick: Charanga Dura is what Bruce calls this stuff, and he's  
right, this is explosive, wall-of-sound charanga direct from Havana.  
It's not relaxed, or languorous, or polite, it's fast, and hard  
tough. And it's not dumb, with over half of the tunes coming from  
this part of the world, with "Te Conozco Bacalao" by Hector Lavoe,  
and "Pita Camion" and "Cambia El Paso" by Johnny Pacheco, plus two  
tunes by Ruben Blades, and "Mi China" by Tito Puente, meaning that  
the songwriting is of a high level, and hell, the music might even  
make it to radio play lists around the world. And the arrangements  
aren't just copies; check out the tempo changes in "Mi China". Led by  
the bassist Jorge Machado, and featuring a few of the regular Envidia  
suspects the band rocks, with a fine young flautist, Marnie Upierre,  
taking the solos. Great singing, too, so the package is as good as  
any charanga that's been released this year, and perhaps for the last  
several. The Real Deal.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
Price: $17.98
• Click here to Order Machete Y Caña Now!

PEDRO PABLO & LA REBAMBARAMBA
Yo Soy La Noticia
Envidia / original import
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA CUBANA; CUBA
EditorsPick: Ah, the sounds of timba, fresh, and smart and urgent.  
Pedro Pablo, a bassist from Havana, has, on his second album, done  
what he did on his first -- which is make either the best or one of  
the best timba albums of the year. And what Yo Soy la Noticia brings  
is the miracle of rhythm arrangements, arrangements worked out in  
front of dancers, and, though the title track fades too quickly, you  
can hear what the band does for dancers - roughing out stuttering  
rhythms, and feints, and food for the dancers' imagination. Pablo's  
put the piano upfront, too, and the montunos lift the music up and  
give it a bright, new sound; check out how the piano rocks the sound  
of the tune "Cristina". It's amazing music, workaday dance music from  
the streets of Havana, but in a 100 years, when the talent to play  
such profoundly complicated music has been lost, it's true value will  
show up.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
Price: $17.98
• Click here to Order Yo Soy La Noticia Now!

PONCHO SANCHEZ
Raise Your Hand
Concord Picante
Category: LATIN JAZZ; LATIN JAZZ
EditorsPick: With one foot rooted in Latin jazz and the other happily  
in R&B, Poncho Sanchez is back with a totally enjoyable CD that  
features some of his original material as well as some classic R&B  
covers with the original singers as special guests. The funky "Raise  
Your Hand" track is a killer featuring Booker T. Jones. Poncho was  
also able to get Maceo Parker in the session to belt out a fiery  
"Shotgun". Salsa-wise, Andy Montañez makes an appearance on the track  
"El Agua De Belen". Sanchez has always stayed true to his love for  
danceable Latin jazz and R&B, successfully incorporating both genres  
on his albums from early on. And it works. This one keeps making it  
back to the CD player.
Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $18.98
• Click here to Order Raise Your Hand Now!

CALLE 13
Residente O Visitante
Sony Norte
Category: POP/OTHER; HIP HOP; PUERTO RICO
EditorsPick: Ok, so one of the two rappers studied to be an  
accountant, the other computer sciences. Egg-head reggaeton? Sure,  
why not: they use the great producer Gustavo Santaolla, and bring an  
almost Mexican sound to some of the music; this stuff is broad and  
smart and brings a groove. Guess why the record comes with a bunch of  
Grammys attached. Love the rhymes, love the beats, love the sense of  
humor. Only a few guests, including Tego Calderon and the Cuban band  
Orishas. Pop Caribbean music at its most popular, and with good reason.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
Price: $15.98
• Click here to Order Residente O Visitante Now!

ANTHONY CRUZ
Para Mi Gente
Musical Productions
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: The longtime hit-making singer starts out his new record  
swinging, singing against horns and percussion, and when the whole  
band comes in, he wails. Cruz, backed by a serious studio band,  
including Pedrito Pérez on bass, and Cachiro Thompson on congas, can  
sing, his high tenor punching like a trumpet at times, or laying out  
rhythmic ideas like a timbalero. Here's a guy that in once sense is  
totally under appreciated, a genuinely great Puerto Rican styled  
singer, a singer can get that wonderful float that you hear all over  
music from that island, rhymically assured, melodically profound, and  
capable of making pop music sound serious. This is mainstream salsa,  
perfectly produced and as good as it gets, which is plenty good, with  
lots to listen to, lots to dance to, and perfect for the dancefloor  
or the radio.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
Price: $15.98
• Click here to Order Para Mi Gente Now!

CUBANISMO!
Greetings From Havana
AIM / original import
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA CUBANA; CUBA
EditorsPick: Can it really be seven years since their last release?  
Trumpeter bandleader Jesus Alemany and his crew return with a  
triumphant power-punch of Cuban salsa that affirms the tremendous  
force that Cubanismo! can generate. This sublime grouping of guaracha- 
son, descarga, songo, pilon and son pregon is a much needed blast of  
musical machismo to jump-start the summer. With vocalists Rolo  
Martinez, Jose De Jesus Hernandez 'Laito' and Jesus Cantero. Also  
with bassist Roberto Riveron, pianist Rodolfo Argudin 'Peruchin',  
timbalero Luis Valiente 'Betun' and many others. Special guests:  
vocalist Pedro Lugo "Nene", Raul Verdecia, Pancho Terry and Coco  
Freeman.
Very Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $16.98
• Click here to Order Greetings From Havana Now!

VARIOUS ARTISTS
Leyendas De La Fania, Vol. 1
Fania / Emusica - Remastered Edition
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA: CLASSIC 1960s or 1970s NEW YORK
EditorsPick: Superb compilation of first-pick Fania selections. Each  
track a total gem. With "La Fama" - Hector Lavoe, "Pa' Huele" - Eddie  
Palmieri, "Richies Jala Jala" - Ricardo Ray, "El Rey De La Timbal" -  
Tito Puente, "El Negrito Ñengere" - Orchestra Harlow and much more.
Highly Recommended. (BP)
Description: See all of the new remastered Fania classics Here!  
Price: $13.98
• Click here to Order Leyendas De La Fania, Vol. 1 Now!

GRUPO LATIN VIBE
Amanecer
Latin Vibe
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: Grupo Latin Vibe, the highly regarded New York band is  
back with a radiant new release that's pure dancing pleasure. This  
sparkling vibes-based salsa project is packed with extended, dance  
grooves that make Amanecer is a non-stop delight. Listen to the  
treasure "Ramona, La Bailadora" or the laid-back "Por Tu Amor" - a  
few of those special tracks that I can play all day. A fine job by  
vibes player Tommy Mattioli, timbalero Victor Rendon, singer-conguero  
Anibal "Tito" Rivera and others.
Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $16.98
• Click here to Order Amanecer Now!

PEDRO "CONGA" LOPEZ Y SU ORQUESTA INTERNACIONAL
35 Años Con El Golpe De Siempre
Musical Productions
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: Hard swinging, hard singing, hard driving salsa from  
Puerto Rico. This is the stuff, simply fantastic dance music, with  
great high tenor singing from José Ernesto, Rafy Cruz, plus Anthony  
Cruz and Axel Martinez. Check out the coro on "No Me la Pongas Dura"  
for cool arranging; the tempos on all the tunes are perfect for Djs,  
up without being nuts, and each tune has a bunch of hooks, including  
the bomba intro to "Si Me Vuelvo Loco". Listen to the way the tune  
breaks for the coro on "No Me La Pongas Dura". The horns, bright and  
precise, frame the singers' in their improvisations. This is salsa at  
its best, alive and vibrant and creative. It's hyper-powered.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
Price: $15.98
• Click here to Order 35 Años Con El Golpe De Siempre Now!

HECTOR MARTIGNON
Refugee
Zoho
Category: LATIN JAZZ; LATIN JAZZ
EditorsPick: Whoa! What a line up of musicians. Here're just the  
bassists: Eddie Gomez, Richard Bona, John Benitez and Matt Garrison.  
The drummers include Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez, Jeff Tain Watts  
and Dafnis Prieto. Think of the rhythm sections you could construct  
if it were possible to get those people all in the same room at the  
same time. Anyway, Martignon, a Colombian pianist, has put together a  
Latin jazz project that has a New York sensibility to it; fusion  
ripples through it, as does straight-ahead jazz, and the Caribbean.  
It's modern and good.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
Price: $17.98
• Click here to Order Refugee Now!

ORQUESTA NOVEL
Mejor Que Nunca
Cobo
Category: DANCE TRADITIONS; CHARANGA
EditorsPick: Recorded in 1997 for Humberto Corridor's Cobo label  
(formerly Caiman), the album's being released for the first time.  
There's no reason for this to have sat in the can for as long as it  
has, because it's pretty much a perfect charanga release, with a  
great line up, including Joe Torres on piano, Joe Ayala on congas,  
Mauricio Smith on flute, Marino Solano on bass, and a fine Ronnie  
Baro singing, arrangements by Pupi Legarreta and Gerardo Corredera.  
Chocolate takes the trumpet solos. It's a fine example of how good  
New York salsa has been, post Fania era, and that when you get a  
bunch of strong musicians in a room together--as long as bad taste  
doesn't show up -- you're guaranteed a solid project. And here it is...
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
Price: $15.98
• Click here to Order Mejor Que Nunca Now!

OMARA PORTUONDO
Duets
Malanga Music / original import
Category: SALSA/SON; SON, GUARACHA, GUAJIRA; CUBA
EditorsPick: This CD release gives more than ample proof of Omara  
Portuondo's undiminished passion to join her voice in song with other  
artists, and includes 20 duets recorded between 1981 and 2005,  
accompanied mostly by the Egrem Orchestra featuring: Rubén Gónzalez,  
Manuel "El Guajiro" Mirabal, Juan Pablo Torres, Orlando "Cachaito"  
López and Amadido Valdés, among others. Remastered in 24-bit from the  
original tapes for the first time ever. (DR)
Price: $18.98
• Click here to Order Duets Now!

FOTO RODRIGUEZ Y SU ORQUESTA LA UNICA
En Honor A Pupi Legarreta - Celebrando El 27 Aniversario
CM/Corre Music
Category: DANCE TRADITIONS; CHARANGA
EditorsPick: Here's a good idea: get a strong charanga orchestra to  
pull out a tribute to the great violinist and flautist Pupi  
Legarreta. And then, get Legarreta to play on it. The result is great  
music, deeply in the groove, and happy. At its best, this is classic  
charanga. There a few missteps, the inclusion of not so great  
standards, including "The Shadow of Your Smile," but the rest of the  
material is swinging and strong, and Legarreta sounds good, as always.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
Price: $15.98
• Click here to Order En Honor A Pupi Legarreta Now!

ARTURO SANDOVAL
Arturo Sandoval & His Group - Includes The Albums "Arturo Sandoval Y  
Su Grupo" (1982) & "Arturo Sandoval Y Su Grupo" (1981)
Malanga Music / original import
Category: LATIN JAZZ; LATIN JAZZ; CUBA
EditorsPick: Both albums were co-directed by the Latin-jass arranger  
Hilario Duran and feature Jorge Reyes, one of the best bass players  
in Cuba today. Remastered in 24-bit from the original tapes for the  
first time ever.
The album "Arturo Sandoval y Su Grupo" is both an example of the  
trumpeter's incomparable virtuosity, and a showcase of many current  
musical styles. Arturo's ever curious personality, investigative  
impulse, artistic versatility and stage charisma can be all found on  
these exceptional instrumental tracks.
- Helio Orovio, Havana (DR)
Price: $18.98
• Click here to Order Arturo Sandoval & His Group Now!

JUAN PABLO TORRES
Algo Nuevo - Includes The Albums "Con Todos Los Hierros (1977) &  
"Súper-Son" (1977)
Malanga Music / original import
Category: LATIN JAZZ; AFRO-CUBAN JAZZ; CUBA
EditorsPick: Even though I listen to and perform jazz, my identity is  
Creole - the music I was born with. I became aware of the incredible  
strength of Cuban music at a very young age. Using it as a base, I'm  
able to branch out in any direction.
- Juan Pablo Torres. Remastered in 24-bit from the original tapes for  
the first time ever. (DR)
Price: $18.98
• Click here to Order Algo Nuevo Now!

JUAN PABLO TORRES
Romantic Cuba - Include The Albums "Mangle: Intrumental" (1975) &  
"Grupo Algo Nuevo" (1981) Featuring Pianist Pedro Coto
Malanga Music / original import
Category: LATIN JAZZ; LATIN JAZZ; CUBA
EditorsPick: These versions of romantic works were well received on  
radio programs whose playlists catered to the island's romantics...  
This is not standard instrumental music, but the wise and sensitive  
use of both the instruments and the instrumentalists, with which the  
original tunes serving as the framework for Torre's creative brilliance.
- Helio Orovio, Havana
Remastered in 24-bit from the original tapes for the first time ever.  
(BP)
Price: $18.98
• Click here to Order Romantic Cuba Now!

BEBO VALDES
Bebo Valdés Featuring The Legendary Vocalists
Malanga Music / original import
Category: SALSA/SON; SON, GUARACHA, GUAJIRA; CUBA
EditorsPick: This CD includes 25 tracks of Bebo Valdés accompanying  
Cuba's most important vocalists beteen 1957 and 1960, with  
outstanding arrangements that brought out the full sonic potential of  
the orchestra's stellar instrumentalists - a jazz band which was  
deserving of its name Sabor de Cuba (Cuban Flavor).
With Omara Portuondo, Celeste Mendoza, Pio Leyva, Pancho Alonso and  
"Guapacha" Borcelá. Remastered in 24-bit from the original tapes for  
the first time ever. (DR)
Price: $18.98
• Click here to Order Bebo Valdés Now!

CLIFF BROOKS
Rumba: Afro-Cuban Conga Drum Improvisation, Vol. 2 Mastering Clave  
With Quinto Licks - Book & 2-CD Package
Mel Bay
Category: INSTRUCTIONAL; AFRO-LATIN PERCUSSION
EditorsPick: My teaching method brings together two different  
learning approaches for Aro-Cuban Drumming. The first approach is to  
lean by way of reading written notation; the second is to lean solely  
by listening and feeling. You will memorize the three types of Afro- 
Cuban syncopated expressions transcribed in this book. Each  
expression has been recorded, enabling you to hear while you read or  
play them. They begin with a very simplified drill form of timing and  
syncopated exercises, and progress through the three types of  
expressions in this course.
The first type of expression is called the "Quinto Ride", a quinto  
"lick". it is a simple and short rhythm with a very syncopated  
feeling. The second type of expression is what I call a "Quinto  
Phrase", a quinto "lick" which has a "forward driving attack" when  
played. The third type pf expression is called the "Quinto Solo".  
This is where you express all the feelings you wish to communicate,  
in the same way a poet expresses his/her poem.
- Cliff Brooks
Overview of Lessons:
Section 1: New To My Method?
Section 2: Clave Timing Exercises
Section 3: Clave Quinto Rides
Section 4: Downbeat & Clave Quinto Phrases
Section 5: Downbeat & Clave Quinto Solo
Section 6: The Guaguanco Quinto Phrases, Ride Flow and Quinto Solo  
Pages.
106 page plus 2 audio CDs.
(Also check out Vol. 1) (DR)
Price: $29.95
• Click here to Order Rumba: Afro-Cuban Conga Drum... Now!

ARTURO RODRIGUEZ
Traditional Afro-Cuban Concepts In Contemporary Music - Book & 2-CD  
Package (Rhythms For Multiple Congas, Timbales, Bongos, & Drum Kit)
Mel Bay
Category: INSTRUCTIONAL; AFRO-LATIN PERCUSSION
EditorsPick: "Where am I going?" You are going to a place where you  
will understand a little more about the vast influence of Afro-Cuban  
song, dance, and instrumentation on the contemporary music scene.  
More importantly, you will touch upon the source of that influence -  
the deep well of traditional cultural waters from which many  
contemporary music forms have sprung.
"How will I get there?" With a little reading and a lot of doing! The  
reading part will give me an opportunity to share with you some of  
the interesting tidbits of information I uncovered while researching  
this book. Hopefully this will wet your whistle enough to make you  
want to explore more - and make the hours of drumming practice a  
little more meaningful.
"What will I see along the way?" You will see history unfolding  
itself into the great multi-hued quilt that is the contemporary music  
scene today. From jazz to pop to rock to salsa; from congas to bongos  
to timbales to drum kit; we'll pause at each watering hole for just a  
bit to savor the liquid musical jewels that spring forth.
"What will I have accomplished at the end of our journey?" You will  
have mastered many new skills that will help you become a more  
accomplished percussionist and, more importantly, a more accomplished  
musician. By exploring the role of percussion in traditional Afro- 
Cuban music, you will understand the important contribution drums  
make towards a complete musical piece; that a drum is not merely a  
rhythmic placeholder but truly a musical instrument and worthy of  
recognition as such.
- Arturo Rodriguez
140 pages plus 2 audio CDs (DR)
Price: $29.95
• Click here to Order Traditional Afro-Cuban Concepts Now!

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