The Descarga Review: New from La 33, Jimmy Saa, Landy y Su Orquesta, Estrellas Del Comborican, Arturo Stable and more...

Wed Sep 12 07:18:01 EDT 2007

The Descarga Review • September 12, 2007

Great stuff from from La 33, Jimmy Saa, Landy y Su Orquesta,  
Estrellas Del Comborican, Arturo Stable and more...

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Here are some new and reissued titles of interest...

LA 33
Gozalo
La 33 / original import
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA COLOMBIA; COLOMBIA
EditorsPick: Whoa! If "Descarga 33" - the opening track of Gozalo -  
doesn't raise the dead then nothing will. This commanding salsa  
powerhouse makes it's point straight away: get up and dance NOW! It's  
a DJ's last resort, the secret weapon. Now, while all of the tracks  
on La 33's second album aren't the equivalent to a salsa  
defibrillator like "Descarga 33," they do share its drive, swing and  
vision: keep the party going. The Colombian band, led by bassist  
Sergio Mejia, made a big impact with their debut La 33 and they  
clearly decided to up the ante here. Listen to Juan David Fernandez's  
timbales roar on the explosive cumbia-salsa "Plinio Guzman." And the  
uptempo jazzy-mambo instrumental title track "Gozalo" shows that this  
band is made of real musicians who can play. But it's the tight- 
fisted straight-ahead salsa tracks like "La Rumba Buena" that define  
La 33 as the premium dance band that they are.
Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $17.98
• Click here to Order Gozalo Now!

JIMMY SAA
Golpe Original
Fuentes / original import
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA COLOMBIA; COLOMBIA
EditorsPick: What separates singer and percussionist Jimmy Saa's  
salsa from the rest is his ability to manage superlative  
arrangements, killer instrumentation and crown it with his impeccable  
delivery. Saa, who has worked with high caliber bands like La Octava  
Dimensión, La Suprema Corte, Yuri Buenaventura and Grupo Niche, has  
learned how to harness his power and release it at optimum moments.  
His extended "Intro" is so well crafted and chock full of swing that  
you just know that you're in for an extraordinary ride. Listen to the  
highly charged salsa "Mi Tierra" with it's porro nuance - you can  
feel the boil about to surface throughout this gem. This is modern  
salsa at it's finest. It doesn't get much better than this. "Mujer  
Colibri" is almost too good to be a pop salsa number. Perfect  
danceclub material. Saa, very much a man of Colombia, brushes the  
indigenous flavors of his country into the nooks and crannies of his  
songs. And on Golpe Original he goes even further by incorporating  
his "Mosaico Folclore De Pacifico" - a modern take on roots material.  
As bonus, Saa includes three stunning tracks ("Saa Libre,"  
"Tempestad," " La Primera Dama") that originally appeared on his  
debut release Tempestad, now out of print. DJ Alert.
Very Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $15.98
• Click here to Order Golpe Original Now!

LANDY Y SU ORQUESTA
Claro Y Conciente
Landy/Presencia Productions
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: Good straight-ahead salsa as led by bassist Landy Felix.  
Recorded in Puerto Rico and New York, Claro y Conciente is a solid  
old-school project that features pianists Willie Sotelo and Victor  
Santos, congueros William "Cachiro" Thompson and William "Tito"  
Andino, timbaleros Rigoberto Diaz, David Forestier and Jimmy  
Figueroa, bongoceros Richaie Bastar and Louie "Campana" Hernandez and  
many others. Coro? How's Luisito Carrion, Pedro Brull, Chegui Ramos  
and Tito Allen? There are special guests too: Papo Pepin, Harry  
Adorno, Dave Valentin, John Walsh and others. Highlights include  
"Apapachame," "La Pollera Colora," and "El Mi Canción."
Recommended. (BP)
Price: $16.98
• Click here to Order Claro Y Conciente Now!

RUMBA CALZADA
Album 4
Pacific/Warner Canada / original import
Category: LATIN JAZZ; LATIN JAZZ
EditorsPick: At a time when many seem to equate fast and overproduced  
with quality, it is more than refreshing to hear the deeply swinging,  
yet subtler, approach offered by Rumba Calzada, arguably one of  
Canada's finest Latin bands. Leader and timbalero Raphael Geronimo  
clearly rejects the overly brassy - his swing comes from a place  
below the surface, deep and muted. Opening with the honey-dipped  
"Bomba de San Anton," which is more of a salsa-jazz with a bit of  
bomba rhythmic underscore, Calzada's project never gets too  
cluttered. And, while the musicians are top notch, there is an  
implied looseness, a faint roughness along the edges that, on a few  
of these tracks, harkens a bit to the legendary Alegre All Stars'  
recordings of the '60s and '70s. Listen to the interplay between  
trumpet and trombone on "Mozambique." All ten tracks here are  
original compositions.
This project, the fourth installment by Rumba Calzada, aptly and  
unpretentiously entitled Album 4, would be a fine addition to your  
collection, and a lesson in production values too. It's a Latin jazz  
project that prooves understatement can be a pretty intoxicating thing.
Very highly recommended. (BP)
Price: $17.98
• Click here to Order Album 4 Now!

ARTURO STABLE
Notes On Canvas
Origin Records
Category: LATIN JAZZ; LATIN JAZZ
EditorsPick: What an interesting idea. Percussionist Arturo Stable,  
whose father is an accomplished artist, grew up around art and  
artists. On Notes on Canvas, Stable endeavors to interpret,  
musically, some of his favorite paintings. Stable hand-picked top  
notch musicians to help elicit musical life from the chosen paintings  
- specific musicians for specific paintings. For example, sax player  
George Garzone, an avante garde artist himself, is also quite  
knowledgeable about the works of Picasso and Dali. So, it was a  
natural choice to have him work on the compositions that corresponded  
to the paintings "Guernica" and "Clock Explosion." There's visual  
depiction and some text about each of the painting: Wilfredo Lam's  
"La Jungla" (the Jungle), Monet's "Sunrise," self portraits by Frida  
Kahlo and Van Gogh, D' Vinci's "Gioconda," Kadinsky's "Composition  
#8" and others. And while there's enough to get one interested in  
fine art, here it's the music that matters. And, like the paintings,  
the music is filled with texture, color, density, composition,  
harmony and emotion. Stable did a more than a credible job - his  
works can live on their own. This is good stuff. Also with Dafnis  
Prieto, Francisco Mela, David Sánchez, Osmany Paredes, Aruan Ortiz,  
Rafael Alcala, Paquito D'Rivera and others.
Very Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $16.98
• Click here to Order Notes On Canvas Now!

LAS ESTRELLAS DEL COMBORICAN
Nuestra Cosa Nuyorican - Live At The Nuyorican Cafe 5 CD & DVD Set
Nuyorican
Category: DVD; SALSA/SON
EditorsPick: Big time old-school fun as Las Estrellas Del Comborican  
churn through salsa classics, many from the Fania songbook, for their  
live performance at the Nuyorican Café in the east village, NYC.  
Singers Hermán Olivera, Wilfredo Otero and Luisito Ojeda take their  
sweet time on these extended, gritty, trombone-charged, loose jams.  
The band is obviously having a lot of fun, had a few drinks and,  
despite the occasional out of tune vocal notes (you get the real feel  
of a live performance, warts and all) the dancing audience of this  
small club ate it up. It's the sort of session we took for granted in  
New York fifteen years ago: "A las Seis," "En Mi Viejo San Juan," "I  
Like it Like That," "Pa' Huele," and an almost sixteen minute  
"Quitate Tú" are some of the gems you'll hear and/or see on this CD/ 
DVD set. It's an informal homage to some of the best salsa ever  
composed.
Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $18.98
• Click here to Order Nuestra Cosa Nuyorican - Live At The Nuyorican  
Cafe 5 CD & DVD Set Now!

VARIOUS ARTISTS
DJ El Chino's Solar Latin Club, Vol. 1
SolarLatinClub / original import
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA INTERNATIONAL
EditorsPick: Celebrated DJ El Chino's first compilation, a 15 track  
powerhouse of salsa, funk, son, Latin jazz and timba, features  
material from all over the planet - including previously unreleased  
tracks by some lesser known bands. While you might recognize some of  
the names here, there are some that will surely be fortunate  
discoveries. Participants include Sono-Lux, La Sucursal S.A.,  
Diabloson, Mosquito Salsa Club, Kachimba 1551, Zumbao, Carlos Del  
Puerto & Impacto Cubano (with a simply drop-dead "Alegrate Juan") and  
many others. El Chino, who spent some years working in Germany, is  
now back in Colombia working on projects like this. And there's some  
heavy swag here. Listen to the percussive funk of "Descarga" - Tómas  
Einarsson's relentless club-ready dance track. Play that one loud. El  
Chino's selections, a true worldwide cross-section made by someone  
with a clearly refined ear, reverberate with muscle. Listen to  
Atabal's electrically charged handling of the cover "Dundunbanza" -  
probably the most recognizable title on the CD. "Taxi" by Sono-Lux  
opens as a smooth Latin jazz version of the TV show theme song. Then,  
without warning, it morphs into a high-octane timba number that will  
be sure to get the house rocking. Surprises like this are peppered  
throughout SolarLatinClub. Feel the heat rise on the hard-driving  
boogaloo "Baila Mi Ritmo" from Toro Ensemble. It's a knockout. This  
one, folks, is...
Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $15.98
• Click here to Order DJ El Chino's Solar Latin Club, Vol. 1 Now!

GABINO PAMPINI
Salsa Romántica A Mi Manera
Fuentes / original import
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA COLOMBIA
EditorsPick: This is Pampini's first new release in quite a few  
years. The Panamanian singer has been living and working in Colombia  
for some time and has quite a loyal following who are attracted to  
his straight-ahead, no-nonsense, sonero style. On this release he  
shows his slightly more romantic side with tracks like "A Mi  
Manera" ("My Way"), "Esa Mujer," "Mi Segunda Tierra" and others.  
There are original tracks penned by Mr. Pampini as well as material  
by Manuel Alejandro, Joan Sebastian, Juan Gabriel and even a salsa  
version of Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water." With  
Jaime Galé on percussion, Pablo Grajales on piano, Andréa Aguirre and  
Carlos Mora on bass, and many others. (BP)
Price: $15.98
• Click here to Order Salsa Romántica A Mi Manera Now!

BOBBY MATOS
Gratitude
Lifeforce Jazz
Category: LATIN JAZZ; LATIN JAZZ
EditorsPick: Just in! New Latin jazz project by timbalero-bandleader  
Bobby Matos. In addition to eight original tracks there are  
compositions by Miles Davis ("All Blues"), Tito Puente ("Mas Bajo")  
and Lou Pérez ("No Me Diga Na'"). And there's a luscious  
interpretation of "Autumn Leaves" (Kosma-Prévert-Mercer) sung, con  
sabor and sophistication, by Dee Dee McNeil. Also with Danny  
Weinstein, Theo Saunders, Robertito Melendez, Edwin Livingston, Sal  
Marquez, and Jud Matos.
Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $16.98
• Click here to Order Gratitude Now!

VARIOUS ARTISTS
Que Viva La Salsa Dura 2-CD Set
Latin Soul Records
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: Interesting 2-CD set of rare vintage salsa dura by the  
likes of the Don Juan Orchestra, Willie Melendez, Porfi Jimenez,  
Felix Martinez, Los Astros, Orchestra Broadway, Mike Rosario and  
others. CD-1 has all of these twelve classics in their original  
glory. CD-2 are remixes of these same tracks via the handiwork of DJ  
Duste of Australia. And they sound great...
Recommended. (BP)
Price: $15.98
• Click here to Order Que Viva La Salsa Dura 2-CD Set Now!

JOHNNY RAY (JOHNNY ZAMOT)
Johnny Zamot Introduces The Boogaloo Frog
JZ
Category: LATIN SOUL/BOOGALOO; LATIN SOUL, CLASSIC 60s or 70s
EditorsPick: Just in... highly collectible boogaloo recording from  
percussionist bandleader Johnny Zamot. Happily, this reissue from  
1960 sports crystal clear sound. With singers John Fernandez and Pete  
Bonet (singer for Ray Barretto). Besides the totally fun "Boogaloo  
Frog," the album also features "Hey Mama," "Miriam Baby," "Yo  
Volvere," "Pa' Los Pelu," "Cat Fish Bag" and others. One of the best  
boogaloo records of the era. Listen to the trumpet on "Are You  
Ready." *Very* well done. With Max Salazar's original liners and Izzy  
Sanbria's art.
Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $15.98
• Click here to Order Johnny Zamot Introduces The Boogaloo Frog Now!

LOS SALSEROS DEL BARRIO
Kin Kon
Latin Soul Records
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: Eight versions of the Phil Ocasio's 1976 composition  
"Kin Kon." The song never made it to the studio prior to this new  
session with lead singer Elliot Rivera - former singer for the Lebron  
Brothers. It's a good song, a strong salsa with a short merengue  
break. Includes versions in Spanish, English (way goofy),  
instrumental, radio edits, extended versions etc., etc.
Recommended. (BP)
Price: $9.98
• Click here to Order Kin Kon Now!

TOMMY OLIVENCIA
La Historia... Mis Éxitos
Universal/Siente
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: Good compilation of material by band-leader Tommy  
Olivencia featuring his top singers such as Frankie Ruiz and Paquito  
Acosta. Includes "Como Lo Hacen," "Lo Dudo," "Contigo Es Distinto,"  
"Como Una Estrella" and others.
Recommended. (BP)
Price: $15.98
• Click here to Order La Historia... Mis Éxitos Now!

VARIOUS ARTISTS
Si, Para Usted: The Funky Beats Of Revolutionary Cuba, Volume One
Waxing Deep / original import
Category: LATIN JAZZ; LATIN JAZZ/FUNK; CUBA
EditorsPick: Amazing compilation of totally funky vintage Cuban  
tracks. With Juan Pablo Torres Y Algo Nuevo, Irakere, Combo Tiempos  
Nuevos, Reyes '73, Grupo Monumental, Los 5-U-4, Grupo de  
Experimentacion Sonora De ICAIC and many others...
Highly Recommended.
Review to follow shortly. (BP)
Price: $18.98
• Click here to Order Si, Para Usted: The Funky Beats Of  
Revolutionary Cuba, Volume One Now!

TRUCO & ZAPEROKO
Live In Dax, France - DVD
Güicharo Recordings
Category: DVD; FOLKLORIC; PUERTO RICO
EditorsPick: Like a double shot of espreso, this live performance DVD  
by the hybrid plena-salsa orchestra will both stimulate and leave you  
wanting more. Led by Edwin “Zaperoko” Feliciano and Héctor “Truco”  
Valentin, the band’s DNA is clearly made up of equal parts Puerto  
Rico and Cuba. Recorded live at the Festival Toros y Salsa in  
September of 2006, the show is a non-stop Afro-Caribbean dance party.  
Plena, bomba, songó, salsa, rumba are tighly woven into a melange of  
kick-butt material that fits perfectly into this modern world. Truco  
& Zaperoko is one of the few bands that clearly embrace, at least  
musically, the notion of “one world Latino.” And it works. These guys  
are true ambassadors of Afro-Caribbean music. Approximately 130  
minutes. Excellent audio, moderate picture quality, and a heck of a  
lot of fun. I especially liked the extended funky jazz-plena  
composition “Oye Papá.” Also be sure to check out the drop-dead  
timbale solo by Tito Degracia in the special features. This man is a  
total monster.
Highly Recommended.
Price: $21.98
• Click here to Order Live In Dax, France - DVD Now!

GABRIEL ROSATI
The Latin Brass Soloist - Book & CD Set
ADG Productions
Category: INSTRUCTIONAL; INSTRUCTIONAL: OTHER
EditorsPick: Latin Brass Soloist by Gabriel Rosati provides an  
extensive study into the various trumpet & trombone styles including:  
Salsa, Mambo, Merengue, Calypso, Cha Cha etc. These exciting 50  
examples will have you spending many enjoyable hours learning the  
intricacies of Latin brass playing. The book is transcribed note for  
note from the superbly recorded audio CD. Each example is recorded  
twice, the first version with brass, piano, bass and percussion and  
the second version with just piano bass and percussion so that the  
brass player can practice along with the rhythm section.
[from the cover notes] (DR)
Price: $21.95
• Click here to Order The Latin Brass Soloist - Book & CD Set Now!

VITIN AVILES
Mr. Vitin Aviles (Digitally Remastered)
Universal/Callejero/Tropical Budda
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: Just in! Never before reissued CD of Mr. Vitin Aviles on  
Tropical Budda! On this '80s album Aviles covers tracks exclusively  
by Tite Curet Alonso and Julio Castro. This well-done selection of  
bolero, salsa, guaguancó and a merengue features heavies like Charlie  
Palmieri, Tony Cofresi, Tony Barrero, Johnny Rodriguez, Jose Alberto,  
Ismael Quintana and others. Includes the tracks "Mi Crucigrama," "La  
Canasta," "Amparame Corazon," "Cimientos" and many more. Arrangements  
by Ray Santos and Javier Fernandez.
Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $15.98
• Click here to Order Mr. Vitin Aviles (Digitally Remastered) Now!

MONGO SANTAMARIA
Espiritu Libre
Universal/Callejero/Tropical Budda
Category: LATIN JAZZ; LATIN JAZZ
EditorsPick: Just in! Reissue of Mongo's 1985 classic "Espiritu  
Libre" on Tropical Budda! With Bobby Sanabria, Eddie Resto, Tony  
Hinson, Eddie Allen, Pablo Rosario, Sam Furnace and Bob Quarantas.  
Includes beautiful interpretations of Marty Sheller's "Mañana Wilson"  
and "Tish," Sam Furnace's "Zimbabwe," Bobby Sanabria's" Con Hache,"  
"Espiritu Libre" by Eddie Allen and many others. Gorgeous reissue  
with pristine fidelity. Produced by Henry Montalvo and Vicente  
Iturbides.
Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $15.98
• Click here to Order Espiritu Libre Now!

EDDIE SANTIAGO
Atrevido Y Diferente
Rodven/Universal
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: Back in stock... Includes "Tu Me Quemas," "De  
Profesion...Tu Amante," "Volcan De Amor," "Se Acabo" and others. (BP)
Price: $15.98
• Click here to Order Atrevido Y Diferente Now!

JUNIOR GONZALEZ
Lo Pasado Pasado
EMI/Capitol
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: Back in stock! Limited quianities...
A record made in 1990, featuring the fine singer Junior Gonzales  
tackling, in English, "Lady In Red." The rest of the album picks up a  
bit; it's pure '80s salsa. With Papo Pepin, Isidro Infante, Sergio  
George, Jose Mangual Jr., Marc Quiñones, Ruben Rodriguez, Tito Allen,  
Milton Cardona and others. (Peter Watrous)
Price: $16.98
• Click here to Order Lo Pasado Pasado Now!

FRANKIE RUIZ
Solista, Pero No Solo
Rodven/Universal
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: From 1985. Back in stock as... "It was the first salsa  
album to generate four Top 10 hits in the mid-80s. ('Tu Con El,'  
'Esta Cobardia,' 'La Cura,' and 'El Camionero.') My first gold and  
platinum albums as a promoter." (Nelson Rodriguez, 98/99 Catalog)  
(Nelson Rodriguez)
Price: $15.98
• Click here to Order Solista, Pero No Solo Now!

FRANKIE RUIZ
Voy Pa' Encima
Rodven/Universal
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: From 1987. Back in stock... With "Quiero Llenarte,"  
"Desnudate Mujer," "No Me Hables Mal De Ella," "Voy Pa' Encima" and  
others. (BP)
Price: $15.98
• Click here to Order Voy Pa' Encima Now!

ANGEL CANALES
El Sentimiento Del Latino En Nueva York
OBS
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: Back in stock! Limited quantities... Angel Canales, who  
once threw all of his music into the ocean, is one of Latin music's  
unsung heroes. A great vocalist with a very distinctive style, he has  
remained an enigma with virtually no airplay. This recording is a  
classic. His band smokes.
Highly recommended. (BP)
Price: $15.98
• Click here to Order El Sentimiento Del Latino En Nueva York 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 2007 Descarga Update Archives: 2007
• The Descarga Homepage
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