Descarga Review: Cuba Lost & Found, Costa Brava, Victor Manuelle, Grupo Gale, vintage Puente...

Thu Oct 11 11:01:05 EDT 2007

The Descarga Review • October 11, 2007
Brought to you by Descarga.com

Cuba Lost & Found, Costa Brava, Victor Manuelle, Grupo Gale, vintage  
Puente...

- Vinyl LPs? Click Here!
Bad links? No images? click: HERE

Here are some new and reissued CDs and DVDs of interest...

VARIOUS ARTISTS
Cuba Lost & Found Sessions
Guataca (original import)
Originally released: 2007
Category: SALSA/SON; SON, GUARACHA, GUAJIRA; CUBA
EditorsPick: This is big news. Never before released jam sessions,  
descargas agresiva, by Cuba's musical royalty: Tata Güines, Pancho  
Amat, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Candido Fabre, Paulo FG, Manuel "Guajiro"  
Mirabal, Richard Egues, Amadito Valdés and *many* other kingpins.  
Luis Dominguez, owner of the Envidia and Guataca labels, had, in the  
early to mid '90s, produced the widely viewed televised "Mi Salsa"  
show in Cuba. If was from that show that the sessions on this CD were  
originally produced. This stuff is drop-dead killer, the pure  
definition of Descarga - fiery extended tracks where the musicians  
let loose and go nuts. Listen to the smoldering violins of Guillermo  
Rubalcaba and Enrique Alvarez as Cándido Fabré, sonero supreme, takes  
control of Descarga Nº2, a 8-1/2 minute gem. And there is a vocal  
showdown, "Duelo De Soneros," that features, among others, Cándido  
and Paulo FG that lasts an unbelievable 19 minutes and 24 seconds -  
it's a spectacular performance that should not be missed. It just may  
be the best vocal mano-a-mano on record. This stuff harkens back to  
the heyday of Cachao and Ñiño Rivera or, even more so, the best  
output from Areito All Stars. It's clearly the stuff of legend, a  
classic in my book.
Very Highly Recommended - a Must-Have. (BP)
Price: $17.98
• Buy Now

VARIOUS ARTISTS
Salsa Bands Of New York
Rumba Jams
Originally released: 2007
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: Here's a terrific compilation featuring some of the best  
contemporary New York based salsa bands like Los Soneros Del Barrio  
with Frankie Vázquez, Ralph Irizzary's Son Café, Big 3 Palladium  
Orchestra, George Delgado, Pequeño "Little" Johnny Rivero, Conjunto  
Imagen and others. Culled mostly from the vaults of Rumba Jams  
records, his red-hot party CD also includes a bonus track: the 8-1/2  
minute "Crema Mezcla," a sizzling mix by DJ Creme.
Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $15.98
• Buy Now

GRUPO GALE
Auténtico - CD & DVD Set
Codiscos (original import)
Originally released: 2007
Category: DVD; SALSA COLOMBIA; COLOMBIA
EditorsPick: Very few people in the business are as dedicated to the  
craft of Salsa than Diego Gale, arguably the hardest working producer  
in Latin America. Galé knows the music inside and out - he's also the  
band's the conguero and main composer/arranger. And while the band  
has it's detractors - it can be said that the music is over-packaged,  
too slick for it's own good - one has only to turn the volume up on a  
typical pumped up track like, say, "Chela" to to appreciated how easy  
it is to get hooked on Galé's vision of dance music. It's thoroughly  
infectious and, for a party or club setting, there are very few DJs  
who wouldn't grab a Galé production to raise the heat level. For  
Auténtico, acclaimed producer Sergio George sat in on piano for few  
tracks. Totally radio ready.
No, the DVD is not a live show: it's behind-the-scenes footage of the  
CD's production, as well as videos and studio session tracks. There's  
also some interviews with bandmembers and musicians who have worked  
with Galé like Richy Ray & Bobby Cruz and Maelo Ruiz.
Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $18.98
• Buy Now

ROBERTO BLADES
Veo Siento Y Canto
Cache
Originally released: 1991
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: Originaly released on the Cache label in 1991, this  
classic salsa release by singer Roberto Blades (yes, brother of  
Rubén) featured a who's who of great New York musicians: Oscar  
Hernández, Ricky Gonzalez, Sal Cuevas, Eddie Montalvo, Jimmy Delgado,  
Lewis Kahn, Reinaldo Jorge, Puchi Boulong and others. Veo Siento y  
Canto packed a coro section that included Adalberto Santiago, Tito  
Allen and Yayo El Indio. Man. Engineered by salsa guru Irv Greenbaum  
and produced by Alex Masucci. We found some in deep storage, and  
there are *very* limited quantites. These will go fast, so order  
yours now!
Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $24.98
• Buy Now

COSTA BRAVA
¡A Pico Y Pala Pa' Que No Joma!
Envidia (original import)
Originally released: 2007
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA; PUERTO RICO
EditorsPick: Big, bright, uptempo salsa with both trumpets (Elvin  
Torres, Rudy Pratts) and trombones (Carlos Brandy). Costa Brava is a  
motivated dance band that, like El Gran Combo, never seems to  
disappoint. The group is celebrating their 25 years in the business,  
so they know how to please their audience. With solid arrangements by  
leader Elvin, these mostly original compositions are interpreted with  
verve by singers Ulises Veldez, Francisco Javier Quiñonez and David  
Morales. There's also two bonus tracks, "Pequeño Detalle" and "Te Voy  
A Hacer Feliz" sung by Freddy Barbosa. One of Puerto Rico's best  
working bands.
Recommended. (BP)
Price: $16.98
• Buy Now

TITO PUENTE
Tito Puente Live! The Early Years
Mambo Maniacs
Originally released: 2007
Category: DANCE TRADITIONS; BIG BAND MAMBO JAZZ
EditorsPick: Heads up collectors! Joe Conzo, Tito Puente's right hand  
man collaborated with Bobby Marin and private collectors to produce  
this rare selection of live Tito Puente recordings from 1951-1959.  
With "Mambo Birdland," "Mambo Inn," "Mambo Diablo" and a simply  
explosive "Ran Kan Kan." Also with a very young Vicentico Valdés  
singing the hit "Barbarabatiri." There's also Puente's very first  
performance at the famed Birdland ("Cal Miller Mambo"). Don't expect  
pristine sound here: hi-fi it ain't. But is does capture the frenetic  
Puente energy and scope of the man's genius.
Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $15.98
• Buy Now

PAN CON CHOCOLATE
Pan Con Chocolate - Tirso Duarte Y Michel Pérez
Envidia (original import)
Originally released: 2007
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA CUBANA; CUBA
EditorsPick: Pan con Chocolate is a fiery, timbafied, charanga  
project with singers Tirso Duarte and Michel Pérez up front and in  
charge. With flautist J.J. Oliveros, Pedro Pablo Gutierrez on bass,  
violinist Ronny Cabarrocas and many others. Also include three  
trombones: Lazaro Rosabal, Carlos Alvarez and Ariel Guillon. The band  
tackles a few Arsenio Rodriguez numbers, "El Malecón" and "Yo Soy  
Chambelón," and some original material like the swinging "A  
Merendar!" composed by producer Luis Dominguez and Pablo Pedro. I  
especially liked their interpretation of Ismael Miranda's "Pa Bravo  
Yo" and Papo Cocote's "Monina y Ramón" which works great as a  
charanga. And the superb Duarte-Pérez' vocal team adds a sense of  
urgency that steps up the heat more than few notches.
Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $17.98
• Buy Now

CUBA JAZZ MILLENIUM ALL STARS
Tributo A Arsenio, Chano Pozo Y Los Clásicos
Envidia (original import)
Originally released: 2007
Category: LATIN JAZZ; AFRO-CUBAN JAZZ; CUBA
EditorsPick: Cuba Jazz Millenium All Stars is the brainchild of  
Joaquin Pozo, conguero and grandson of Chano Pozo. Joined by Jesus A.  
Chappottín "El Niño," grandson of the legendary Feliz Chappottín, and  
a band of gifted musicians, the All Stars take on some of the most  
indelible Afro-Cuban compositions from the patriarchal figures  
Arsenio Rodriguez, Chano Pozo, Israel "Cachao" López and Miguel  
Matamoros. This is an ambitious idea, stepping into such large shoes.  
But these guys, packed with talent and fireworks, stretch out and  
funkify the material, making it their own. Joaquin Pozo is a hellion  
on the skins - this boy can play. If nothing else, the album is a  
testament to this guy's capacity as a rhythm machine. Pozo also  
contributed three original tracks - the last three on the CD - as if  
he had to have the undisputed final word in some imaginary musical  
contest with his roots. In this case, it's we, the audience, who wins.
Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $17.98
• Buy Now

ADOLESCENT'S ORQUESTA
Lo Nuevo Y Lo Mejor
Codiscos (original import)
Originally released: 2007
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA COLOMBIA; COLOMBIA
EditorsPick: This compilation features Los Adolescentes best material  
including many tracks that are no longer available elsewhere. I see  
some numbers that formerly appeared on the now discontinued Búscame,  
Ahora Más Que Nunca and La Misma Pluma. Includes "Se Acabo El Amor,"  
"Virgen," "Recuerdos," "Corazon, Corazon," "Si Supieras" and may  
others. (BP)
Price: $16.98
• Buy Now

JUAN CARLOS ALFONSO Y SU DAN DEN
Juan Carlos Alfonso Y Dan Den - DVD
Mi Cuba Linda (original import)
Originally released: 2007
Category: DVD; SALSA CUBANA; CUBA
EditorsPick: Juan Carlos Alfonso y Dan Dan celebrate their 15th  
anniversary via this live performance in Cuba. Alfonso performs his  
hits "Volvieron La Campanitas," "Mi Vuerpo," El Humo O La Vida,"  
"Dale Al Que No" and many others. The singers are Barbarita Fernandez  
and Dayron Martin with guest appearances by Paulo FG and Van Van's  
Roberto Fernández. Quality isn't high, adequate, but they do put on a  
good show. For the collector...
Recommended. (BP)
Price: $19.98
• Buy Now

IRAKERE
The Best Of Irakere - DVD
Mi Cuba Linda (original import)
Originally released: 2007
Category: DVD; LATIN JAZZ; CUBA
EditorsPick: From the Cubadisco 2004 concert series, Chucho Valdés  
and Irakere celebrate 30 years of Latin Jazz. There's also some  
vintage material added, some more salsafied material, then even  
earlier live black and white footage from a '84 festival -  
interesting fusion stuff when the band was still experimenting and  
wearing dashikis. For the collector...
Recommended. (BP)
Price: $19.98
• Buy Now

PAULITO Y SU ELITE (PAULO FG)
El Gran Duelo: Paulo FG Vs. Issac Delgado - DVD
Mi Cuba Linda (original import)
Originally released: 2007
Category: DVD; SALSA CUBANA; CUBA
EditorsPick: Young Issac and Paulo can be seen on this DVD which  
showcases their performances on the Cuban TV show "Mi Salsa." The  
quality is not high, but getting a chance to see these guys early on  
in their careers - Issac sporting a small 'fro and mustache - is  
interesting and fun to see. With "Vengo Con Ire," "Dime Cual Es," "El  
Destino," "Pasta Con Tostones" and others. For fans only...
Recommended. (BP)
Price: $19.98
• Buy Now

VICTOR MANUELLE
Live At Madison Square Garden - CD & DVD Set
Sony Norte
Originally released: 2007
Category: DVD; SALSA/SON
EditorsPick: If there were any doubts about the vitality of salsa, it  
would be hard to detect experiencing this lavish big-bucks showcase  
at a packed Madison Square Garden, February of 2007. The manicured  
Mr. Manuelle has evolved into the consummate salsa performer, made  
for the big arena. For this show, he's brought in some special  
guests, like the pop duo Sin Bandera who join Manuelle for a few  
numbers. Now, Victor can be quite a romantic singer, but when he  
kicks into high gear, like in the euphoric "Tengo Ganas" (written by  
Manuelle and Emilio Estefán Jr.), salsa seems like it's being reborn.  
You can feel the whole of the Garden being lifted from it's  
foundation. There's a salsafied duet with Don Omar, and a rockin'  
"Puerto Rico," Eddie Palmieri's anthem where the master himself plays  
piano while Manuelle faces off with the great salsa superstar  
Gilberto Santa Rosa. A memorable event, to say the least.
This is the CD-DVD combo package.
Also available as a CD only or DVD only.
Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $21.98
• Buy Now

LA ORGANIZACIÓN
Los Éxitos De Salsa De Los 80 Y 90
Sony/Norte/Mock & Roll
Originally released: 2007
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: La Organización's second release has the young salsa  
band performing covers of hits from the '80s and '90s. "Luvia" (Eddie  
Santiago), "La Rueda" (Frankie Ruiz), "Aquel Viejo Motel" (David  
Pabon), "Conciencia" (Gilberto Santa Rosa) and "No Me  
Acostumbro" (Rey Ruiz) are some of the tracks you'll hear as you walk  
down salsa's memory lane. (BP)
Price: $15.98
• Buy Now

VARIOUS ARTISTS
Grandes Maestros De La Salsa Live Vol. 2: 2-CD Set
Unlimited Tropical (original import)
Originally released: 2007
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: Red-hot follow up to the highly popular Grandes Maestros  
De La Salsa Live Vol. 1 release that came out a few years ago. This  
one, another 2-CD set, features combustible live performances by  
Ismael Miranda, Ray De La Paz with Ray Barretto, Andy Montañez,  
Willie Rosario, Tito Nieves, Ismael Quintana with Eddie Palmieri,  
Tipica 73, Héctor Tricoche José Alberto "El Canario" and many others.  
A whole lot of first-class salsa heat.
Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $19.98
• Buy Now

VARIOUS ARTISTS
Navidad En El Barrio
Universal/Protel
Originally released: 2007
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: Is Christmas coming earlier this year? Here's a good one  
for your holiday gathering. With Willie Colón and Héctor Lavoe,  
Johnny Ventura, Cheo Feliciano, Sonora Ponceña, Pochy, Richie Ray/ 
Bobby Cruz, Ismael Rivera and others. (BP)
Price: $15.98
• Buy Now

VARIOUS ARTISTS
Rumbón Navideño
Fania / Emusica - Remastered Edition
Originally released: 2007
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: Christmas CD, mostly Fania artists like Willie Colón and  
Héctor Lavoe, Sonora Ponceña, Santito Colón, Mon Rivera, Impacto  
Crea, others.
Recommended. (BP)
Price: $13.98
• Buy Now

JOSÉ ALBERTO "EL CANARIO"
La Historia... Mis Éxitos
Universal/Siente
Originally released: 2007
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: Here's a fine compilation of hits from the popular salsa  
singer. With "Baila Que Baila,""Fotos Y Recuerdos,""Estas A  
Tiempo,""Bailemos Otra Vez" and others. Recommended. (BP)
Price: $14.98
• Buy Now

CHEO FELICIANO
La Historia... Mis Éxitos
Universal/Siente
Originally released: 2007
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: Here's a fine compilation of hits from the popular salsa  
singer. With "Si Me Llegas Amar,""Viaje Final,""Mentira,""Lindo  
Yambu" and others. Recommended. (BP)
Price: $14.98
• Buy Now

DOMINGO QUIÑONES
La Historia... Mis Éxitos
Universal/Siente
Originally released: 2007
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: Here's a fine compilation of hits from the popular salsa  
singer. With "Mi Gente,""Poeta Y Guerrero,""Mi Meta,""Fuera De  
Control" and others. Recommended. (BP)
Price: $14.98
• Buy Now

MARVIN SANTIAGO
La Historia... Mis Éxitos
Universal/Siente
Originally released: 2007
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: Here's a fine compilation of hits from the popular salsa  
singer. With "El Pasajero,""Fuego Al Cubo,""Chinas Por Botellas,""Don  
Fulano" and others. Recommended. (BP)
Price: $14.98
• Buy Now

MICHAEL STUART
La Historia... Mis Éxitos
Universal/Siente
Originally released: 2007
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: Here's a fine compilation of hits from the popular salsa  
singer. With "Te Pido,""Te Gusta Verme Sufrir,""Hasta Cuando,""Subele  
El Volumen" and others. Recommended. (BP)
Price: $14.98
• Buy Now

Highlights from the previous Descarga Review:

ALBERTO BARROS
Tributo A La Salsa Colombiana - DVD & CD Set
Talent Beach
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA; COLOMBIA
EditorsPick: If you had any doubts about Colombia being the new  
epicenter of salsa, the DVD-CD combo Tributo A La Salsa Colombiana  
will be sure to set you straight. The power and intensity of a grand- 
scale production has been concentrated to accommodate a smaller  
venue, and the resulting effect is that you feel like you are part of  
the dynamics of this show. And, man, what a show. Barros, one of the  
most sought after arranger-bandleader-trombonists in salsa, has  
brought together a top notch group of musicians to interpret the most  
memorable hits of Guayacán, Joe Arroyo, Grupo Niche, Los Titanes,  
Fruko y Sus Tesos, Los Carruseles, Grupo Gale and La Misma Gente. And  
he's got most of the original singers of these hits as to boot. To  
get a sense of scale, here's a partial list of participating singers:  
Charlie Cardona, Moncho Santana, John Lozano, Wilson Saoco, Cali  
Aleman, Gabino Pampini, Raquel Zozaya, Saulo Sanchez, Tommy Ruiz,  
Andy Caidedo and Diego Moran who, for my money, deserves  
superstardom. This large man has a voice that's larger than life.  
Listen to him rock the house on "Rebelión" and "Pa'l Bailador" a few  
of the many highlights here. Other red-hot tracks to watch out for  
are "La Palomita," "Oiga, Mire, Vea," "Basto Un Mirada," and "Ganas."  
It's a relentlessly sizzling party, folks, complete with gorgeous  
young non-stop dancers who exude pure heart-stopping salsa sexiness.
Barros is in top form here, and his improvisations are from the soul  
and never seem extend past their welcome. Like all Alberto Barros  
projects I have seen and heard, this one is of extremely high  
quality. The sound engineering, editing and photography are all top  
drawer. Barros chose to end the show with "Homenaje Salsa Del Mundo,"  
breaking beyond the show's Colombian thematic structure to give  
thanks to some of the best salsa regardless of geographic origin. In  
this medley of "Quimbara," "Idilio," "El Cantante," "Un Verano En New  
York" and more, all of the singers took turns, Fania All Star style,  
to turn the crowd, and this viewer, into something pretty close to a  
euphoric state.
Tributo a La Salsa Colombiana is a hands-down salsa must-have, and  
one of the most enjoyable straight-ahead salsa DVDs of the year.
Very Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $21.98
• Buy Now

ORQUESTA ANTONETTI
Sigue El Paso
M&A
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: Victor Antonetti? That's what I said, too. Pianist- 
composer Victor Antonetti's debut release has Ricky Gonzalez as its  
musical director. And Gonzalez has been around the block a few times:  
he's recorded with Ray Barretto, Louie Ramiez, Papo Pepin, 8 y Más,  
Pacheco, José Alberto "El Canario" and on and on. So I gave it a spin  
and it turned out to be a totally robust old-school salsa that rocks.  
There are original compositions by Antonetti with Ricky G., Giovanny  
Diaz, Johnny Vega, Ricardo Prado, and Ralphy Cruz (with an  
unrelenting "El Ultimo Adios"). Francisco Aguabella's tremendous  
"Complicación" - a Tito Puente standard, and Adalberto Alvarez'  
killer "Lluvia" are both sung here by guest vocalist Frankie Vázquez.  
Both deserve to be top DJ Alert picks. While we're on the topic of  
guests, Tito Allen steps in for the track "Dime Quien Soy." Also in  
the crew are Raul Agraz, Pete Nater, Richie Viruet, Dan Reagan, Ozzie  
Melendez. Get the picture? Many of these guys are card-carrying  
members of the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, arguably the toughest salsa  
orchestra around.
Now, for the record, there are two hard-hitting merengue-pop numbers  
too: "Me Derrumbo" and "Niña Bonita" sung with verve by Rosabel  
Antonetti. Overall, Sigue El Paso is a fine debut release that is  
very much worth a good listen. Let's see where Antonetti takes it next.
Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $15.98
• Buy Now

THE LATIN GIANTS OF JAZZ
Trip To Mamboland
Gigante Records / original import
Category: DANCE TRADITIONS; BIG BAND MAMBO JAZZ
EditorsPick: The Latin Giants, with core members from the Tito Puente  
orchestra, deliver big band mambo muscle on their second release. The  
project bubbles over with the dense, rich history of jazzy Latin big- 
band dance orchestras like those of Puente, Machito, Tito Rodriguez  
and Chico O'Farril. Leader José Madera (timbales) does a pretty  
remarkable job channeling the colossal Puente energy into these  
compositions by Ray Santos, Justi Barretto, Rosendo Ruiz Jr.,  
Marcelina Guerra and El Rey himself. Followers of this band will  
recall that Ray De La Paz sang on their previous release (The Latin  
Giants Play The Music Of The Palladium - Tito Lives, 2004), but it's  
Frankie Vázquez who's up front on Trip to Mamboland. Vázquez is  
joined by other luminaries like pianist Sonny Bravo, trumpeters Raul  
Agraz and Pete Nater, trombonists Sam Burtis and Reynaldo Jorge,  
conguero George Delgado, sax players Bobby Porcelli and Mitch Frohman  
and many, many others. Randy Brecker shows up for "Alex Mambo," and,  
gratefully, the final soprano sax solo from the late Mario Rivera is  
documented here as well. There are some truly outstanding tracks  
here, like Jorge Zamora's "No Me Molesto," and "Guaguancó Del Pueblo  
Nuevo" (Horacio de la Lastra), but it's Gil Fuller and Frank Grillo  
(Machito) who seem to crystallize the raison d'être of The Latin  
Giants with their composition "Mambo Is Here to Say." Say's it all,  
don't it?
Very Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $16.98
• Buy Now

VARIOUS ARTISTS
The Roots Of Chicha - Psychedelic Cumbias From Peru
Barbés
Category: CUMBIA/VALLENATO; CUMBIA/VALLENATO; PERU
EditorsPick: Chicha started out in the late sixties, in the oil-boom  
cities of the Peruvian Amazon. Cumbias Amazonicas, as ther were first  
known, were loosely inspired by Colombian cumbias but incorporated  
the distinctive pentatonic scales of Andean melodies, some Cuban  
guajiras, and the psychedelic sounds of surf guitars, wah-wah pedals,  
farfisa organs, and moog synthesizers. Very much like Jamaican Ska or  
Congolese Soukous, Chicha is western-influenced indigenous music  
geared toward the new urban masses who wholly identified with the new  
electric hybrid.
[from the liners]
This is great stuff. Some of it totally weird, like if The Munsters  
threw a party they'd definitely play Los Hijos del Sol or Juan Wong  
Paredes (listen to that organ!). Gotta love this stuff...
Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $16.98
• Buy Now

GRUPO POLO MONTAÑEZ
Un Sueño Y Nada Más
BIS / original import
Category: SALSA/SON; SON, GUARACHA, GUAJIRA; CUBA
EditorsPick: Despite his death in 2004, Polo Montañez' band continues  
to make vital, beautiful, music. On Un Sueño y Nada Más they can be  
heard pushing harder, musically, then before. Now, the vocal  
harmonies have really come to life. The tres and violin have more  
authority here. And, while they are firmly rooted in guajira-son  
tradition, we can hear, with songs like "La Sombra Loca," the band  
hinting at a more modern sounding pop style. The voices are quite  
sublime, both yearning and burning simultaneously. Listen to the  
stirring "Empezar A Vivir" with it's determined coro and a killer  
violin break. It's hard to tire of this stuff; it's full of promise,  
and pathos too -- reflecting all of the facets of beauty.
Very Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $16.98
• Buy Now

ORQUESTA BORINQUEN
El Trombonista
Borinquen
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: The new CD by Bay Area band Orquesta Borinquen opens  
with the blistering "Descarga Borinquen," and you can tell that the  
band is making a statement. The other track titles clearly tell the  
story: "La Rumba Del Bailador," "El Trombonista," "La Salsa De  
Verdad" - this is tough old-school trombone-base salsa made with the  
dancer in mind. Led by Bill Ortega Sr., the orchestra also features  
singers Alberto Diaz and Carlos Soto, Bill Ortega Jr. on timbales and  
trumpet, bassist Danilo Murillo, conguero Eric Mendez and others.  
Guest cuatro player Carmelito Velez adds just the right touch to  
tracks like "El Yerbero Del Barrio" - a gritty classic salsa track  
that appeared on Roberto y su Nuevo Montuno's '76 release on  
International/Fania. Most of the other compositions were penned by  
pianist Marco Montoya with an ear for golden age of Salsa.
Recommended. (BP)
Price: $15.98
• Buy Now

JUAN CARLOS ALFONSO Y SU DAN DEN
Siempre Dan Den: Concierto XXV Aniversario De Via Artística - DVD &  
CD Set
Egrem / original import
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA CUBANA; CUBA
EditorsPick: Juan Carlos Alfonso and his latest incarnation of Dan  
Den celebrate their 25th year as one of Cuba's most unique dance  
bands at this packed outdoor live performance recorded at La Piragua,  
in Havana City. Alfonso, former member of Revé y Su Charangón, knows  
how to rock the house. Mixing salsa, timba with the trademark Revé  
pile-driving coro, the three trombón band tears ups the stage with  
fresh renditions of Alfonso's hits like "Volvierón Las Campanitas,"  
"Amame Con Tu Experiencia," the explosive "Más Viejo Que Ayer, Más  
Joven Que Mañana," "Mi Cuerpo" and many others. Not enough has been  
said about Mr. Alfonso's piano mastery. Listen to his tremendous  
break on the anthem "Viejo Lázaro," a track where the dynamic  
bongocero Serguey Rodriguez gets a chance to sing. Speaking of  
singers, Barbarita Fernandez and Dayron Martin, the newest Dan Den  
members, are clearly at home on stage - and Barabarita's hips are in  
non-stop gyration, clearly an added perk to her powerful singing. A  
thoroughly enjoyable hour show that goes by way fast. Also with a 14  
track bonus CD.
Highly Recommended. (BP)
Price: $21.98
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• Dance salsa now with the best instructional 2-DVD set...
Eddie Torres Teaches Salsa Nightclub Style

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