The Descarga Review: Los Bocucos, Jose Miguel, Denis & Su Swing, Watrous' reviews... and more

Tue May 29 14:29:48 EDT 2007

The Descarga Review • May 29, 2007
Los Bocucos, José Miguel, Denis & Su Swing...
Plus: Watrous reviews Issac Delgado, Cabijazz, Bobby Sanabria... and  
more!

Bad links? No images? click: HERE

Here are some noteworthy new and reissued titles...

LOS BOCUCOS
Nuevo Rumbo
Envidia / original import
Category: SALSA/SON; SON, GUARACHA, GUAJIRA; CUBA
EditorsPick: What a great CD. You would be hard-pressed to find  
another Cuban son band half as vital as Los Bocucos, the band formed  
by Pacho Alonso in 1959, their most well known singer being the late  
Ibrahim Ferrer. There are other bands whose importance lies within  
their allegiance to the Cuban son traditions and repertoire. On the  
other hand there is Los Bocucos, who have remained fresh and vibrant  
by forging their own highly percussively syncopated sound,  
perpetually writing and performing new material, and remaining true  
to their vision; steeped in Pilón, and crackling with drive and  
sabor. It's funky - listen to the horn arrangement on "Aunque Te  
Pintes" - and completely fun. Pop on Nuevo Rumbo, forget your  
worries, and let the party begin. Pure Caribbean joy at it's best.  
Great job by the singers Karel Luis, Germán Mendoza, Carlos Amores  
and Juan Carlos Miró. With timbalero Jesus Perez.
Very Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $17.98
• Click here to Order Nuevo Rumbo Now!

JOSÉ MIGUEL MELÉNDEZ
Fiesta Pa' Bailador
Envidia / original import
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA CUBANA; CUBA
EditorsPick: Bright and fiery debut salsa-timba release by singer and  
percussionist José Miguel. Miguel has had the opportunity to play  
with some of Cuba's first-tier bands: Chucho Valdés and Irakere,  
Issac Delgado and his Chevere de la Salsa band, ...and Manolin. Not  
bad. Bassist Arnaldo Jimenez (Arnaldo y La Cosmopolita, Maikel  
Blanco, Michel Maza, Revé Jr., Pedrito Calvo etc., etc.) is the  
musical director here, and it shows. This guy simply cannot fire a  
dud. Miguel has the perfect vocal timber for this material: clear and  
strapping - able to cut right through the band's density and his own,  
well-oiled, percussive machinery. Also with pianist Mayito Rosabal,  
trumpeters J. Angel Chappottin and J.A. Varona, trombonists Lazaro  
Rosabal and Ulises Benavides. Coro by Barbarito Lopez. All percussion  
and lead vocals by José Miguel. This is timba for a new generation.  
The cover track, "Fiesta P'al Bailador" says it all - so play it loud.
Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $17.98
• Click here to Order Fiesta Pa' Bailador Now!

DENIS & SU SWING
Son De Cristal
Colibri / original import
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA CUBANA; CUBA
EditorsPick: We've been eagerly awaiting signs of a new project from  
Manuel Denis ever since we were, pretty much, blown away by his 1999  
release Nunca Pescao, Siempre Tiburón (now, unfortunately, out of  
print). Our wait is over and, let me tell ya, folks, Son De Cristal,  
meets or exceeds expectations on nearly all fronts. Opening with a  
steamy timba "Que Me Critiquen" - with enough power to rock even the  
biggest dance halls - Son De Cristal is a finely crafted salsa-timba  
project that goes beyond a straight balls-to-the-wall timba  
configuration: Denis continues to gingerly push the envelop by  
utilizing, with care, elements not usually associated with the genre.  
Note the wailing electric guitars layered over the complexity of the  
percussion rhythms on "Ella Se Enamoro." On "Salsa Al 200%" Denis  
wraps a salsa dance track tightly into a timba weave - and the thing  
just smokes. The project features several special guests which  
includes, notably, the great tresero Pancho Amat.
This CD is a departure for the small Colibri label, which has been  
creating a catalog filled with lesser known, mostly traditional, son  
bands. Here we have a cutting edge project that would be the envy of  
even the big boys.
Highly recommended. (BP)
Price: $17.98
• Click here to Order Son De Cristal Now!

ISSAC DELGADO Y SU GRUPO
En Primera Plana
Univision/Universal
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA CUBANA; CUBA
EditorsPick: Delgado, one of the Caribbean's great singers, one of  
the great singers of the 20th century, the Frank Sinatra of salsa and  
leader of one of the great bands of his time, has moved to Florida,  
and the first thing he's done is record a classic salsa album that if  
all is well in the world, will give him a great career here for the  
rest of his natural life. Because there's nothing like his singing,  
his sense of swing, his rhythmic assuredness, his melodic invention;  
it's all so casual, laden with sensuality. The first track has  
Delgado singing with Victor Manuelle, and it's a track that could go  
on for twenty minutes, their trading is so inspired. Delgado and  
Sergio George produced the record, with help from Alain Pérez, the  
bassist and arranger who was so integral to the success of what's  
considered one of the great timba bands of all time, Delgado's band  
from '97.
But this music isn't timba, it's salsa with great coros, perfect  
tempos, and a pile of great singing from Delgado; I'd argue that En  
Primera Plana is his best album yet. And there are guests, including  
Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Giovanni Hidalgo, the rapper Fragancia and Cachao.  
Luis Quintero handles much of the percussion, and Pérez plays the  
bass on most tracks; it's all touched by dance music perfection.  
Check out the breaks on "Sone/La Campana", with break after break,  
and thick, full coros rocking the place. Or the mambo on "Vengo  
Veneoso", which breaks into a rumba, Delgado's voice shifting subtly,  
moving into the environment of the rumba for a second or two. There's  
even a tres on a track or two (one track's a changui); on "Paquito  
Va", the piece explodes in the glories of a huge coro and the same  
sized horn section, working over George's specialty the caballo rhythm.
Delgado could have gone in 14 different directions for this new  
album. He easily could have made a pop album, or a folk-ish album for  
the Anglo NPR market, or pandered to the reggaeton market. Instead  
he's made a hard salsa album, an album for Latin audiences, one aimed  
at the radio, with an immense honesty, plus a bunch of dignity. And  
let me tell you, the proof of the music's power is simple: I reach  
for the music whenever I want to hear something. It's in the cd  
player all the time, all day and all night.
Highly Recommended, a major work by a major figure. (Peter Watrous)
Price: $16.98
• Click here to Order En Primera Plana Now!

CABIJAZZ
Suena A Salsa Con Jazz
Leon / original import
Category: LATIN JAZZ; LATIN JAZZ / SALSA
EditorsPick: Yet another great release from Venezuela, and don't let  
the title confuse; this isn't a jazz release. It's more like the sort  
of amorphous, modern experiment in dance music, mixing salsa -- check  
out the amount of Fania material on here -- along with Cuban timba  
and modern pop. Behind it all is drive, a hard, dense forward motion  
shared by the best dance orchestras. Fine singing helps, in a Cuban  
style, and various singers check in. I guess the template is Guaco,  
but things here are less pop and looser; like Guaco, the band's  
eclectic and really, really strong. This is the sort of release that  
should appeal to both traditionalists and modernists, and it's more  
proof that Venezuela is right up there in the explosion of creative  
activity that's happening across the hispanic world, from Spain  
through Cuba to Venezuela and Colombia. May we be blessed with many  
more releases like this in the future.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
Price: $18.98
• Click here to Order Suena A Salsa Con Jazz Now!

BOBBY SANABRIA
Big Band Urban Folktales
Jazzheads
Category: LATIN JAZZ; LATIN JAZZ
EditorsPick: A few years ago I was wandering around the New School  
and heard this amazing Afro-Caribbean big band wailing away in a  
practice room. I asked around, and got this response: "Oh yeah,  
that's Bobby Sanabria's student band. Pretty great, right?" And it  
was pretty great, and here's the recorded evidence, the material  
worked over by years of been played. And the band juiced by plenty of  
professionals, including Chris Washburne, Michael Philip Mossman,  
Jeff Lederer and more. The students play more than well, too. But  
what makes this session a classic, the sort of recording that'll be  
reissued as long as there are people to hear it, is something almost  
ineffable. It's a big band project, dripping with New York knowledge,  
and it sounds neither modern, in any clichéd sense, or historical, in  
any sort of out-of-it way. It just sounds in time, perfect, a product  
of a place and time and personality, i.e. Sanabria's presence. As for  
the session, that ineffable thing happens: it's a session blessed  
with a rhythmic perfection, and an excitement takes over. There are  
details here: tunes by Frank Zappa, Hermeto Pascoal, Ella Johnson's  
"Since I Fell for You," "Besame Mucho," smart things like that, none  
of which make a difference if the music isn't happening. And it is.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
Price: $16.98
• Click here to Order Big Band Urban Folktales Now!

SIGLO XXI
Herederos De La Salsa Gorda
Music Emporium
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA; PUERTO RICO
EditorsPick: Dance music from Puerto Rico, old style salsa from a  
group a younger singers. The band's a studio special, and the coro  
includes Primi Cruz, and it's all professional. Nice baritone  
saxophone holding up the bottom of the horn section, plus putting it  
in the tradition. I hear this on the radio, easily, and I bet it's a  
fun band to hear live some night in Puerto Rico.
Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
Price: $15.98
• Click here to Order Herederos De La Salsa Gorda Now!

HECTOR RAMOS - EL GALAN DE LA SALSA
Tu Sabes De Mi No, Sabes De El
Salson Records
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: New salsa release by singer Hector Ramos, who goes by  
the moniker El Galan De La Salsa. I liked the tough, gritty salsa  
style on tracks like "Te Arrepentiras", "Yare" and "El Que La Hace La  
Paga." However, the inclusion of several thin, echo-effected,  
romantic tracks typified by "Mi Niña Bonita" or "Here and Now" leaves  
one the impression that a different, anemic, project was spliced into  
the middle - imbuing a certain irony into the CDs cover image of two  
separate Ramos' spliced into the same picture. This project includes  
Papo Pepin on congas, Harry Adorno on timbales, Edwin Sanchez on  
piano and a coro section filled out by Tito Allen, Ray De La Paz,  
Adalberto Santiago and others. Arrangements by Isidro Infante,  
Humberto Ramirez, Jose Febles, Sergio George, Edwin Sanchez, and  
Louie Cruz. On Tu Sabes De Mi No, Sabes De El Ramos also reinterprets  
a handful of tracks that appeared on his prior release, Salsa: Para  
Todo El Mundo.
Recommended. (BP)
Price: $15.98
• Click here to Order Tu Sabes De Mi No, Sabes De El Now!

ARTURO SANDOVAL
Rumba Palace
Telarc
Category: LATIN JAZZ; LATIN JAZZ
EditorsPick: What a band: Tony Pérez on keyboards, Armando Gola on  
bass and Alexis Arce on drums, plus a big band of horns. Sandoval has  
put together a session that's like a descarga; Cheito Quiñones sings.  
In Cuba Sandoval was part of plenty of sessions like this, and this  
one works just fine; it's ready for the radio, nicely recorded and  
played and arranged. There's a bit of synthesized horns on this too,  
for a heads up.
Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
Price: $18.98
• Click here to Order Rumba Palace Now!

MARTIRIO
Primavera En Nueva York
Calle 54/Sony Norte
Category: BOLERO; BOLERO / BALADA; SPAIN
EditorsPick: Here's an idea: take a tremendously gifted Spanish  
singer, give her the go-ahead to put together a bolero album, get her  
to New York and put her in a band that includes some great straight- 
ahead musicians, including Kenny Drew Jr. on piano, George Mraz on  
bass, plus the Cuban drummer Dafnis Prieto on drums. Most of the  
tunes she singes are Cuban, and she does them well, almost more  
intimately than the band behind her; you'd almost like to hear this  
with just acoustic guitar. Anyway, fantastically atmospheric.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
Price: $17.98
• Click here to Order Primavera En Nueva York Now!

CARHABANA
Carhabana - CD & DVD Set
Egrem / original import
Category: DVD; LATIN JAZZ; CUBA
EditorsPick: Ah, another noble idea in the burgeoning field of Cuban/ 
gypsy hybrids. This one takes the manouche style of gypsy music, best  
known via Django Reinhardt, and blends it into the maelstrom of Cuban  
modern jazz. Practically, it works out that Mathias Levy, the  
violinist from the French group solos over the Cuban rhythm section.  
The French musicians contributed a bunch of the material, and the  
Cuban group interprets it; Vania Borges and Tania Pantoja, former  
(Borges) and current (Pantoja) singers of Bamboleo, each sing one  
song. The group recorded a cd, and along with that cd is a DVD  
documentary and concert of a show that the ensemble played last year  
in Geneva, Switzerland. Musicianship at the highest level.
Highly Recommended (Peter Watrous)
Description: Concierto realizado en el Grand Casino Ginebra, Suiza el  
28 de Junio del 2006.
Price: $27.98
• Click here to Order Carhabana - CD & DVD Set Now!

ALEX D' GAMBO
Simplemente Alex D'Gambo ¡Tu Salsa! CD & Bonus DVD
Power Musical
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: Super-solid New York salsa by Colombian singer Alex  
D'Gambo. Under the direction of veteran pianist Lucho Cueto, D'Gambo  
debuts here with the help of heavy-hitters Jose Mangual Jr., Roberto  
Quintero, Raul Agraz, Hector "Maximo" Rodriguez, Tito Allen (coro)  
and others. Includes a bonus DVD with a couple of tracks.
Highly Recommended.
Full review to follow shortly. (BP)
Price: $17.98
• Click here to Order Simplemente Alex D'Gambo Now!

EL GRAN COMBO
Salsa Classics Revisited: 2-CD Set
Combo
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA; PUERTO RICO
EditorsPick: Back in stock! It's an idea: collect a bunch of the  
harder swinging tunes in the El Gran Combo catalog, and hand them  
over to djs. Now, this could have been a huge disaster, but it  
wasn't, and the salsa versions beef up some parts of the tunes.  
Alfredo de La Fe has been brought in to add parts. On the Reggaeton  
remixes, a few rappers were brought in; it's not disastrous. (Peter  
Watrous)
Price: $29.98
• Click here to Order Salsa Classics Revisited: 2-CD Set Now!

Highlights from the previous Descarga review...

LARRY HARLOW
Latin Legends Of Fania: 40th Anniversary Live Concert CD
Image Entertainment
Originally released: 2007
Category: DVD; SALSA/SON
EditorsPick: Also available as a DVD Attention all Fania fans: Here's  
a terrific live 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, 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. Alfredo De La  
Fé's on fire, soloing his way through "Manuela". A classic. 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.
A salsa collector's must-have CD. Highly Recommended. (BP)

SONG TITLES:
1. Latin Legends 2. La Loteria 3. Señor Sereno 4. Azuquita Pa' Ti 5.  
Manuela 6. Caridad 7. Quitate La Mascara 8. Thunder Drums 9. Mañoño  
10. La Cartera 11. Quitate Tú 12. Latino
Price: $16.98

• Click here to Order Latin Legends Of Fania Now!

JUANUCHO LOPEZ
Grabaciones Y Exitos Originales
Col Musica (original import)
Originally released: 2006
Category: DANCE TRADITIONS; TROPICAL DANCE: VARIOUS
EditorsPick: Review to follow shortly. Limited quantities. (BP)

SONG TITLES:
1. Jaquetón Pachanguero 2. A La Orilla Del Río 3. Coco Pela'o 4. Casi  
Llorando 5. Juanucho Se Va 6. Bocoro 7. No Bailo Más 8. Todo Tendrás  
9. Sera Pachanga 10. Lluvia De Besos 11. Guajira Lares 12. San  
Francisco 13. Pa' Eso Tu Bebes 14. Juanucho's Pachanga 15. Todo Lo  
Que Digo 16. Divorciate 17. Vengo De La Pachanga (Juana La Changa)  
18. Flor De Jazmín 19. Que Otra Pachanga? 20. A Ti Na' Mas 21. Maravilla
Price: $16.98

• Click here to Order Grabaciones Y Exitos Originales Now!

VIRGILIO MARTI
Saludando A Los Rumberos
Caiman
Reissued: 1995
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: Back in stock! "This early 1980s recording by Virgilio  
Marti comes to mind because of the combination of congas, bongos, and  
drumset (in lieu of timbales). Ignacio Berroa plays drumset on each  
cut."
(Victor Rendón, 98/99 Catalog)
"One of the most respected of rumberos, Marti steps in front of a  
group of talented musicians. His voice is haunting and soulful."
(Alan James Geik, 98/99 Catalog) (DR)

SONG TITLES:
1. Saludando A Los Rumberos 2. Mucho Cante 3. Todos Vuelven 4. El  
Pañuelito 5. Inyere 6. La Mula 7. Odiame 8. Quimeras
MUSICIANS:
• Paquito Pastor: Piano
• Yomo Toro: Cuatro and coro
• Andy Gonzalez: Bajo
• Ignacio Berroa: Bateria
• Jerry Gonzalez: Congas
• Ray Romero: Bongoes
• Claudio Roditi: Trompeta
• Tony Cofresi: Trompeta
• Larry Noses: Trompeta
• Chris Pasin: Trompeta
• Giovanni Arencibia : Percussion
• Laura Pifferrer: Coro
• German Pifferrer: Coro
• Virgilio Marti: Cantante
Price: $15.98

• Click here to Order Saludando A Los Rumberos Now!

ORQUESTA ORIGINAL DE MANZANILLO
Original De Manzanillo Canta Cándido Fabré 2-CD Set
Egrem (original import)
Originally released: 2007
Category: DANCE TRADITIONS; CHARANGA; CUBA
EditorsPick: A killer compilation - a 2-CD set- of the best material  
by Orquesta Original de Manzanillo fronted by vocalist Cándido Fabre.  
With "A La Hora Que Me Llamen Voy", "Soy Cubano, Soy De Oriente",  
"Vía Libre Que Ahí Viene La Original" and more.
Highly Recommended. (BP)

SONG TITLES:
1. Vía Libre Que Ahí Viene La Original (6:30) 2. Coge El Camarón  
(7:12) 3. Córranse Ahí Caballeros (7:47) 4. El Barrendero (6:18) 5.  
Pa 'Quí, Pa 'Llá, Buscando Mi Pareja (5:39) 6. Guardián Del Caribe  
(5:29) 7. Candito No Seas Travieso (5:43) 8. Soy Cubano, Soy De  
Oriente (5:40) 9. Serranos Campeón (5:27) 10. Traigo La Última (6:50)  
11. A La Hora Que Me Llamen Voy (4:28) 12. Guayabita Del Pinar (4:29)  
13. Comenzó La Fiesta (5:19) 14. Eso Pa Ti Es Bobería, Sarría (5:03)  
15. El Mal Tiempo Ya Pasó (4:55) 16. ¿Que Voy A Hacer Con El  
Merengue? (5:41) 17. Me Lo Llevaron To (4:20) 18. La Mano En El  
Azadón (4:35) 19. ¿Quién Ha Visto Por Ahí Mi Sombrero De Yarey (4:39)  
20. ¿Qué Será De Los Hombres Sin Mujeres? (5:51)
Price: $21.98

• Click here to Order Original De Manzanillo Now!

VARIOUS ARTISTS
Charangas De Siempre - 5 CD Set
Egrem (original import)
Originally released: 2007
Category: DANCE TRADITIONS; CHARANGA; CUBA
EditorsPick: A Cuban charanga lover's must-have. This intense and  
discerning 5-CD set features one band per disc. They are: Orquesta  
Aragon, Fajardo Y Sus Estrellas, Orquesta Melodías del 40, Orquesta  
América and, finally, Orquesta Sensación. That should say it all...
Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $39.98

• Click here to Order Charangas De Siempre - 5 CD Set Now!

FACUNDO RIVERO
Piano Caliente
Vedisco/Velvet
Category: SALSA/SON; SON, GUARACHA, GUAJIRA; CUBA
EditorsPick: Hard to find CD of the work of legendary Cuban pianist  
and bandleader Facundo Rivera. Most likely '50s or '60s. Very Limited  
quantities! (BP)

SONG TITLES:
1. Linda Cubana 2. Piano Guaguanco 3. Angelitos Negros 4. Danzones 5.  
Lacho 6. Medley Frances 7. Agite 8. Facundadas 9. Oyeme Mama 10.  
Boleros 11. Guagua 12. Facundo
Price: $17.98

• Click here to Order Piano Caliente Now!

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!

Significant links...

• Recent the most current Editor's Picks Reviews
• Read the Descarga's Best of 2006
• The new wave of remastered classic FANIA reissues
• The complete 2006 Descarga Update Archives: 2006
• The Descarga Homepage
• Browse our growing inventory of DVDs

FANIA in transition... The recent acquisition of the Fania related  
labels (Fania, Alegre, Cotique, Vaya, Tico, Inca, Barbaro etc.) will  
mean that this large, historically significant, catalog of titles may  
be in scarce supply until they are reissued. They are going fast. We  
strongly urge those of you who are considering any of the following  
titles to place your order while supplies last. Click below for a  
list of currently available old stock...
old_fania

• Dance salsa now with the best instructional 2-DVD set...
Eddie Torres Teaches Salsa Nightclub Style

Help a friend to subscribe:
If you know someone who is interested, please let them know that they  
should send a message with "subscribe" as the Subject to
Descarga-Announce-request at descarga.com

To Unsubscribe:
Please send a message with "unsubscribe" as the Subject to
Descarga-Announce-request at descarga.com

Descarga.com
328 Flatbush Ave., Suite 180
Brooklyn, NY 11238

Descarga.com
The world's greatest resource for tropical Latin music
http://www.descarga.com

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mail.descarga.com/pipermail/descarga-announce/attachments/20070529/ad924089/attachment.html 