Descarga Review: Tito Nieves on DVD, PR Golden Jazz All Stars, Bobby Matos, Orlando Poleo and more...

Tue Dec 4 13:21:23 EST 2007

The Descarga Review • December 04, 2007
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Tito Nieves on DVD, Puerto Rican Golden Jazz All Stars, Contrabanda,  
Bobby Matos, Orlando Poleo, Peter's reviews and more...

- Holiday Music
- Gift Ideas
- Vinyl LPs!

- End of Year DVD Blast: Extended until December 12th!
Bad links? No images? click: HERE

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

TITO NIEVES
Tito Nieves En Vivo - Live In Colombia DVD
Univision
Originally released: 2007
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: Live from the Universidad de Medellín, Colombia, this is  
the first DVD released by the veteran salsero Tito Nieves. With  
musical director and trombonist Alberto Barros, this in-the-pocket  
salsa performance has Nieves belting out hits like "Sonambulo,"  
"Fabricado Fantasias," and the nearly fourteen minute "La Salsa Vive"  
composed by Sergio George ...who also plays piano in this show.  
Nieves also salsa-fies several numbers by hugely popular Mexican  
singer-composer Marco Antonio Solis. The band is top notch, with the  
likes of conguero Douglas Guevara, trumpeter Dante Vargas, bongocero  
Jhony Lopez and timbaleros Roberto Vilera and Fabian Picon. Diego  
Galé shows up for a spot on the timbales as well. Also features some  
of the strongest coroistas to be had: Diego Moran, Tommy Ruiz, Oscar  
Abueta and others. Nieves ends the show with his anthem "I Like it  
Like That." It will not disappoint.
Highly Recommended. (BP)
Description: Original Price: $19.98
Now: $17.68
ON SALE until December 12th!
Click HERE for the complete listing of SALE items!
SONG TITLES:
1. Mas Que Tu Amigo 2. Tuyo 3. La Salsa Vive 4. Fabricando Fantasias  
5. De Mi Enamorate 6. El Amor Mas Bonito 7. Tu Carcel 8. Sonambulo 9.  
I Like It Like That
Price: $17.98
• Buy Now

TITO NIEVES
Tito Nieves En Vivo - Live In Colombia
Univision
Originally released: 2007
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: The Pavarotti of Salsa is back with a live album, plus a  
duet with the Mexican singer Marco Antonio Solis, all very nice and  
well done. Recorded in Medellin, Colombia, and backed by a good band  
featuring among others Diego Gale and Sergio George, the album  
features the sharply percussive singing of Nieves. The audience likes  
what it's getting, which is high-speed, hard salsa. Nieves calls  
Colombia his second home and it's not hard to understand why, since  
salsa is still big business there. All around a good deal for everyone.
Highly Recommended. (see also the DVD) (Peter Watrous)
SONG TITLES:
1. Mi Mayor Sacrificio (a Duo Con Marco Antonio Solis) (3:58) 2. Mas  
Que Tu Amigo (4:08) 3. Tuyo (5:00) 4. La Salsa Vive (5:42) 5.  
Fabricando Fantasias (5:50) 6. De Mi Enamorate (6:05) 7. El Amor Mas  
Bonito (5:30) 8. Tu Carcel (4:40) 9. Sonambulo (6:57) 10. I Like It  
Like That (3:14)
Price: $15.98
• Buy Now

CONTRABANDO
En Mi Habana
Meinil/Contrabando (original import)
Originally released: 2007
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA CUBANA
EditorsPick: Led by the former trombonist for Pupi, Contrabando is  
hard timba-esque band based in the Netherlands. There's a bit of talk  
about fusion here, with reggaeton, and flamenco, but fuggetaboutit,  
this stuff is modern Cuban dance music, in the songo mold of Pupi and  
Van Van. The group's blessed with some good singers, including Jose  
Luis Montiel and Fernando Blanco Moya, and on a tune like "Maria"  
it'd be hard to argue that this was made in Europe, not Havana. It's  
beautiful and a great addition to the limited discography we have of  
modern post Timba music.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
SONG TITLES:
1. Mi Gente (3:45) 2. Maria (4:32) 3. En Mi Habana (4:01) 4. Tu Y Yo  
(5:46) 5. Gandinga, Mondongo, Sandunga (3:47) 6. La Vida (4:40) 7.  
Loco Por Ti (3:55) 8. Solo A Ti Mujer (4:26) 9. Juana (6:01) 10. Mi  
Merenguera (3:29)
Price: $18.98
• Buy Now

ELIO REVÉ, JR.
Fresquecito
BIS (original import)
Originally released: 2007
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA CUBANA; CUBA
EditorsPick: Ah, the real deal that makes everything else pale.  
Here's one of Cuba's long standing bands, and one of the better bands  
in that country, a band that will come to your hometown and scramble  
the minds of your better musicians. It is, as some have said about  
some American music, ragged but right. If one is looking for what's  
slick or smooth, go elsewhere. This stuff is non-stop intense,  
slightly maniacal, with endless rhythm arrangements, coro after coro,  
breakdowns, everything stacked on everything, just a riot of  
bandleading and crowd riling. Can't help but loving it, and if there  
are any complaints about the typically average Cuban recording  
quality, turn this up, just like it deserves. This is history.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
SONG TITLES:
1. Fresquecito.com 2. El Teléfono 3. El Dinero 4. El Martes 5. La  
Viuda 6. Ya No Te Doy Mas Ná 7. El Jonrón 8. Vamos A Bailar El  
Changüi 9. A Sancochar Boniato 10. No Le Pegues Con El Pie 11. La  
Madrugada
Price: $16.98
• Buy Now

NU GUAJIRO
Diez: Changüi, Son Cubano, Rumba, Timba
Nu Guajiro
Originally released: 2007
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: Local party band makes good. The group's filled with  
good players and they take on the Afro-Cuban tradition, playing  
serious son, changüi, and other styles. Chocolate's on trumpet, and  
the great pianist Edsel Gomez is there, too. The band tries its  
collective hand at timba and it's all well done.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
SONG TITLES:
1. Tributo A Guantanamo 2. Asomese 3. Cañandonga 4. Aqui Tenemos Ya  
5. Rueda 6. Manos En La Mesa 7. Ven Guajira 8. Harlem 113 9. Vete To  
Pa' La Habana 10. Semejanzas
Price: $16.98
• Buy Now

PUERTO RICO GOLDEN JAZZ ALL STARS
Al Rojo Vivo: Live In PR DVD
Mundo Libre
Originally released: 2007
Category: DVD; LATIN JAZZ; PUERTO RICO
EditorsPick: Here's a thoroughly mesmerizing Latin jazz set recorded  
live in Carolina, Puerto Rico. Led by extraordinary pianist Eric  
Figueroa, the ensemble features drummer Endel Dueño, conguero Richie  
Flores, bassist Ramón Vázquez, and veteran flautist Dave Valentin.  
This funky and riveting show is a tour-de-force of not only chops but  
of ideas too. These guys really stretch here, performing "First  
Thing's First," an original track by Figueroa, Rafael Hernández' "El  
Cumbanchero," "Piel Canela" by Bobby Capó, Wayne Shorter's  
"Footprints" and more. One of the better Latin jazz DVDs out there...
Highly Recommended. (BP)
Description: Original Price: $19.98
Now: $17.68
ON SALE until December 12th!
Click HERE for the complete listing of SALE items!
SONG TITLES:
1. First Thing's First 2. El Cumbanchero 3. Mi Jaragual Felipe 4.  
Piel Canela 5. La Morena De Mi Copla 6. Footprints 7. Morning 8. Y 9.  
Obsesion
Price: $17.98
• Buy Now

ORESTES VALIDO
Kimbombó
Envidia (original import)
Originally released: 2007
Category: LATIN JAZZ; AFRO-CUBAN JAZZ; CUBA
EditorsPick: Here's a cool date from Cuba, headlined by the  
saxophonist Valido. Backed by an all-star group of musicians,  
including the trumpeters El Niño Chappottin and Frank Padrón, with  
coros and singing by Jose Lusson, Ciso Guanche and Michel Calvo. On  
plenty of tracks the band sounds like some McCoy Tyner/Cuba fusion  
project, due to the playing of the pianist Vicente Garcia. Valido's a  
decent enough saxophonist, but it's the group that makes things  
happen, with a sort of timba descarga action going on. There's great  
playing all over this, with Osmany Salazar, the bassist, giving a  
lesson in modern Latin bass playing.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
SONG TITLES:
1. Sancocho (5:43) 2. Tin, Tin Deo (8:54) 3. Cochambre Mambo (3:12)  
4. Steel Sax (6:08) 5. Pan Con Lechón (4:23) 6. Timba Blues (4:36) 7.  
Guacho-Men (5:05) 8. Kimbombó (6:33) 9. Caravan (5:29) 10. Dime Que  
Pasó (4:43)
Price: $17.98
• Buy Now

MAELO RUIZ
...Puro Corazón
Codiscos (original import)
Originally released: 2007
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA COLOMBIA
EditorsPick: Just in: New salsa release by Maelo Ruiz. With Sergio  
Munera, Alvaro Cabarcas "Pelusa," Diego and Jimmy Gale, Herman "Tato- 
Tatin", Morist Jimenez and others. Review to follow shortly. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Culpable O No 2. Y Es Por Ti 3. No Me Digas Que Te Vas 4. Aroma De  
Mujer 5. Amor No Me Ignores 6. Amiga 7. He Vuelto Por Ti 8. Muero De  
Amor 9. Entregate 10. Y Si Ella No Vuelve 11. La Unica 12. Sin  
Corazon 13. Mentiras Que Matan 14. Vino Para Mi Copa
Price: $15.98
• Buy Now

SON VARADERO
Un Sello De Sabor
Melodias (original import)
Originally released: 2007
Category: SALSA/SON; SON, GUARACHA, GUAJIRA; COLOMBIA
EditorsPick: Simply beautiful son from Colombia. Well recorded,  
perfectly played, earthy and honest. Good tres playing by Luis  
Enrique Lozano, one of the band's singers. At times the singing  
reminds me of Pedro Luis Ferrer. There's plenty of new material here,  
but the band also covers "Sarandonga" and "Oye El Cha-Cha" and  
Arsenio Rodriguez's "Las Tres Marias." This stuff's been worked out  
in performance; there aren't any shoelaces left untied. Super  
professional.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
SONG TITLES:
1. Esa Prieta (3:51) 2. El Parrandero (3:33) 3. Songo Y Guajira  
(3:38) 4. Si Si , No No (3:50) 5. Son Varadero (3:35) 6. La Tres  
Marías (3:40) 7. Los Sin Tocayo (3:39) 8. Me La Como Yo (3:18) 9.  
Sarandonga (3:44) 10. Mi Negra Y El Son (3:32) 11. Como Baila Mi Mamá  
(3:32) 12. Oye El Cha-Cha (3:35)
Price: $16.98
• Buy Now

LO NUESTRO
Ni Tilingo Ni Titingo
Origin Entertainment (original import)
Originally released: 2007
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA COLOMBIA; COLOMBIA
EditorsPick: Salsa keeps changing, permutating, and here comes more  
great music from Colombia, with fantastic, rough singing against a  
band that includes some totally surprising arrangements, an electric  
bass that almost sounds like an electric guitar (I think that's it)  
and a book that features tunes by Chivirico Davila, Puente, Cheo  
Feliciano, Mirta Silva and more. This stuff is intelligent and  
prepared without being slick, slick without being offensive; it  
sounds like a band that works, and is looking to fool around a bit  
with the basic formula. Plus, who ever sets the tempos is some kind  
of genius; there isn't a clichéd tempo on the album, always  
dignified, but effective.
Highly Recommended, pure pleasure. (Peter Watrous)
SONG TITLES:
1. Ni Tilingo Ni Titingo 2. A La La E 3. Cuca La Loca 4. Hong Kong  
Mambo 5. Me Voy Para Siempre 6. Yo Vine Pa Ver 7. Mujer Mujer 8.  
Mambo Cool 9. Que Bueno Sería 10. Moliendo Café 11. La Cosecha De  
Mujeres 12. Espiritualmente 13. Guajeo En Dominante 14. Ají Picante
Price: $16.98
• Buy Now

MARIANAO SOCIAL CLUB
A Nuestro Estilo
Envidia (original import)
Originally released: 2007
Category: DANCE TRADITIONS; CHARANGA; CUBA
EditorsPick: Pleasant charanga release, giving a bunch of boleros the  
charanga treatment. Tunes included "Quizas, Quizas, Quizas," "Piel  
Canela," and other standards. It's all well done, with some good  
Cuban singers taking on the lead role, including Michel Maza,  
Lazarito Maya and Yanexis Beltran. Nicely recorded, arranged and  
performed.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
SONG TITLES:
1. Conversación En Tiempo De Bolero (4:07) 2. Quizás, Quizás, Quizás  
(3:42) 3. Solamente Una Vez / Piel Canela (3:10) 4. Los Aretes De La  
Luna (5:04) 5. Aunque Me Cueste La Vida (3:59) 6. Todo Se Paga (3:44)  
7. Perdón (3:04) 8. Mucho Corazón (2:26) 9. Si Llego A Besarte (4:27)  
10. Donde Tu Irás (3:59) 11. Mi Rival (5:77) 12. Vereda Tropical  
(5:25) 13. Noche Cubana (4:25) 14. Conversación En Tiempo De Bolero  
(4:25) 15. Nunca (5:32)
Price: $17.98
• Buy Now

BOBBY MATOS
The Best Of Bobby Matos
CuBop
Originally released: 2007
Category: LATIN JAZZ; LATIN JAZZ
EditorsPick: What a great Bobby Matos primer. This suite of sixteen  
tracks is the perfect entre to the Bronx born percussionist's full- 
throttle, swing-packed Latin jazz. Also with previously unreleased  
material including a new version of "My Latin Soul." Mato's crew is  
first rate: Jerry Gonzalez, Manny Silvera, Robertito Melendez, Wayne  
Wallace and many others.
Highly Recommended. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Naima (5:04) 2. Philadelphia (7:13) 3. Kimbisia (5:16) 4. Chango's  
Dance (5:29) 5. Oferere (2:19) 6. Back To The Roots (3:16) 7. Mi  
Alama Latina (5:09) 8. I Don't Speak Spanish But (6:44) 9. Guiro  
Elegua (2:03) 10. The Creator Has A Master Plan (6:21) 11. God Of The  
Crossroads (9:53) 12. So What/Impressions (5:22) 13. La Charanga  
(8:21) 14. Trompeta Y Bongo (4:41) 15. Crisis (11:00) 16. Footprints  
(8:45)
Price: $15.98
• Buy Now

VICTOR MANUELLE
Una Navidad - A Mi Estilo
Universal/Machete/Kiyavi
Originally released: 2007
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: The deepest, most folkloric album Manuelle's ever put  
out, and he sounds great singing about pig roasts, pig roasts and pig  
roasts, all celebrating Christmas. There's tons of cuatro, played by  
Edwin Colon, and pigs screaming, and a touch of accordion, and the  
high, nasal coros of Puerto Rico, and man, it's hard to think of  
anything better than this. Makes me want to go to Puerto Rico and  
have some pig, right now. What a great recording.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
Description: Original Price: 15.98
On Sale: 14.98
SONG TITLES:
1. Lechon, Lechon, Lechon 2. Yo Me Voy Para Mi Tierra 3. Los Polvos  
Del Sahara 4. Amarren Al Puerco 5. Navidad En Mi Barrio 6. La Cama  
Cortita 7. Son De Parranda 8. Yo Traigo La Parranda
Price: $14.98
• Buy Now

RAY MARTINEZ
Sabor Criollo
Universal/Callejero/Tropical Budda
Reissued: 2007
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: A reissue of an album we think was recorded sometime in  
the late 80s or early 90s. It's a gem, and no surprise, given the  
quality of Martinez's Alto Nivel, one of the better recent  
recordings. This date's salsa, the hard stuff, played by an  
exceptional group including Oscar Hernández on piano, Martinez on  
bass, Eddie Montalvo and Johnny Rodriguez on percussion (with Ismael  
Quintana on maracas and guiro). Hector Zarzuela's in the trumpet  
section and Charlie Romero's the singer, and it all swings the way it  
should, deeply, as if the tunes were going to last for an hour or all  
night. Salsa, the real deal.
Highly Recommended. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. San Miguel (5:27) 2. Campesino (4:52) 3. Juan Simon (3:13) 4.  
Porque No Me Invitas (5:00) 5. A Los Bailadores (5:14) 6. Maria  
Dolores (5:43) 7. Sabroso Bembe (5:40)
Price: $15.98
• Buy Now

PEPE CASTILLO
Estampa Criolla
Universal/Callejero/Tropical Budda
Reissued: 2007
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: A rocking little country recording, recently reissued,  
from Puerto Rico, with a super real band featuring Castillo on vocals  
and accordion. The group tears up some estampas, plenas and bombas  
and Edgardo Miranda on cuatro and guitar keeps things active; this is  
party music, for carnaval, for Saturday night. Joe Santiago's on bass.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
SONG TITLES:
1. Oda A Canario 2. Nostalgia 3. Plim, Plim 4. El Cemento 5. Alma De  
Criolla 6. Ay, Que Rica Es 7. Despedida
Price: $15.98
• Buy Now

GRUPO CHANGO
Vuelve La Salsa! Grandes Exitos
RD Music (original import)
Originally released: 2007
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA COLOMBIA; COLOMBIA
EditorsPick: Yet another group from Colombia, this one playing solid  
salsa with good Colombian swing. Precise coros, and deep  
professionalism and power. The album compiles music the band made for  
Colombian CBS, and at its best really takes off, with high pitched  
singing, the sort that Colombian salsa was known for before it  
started diversifying, becoming a bit more individual. Old-school  
dance salsa. According to John Child, most of the cuts come from the  
LPs Con Todo! (1988) and Sensaciones En Salsa (1990).
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
SONG TITLES:
1. Como Un Loco 2. Saborealo 3. Pretenciosa 4. Duda 5. Oasis 6. Me Va  
A Extrañar 7. Margoth 8. Sin Tu Amor 9. Desahogo 10. Medley:  
Alcatraz, Tiahuanaco 11. Saborealo Boogaloo
Price: $15.98
• Buy Now

NICKI DENNER
El Médico De Coquí
Consilience Productions
Originally released: 2007
Category: SALSA/SON; SON, GUARACHA, GUAJIRA
EditorsPick: Julian Llanos is a singer from Puerto Rico who had the  
good fortune to have sung with Arsenio Rodriquez. He's been brought  
to this microphone by the pianist Nicki Denner, who had the idea of  
making a bolero recording with him; finally she decided to do ballads  
and some uptempo material, which is good because Llanos can sing  
boleros, but he's great at faster material also. Not that anything  
takes off here; it's beautifully controlled music, with Denner's  
exquisite touch and sense of tempo framing the roughness of Llanos'  
singing; her solos, full of surprises, make you listen. The rest of  
the band keeps up, with Rolando Morales-Matos and Shai Hayo laying  
down the percussion, Jennifer Vincent on bass and Anton Denner  
playing the horn section, joined by Mark Miller on trombone. This  
stuff goes down really easily, and it's easy to go back to.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
SONG TITLES:
1. Pueblo Nuevo (4:03) 2. Vida (4:40) 3. Lágrimas Negras (8:05) 4.  
Bésame Aqui (4:35) 5. Nosotros (3:35) 6. La Negra Tomasa (6:33) 7.  
Elegie (Intro) (3:46) 8. La Goria Eres Tú (5:29) 9. Por Eso No Debes  
(3:01) 10. Vendaval Sin Rumbo (1:56) 11. Obsesión (5:52) 12.  
Convergencia (2:56) 13. Ven Que Te Espero (6:05) 14. El Médico De  
Coquí (5:08)
Price: $16.98
• Buy Now

ORLANDO POLEO
Cimarroneando
AVR
Originally released: 1995
Reissued: 2003
Category: LATIN JAZZ; LATIN JAZZ; VENEZUELA
EditorsPick: Back in stock! Direct from Venezuela, this is a dazzling  
combination of virtuoso Latin jazz and sizzling salsa. With  
compositions by Orlando Valle 'Maraca' (who also plays flute here --  
he also arranged most of the material), Orlando Poleo, Alfredo  
Naranjo, Jose Gonzalez and Alberto Vergara, this explosive material  
is guaranteed to ignite on contact. Poleo is a monster conguero who  
cannot be contained. While the Latin jazz tunes are certainly tour-de- 
force exhibitions in the realm of, say, Cuba's supergroup Irakere, it  
is the salsa compositions like Poleo's own "La Clave" and Jose  
Gonzalez' "Ahora Baila" that shine with a high polished brilliance.
This is big, splashy material, and it is true to form for projects  
associated with Maraca, who always turns the intensity up, up, up.
Highly recommended. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Sangre Negra (3:51) 2. Como El Primer Dia (4:58) 3. La Clave  
(4:35) 4. Rolandito (4:52) 5. Ahora Baila (5:41) 6. Voy Pa'lante  
(3:57) 7. Los Hermanos (4:57) 8. Cinarroneando (4:27) 9. Somos  
Cimarrones (5:55)
Price: $18.98
• Buy Now

ORLANDO POLEO
El Buen Camino
AVR (original import)
Originally released: 2003
Category: LATIN JAZZ; LATIN JAZZ; VENEZUELA
EditorsPick: Back in stock! Poleo does it again. The Venezuelan  
percussionist's second project begins with the excitement generated  
from his finely crafted debut release, Cimarroneando, and runs with  
it. Like his previous release, El Buen Camino alternates between high  
octane Latin jazz and sizzling salsa tracks. And, like the first one,  
Cuba's infinitely talented Orlando "Maraca" Valle has either composed  
or arranged several of the tracks here, including the title track on  
which the legendary Cuban pianist Jesús "Chucho" Valdés (leader of  
Irakere) is a guest pianist. Other special guests include Pedro  
Escalante and Allen Holst. Special mention should be made of vocalist  
Edgar Quijada, who does a superb job. Listen to "Tumbador." That  
smoker will pull the dancers onto the dance floor, for sure. A Latin  
jazz / salsa must-have.
Highly recommended. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. El Buen Camino (5:18) 2. Recordando (5:00) 3. Merengue De Hoy Para  
O.P. (5:14) 4. Teresa (4:02) 5. A Tiempo (5:05) 6. Chachaworo (4:45)  
7. Tumbador (6:10) 8. Renacimiento (5:00) 9. Selva (4:34) 10. Canto A  
Chango (5:48) 11. Cimarroneando Dos (4:07)
Price: $18.98
• Buy Now

ORLANDO POLEO
Lo Bueno De La Vida
AVR (original import)
Originally released: 2001
Category: LATIN JAZZ; LATIN JAZZ; VENEZUELA
EditorsPick: Back in stock! Here's one big fat jazzy salsa release  
that somehow slipped under the radar when originally released by Sony  
France. Venezuelan percussionist extraordinaire Orlando Poleo is  
known for his sparkling musicality and bright, splashy arrangements,  
as well as his collaborations with celebrated Cuban flautist and  
bandleader Orlando Valle "Maraca" -- who plays on this project and  
does some composing and arranging as well.
There is some pretty jaw dropping material here. Listen to "Era  
2000," one of the most intense and hypnotic percussion jams to be  
heard. Composed by Poleo, the melodic "Era 2000" features a who's who  
of top percussionists: Giovanni Hidalgo, Richie Flores, Miguel "Anga"  
Diaz, Changuito, Paoli Mejias, Poleo (on batá) and others. It is  
quite amazing.
The salsa numbers, like the title track "Lo Bueno De La Vida," also  
penned by Poleo, are well constructed and performed here with verve.  
For a fine mix of salsa, jazz, folklore and bravado, this one is  
Highly Recommended. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Publicidad Gratuta (5:11) 2. El Vago (4:06) 3. Je T'apporte La  
Salsa (4:07) 4. Echando Candela (6:40) 5. Tema De Chaworo (5:04) 6.  
Era 2000 (9:23) 7. Lo Bueno De La Vida (4:52) 8. Mi Ofrenda (5:04) 9.  
No Te Vayas (4:13) 10. Tierra De Gracia (5:36) 11. Elekoto (0:50)
Price: $17.98
• Buy Now

EDWIN RIVERA
Exitos Bailbles De Merengue
Universal/Machete
Originally released: 2007
Category: MERENGUE/BACHATA; MERENGUE
EditorsPick: Good compilation of merengue hits by Edwin Rivera. "No  
Quiero Verla," "Y Que Me Pasa," "Reina De La Noche" and many others.
Recommended. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. No Quiero Verla 2. Quiereme 3. El Rey De Tu Querer 4. Vuelve 5. Y  
Que Me Pasa 6. Yo Me Ire 7. Quema, Quema 8. Tu Cariñito 9. Quiero  
Saber De Ti 10. Reina De La Noche 11. Quemame 12. Como Te Quiero 13.  
Bonus Track: Gozadera #2
Price: $14.98
• Buy Now

LAZARO ROS
Lazaro Ros & Olorun: Songs For Eleguá
Ashé
Originally released: 1996
Category: FOLKLORIC; RUMBA and/or SANTERIA/LUCUMI; CUBA
EditorsPick: Back in stock!
Well done orisha recording by the revered Lucumí vocalist Lazaro Ros.  
(BP)
Description: Lazaro Ros is Cuba's foremost singer of sacred songs  
invoking the orishas (deities of the Yoruban pantheon) and a  
principal preserver of African ways on the island of Cuba. This album  
is dedicated to the orisha Elegua, the child-messenger who rules the  
crossroads and without whom no cermony can begin.
SONG TITLES:
1. Moyugbacion (Homage To The Ancestors) (2:21) 2. Togues Del Rezo De  
Eleguá (Prayers To Elegua) (19:38) 3. Cantos Arará (12:34) 4. Oro De  
Las Tambores (Batá Drum Cycle) (3:44) 5. Toques A Eleguá (8:25) 6.  
Cantos Iyesá (4:34)
Price: $15.98
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YOMO TORO
Celebremos Navidad
Ashé
Originally released: 1996
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: Back in stock!
The best Yomo Toro record in years. Don't peg this a Christmas  
record. It's Salsa with a capital S - and one of the best CDs to come  
out this year (1996). Yomo's cuatro playing is tasty, fast, y con  
mucho sabor.
Highly Recommended. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. El Lechón De Cachete (4:56) 2. Fuikiti (5:05) 3. Una Pena En La  
Navidad (4:50) 4. El Viejo Medina (4:20) 5. Sangre Boricua (6:05) 6.  
Celebremos Navidad (4:47) 7. Christmas Song (5:12) 8. Me Quedé Sin  
Na' (4:42) 9. Salve Mi Pueblo (4:16) 10. La Cuesta De Josefina (6:15)
Price: $15.98
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VARIOUS ARTISTS
Puro Salsa: Recuento Musical
Universal/Vene Music
Originally released: 2007
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: This fine compilation features artists from Rodven and  
RMM. A few highlights are "Bailando" - Frankie Ruiz, "Lluvia" - Eddie  
Santiago, "Lo Dudo" - Tommy Olivencia, "Bailemos Otra Vez" - Jose  
Alberto "El Canario," "El Timbal De Carlitos" - Willie Rosario, and  
"Dejame Vivir" - Tito Nieves.
Recommended. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Bailando - Frankie Ruiz 2. Tu Con El - Frankie Ruiz 3. Lluvia -  
Eddie Santiago 4. De Profesion Tu Amante - Eddie Santiago 5. Macho  
Perez - Hector Tricoche 6. En Cuba No Falta Nada - Hector Tricoche 7.  
Lo Dudo - Tommy Olivencia 8. Que Se Mueran De Envidia - Tommy  
Olivencia 9. Bailemos Otra Vez - Jose Alberto "El Canario" 10.  
Disculpeme Señora - Jose Alberto "El Canario" 11. Enseñame - Domingo  
Quiñones 12. Fuera De Control - Domingo Quiñones 13. El Timbal De  
Carlitos - Willie Rosario 14. El Antifaz - Willie Rosario 15. Amaneci  
En Tus Brazos - Tito Nieves 16. Dejame Vivir - Tito Nieves
Price: $15.98
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VARIOUS ARTISTS
RMM 20th Anniversay Collection 1987-2007, Vol. 2
Universal/RMM
Originally released: 2007
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: More from the vaults of RMM. With "Ese Hombre" - India,  
"Me Voy Pa' Cali" - Oscar De'Leon, "Escalofrio" - Domingo Quiñones  
and much more.
Recommended. (BP)
SONG TITLES:
1. Ese Hombre - India 2. Aparentemente - Tony Vega 3. Mi Vida Es  
Cantar (Live) - Celia Cruz 4. Amigos - Celines Y Manny Manuel 5. Soy  
La Voz - Van Lester 6. Corazón Partido - Miles Peña 7. Voy A  
Conquistar Tu Amor - Johnny Rivera 8. Me Voy Pa' Cali - Oscar De'Leon  
9. Manias - Tito Nieves 10. Escalofrio - Domingo Quiñones
Price: $15.98
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Highlights from the previous Descarga Review...

TITO PUENTE
The Tito Puente Roast - DVD
Cesta
Originally released: 1979
Reissued: 2007
Category: DVD; PERFORMANCE
EditorsPick: I have to first mention that this DVD includes Puente  
performing three numbers, including a not-to-be missed version of the  
classic "El Rey Del Timbal." His timbale solo on this one borders on  
the unreal. Tremendous. This number alone is worth the price of the  
DVD. Another number, "No Puedo Ser Feliz," features Puente on the  
vibes - a rarity on film. Finally, Puente and his band play his famed  
"Oye Como Va" featuring a young Mitch Frohman on flute. Another  
rarity here is the bonus track of Joe Quijano and his orchestra  
Cachana performing "La Pachanga Se Baila Así."
- BP (12/4/07)

In 1979, I produced a live show for Tito Puente and His Orchestra,  
for the purpose of promoting him to a wider television audience. We  
came up with the idea of starting a Tito Puente Scholarship Fund and  
incorporating it into "The Tito Puente Roast."
The show was filmed at MTI Studios in NYC with renowned scenic  
designer, Douglas S. Paddock. Many personalities attended and  
participated in this grand event. They were Grace Pérez Quijano, Raul  
Davila, Herb McQuade, Ronnie Puente (Tito Puente's son), Eduardo  
Olmos, Orlando Marin, Al Santiago, Polito Vega (Announcer), Charlie  
Palmieri, Bobby Capo, Felipe Luciano, Ray Barretto, Ralph Mercado,  
Raul Marrero, Bill Beauchamp. Izzy Sanabria, Marcos Rosales, Tony  
Martinez, Cindy Rodriguez (Tito Rodriguez' daughter), Eddie Palmieri,  
Palph Lew, Jose Curbelo, Roger Dawson, Myrta Silva, Papo Estrada, Joe  
Conzo, Federico Pagani, Catalino Rolon, Paco Navarro (Announcer),  
Margie Puente (Tito Puente's wife), and the Tito Puente  
Orchestra....continues (DR)
Description: Original Price: $21.98
Now: $18.68
ON SALE until December 12th!
Click HERE for the complete listing of SALE items!

Price: $18.68
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GILBERTO SANTA ROSA
Contraste 2-CD Set
Sony BMG Norte
Originally released: 2007
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: The title refers to the fact that the album comes with  
two cds, one of salsa, the other titled popbalada. Not exactly the  
White Album, but still, a feat, because every Santa Rosa album is  
just that, a feat of singing. The salsa album is smooth and old- 
school, with well-arranged coros sounding like vocal groups, and  
perfect breaks. At times it's hard not to ask for more: the music  
seems overly controlled, salsa at its least explosive, perfectly  
constructed but not always persuasive. But then, Santa Rosa enters,  
reminding us that he's one of the finest singers in the history of  
the music, liquid and rhythmic at the same time, a master of the  
distinct phrase. All over his soneos, there's brilliance, with Santa  
Rosa playing with time, with repetition, with rhyme, with the sound  
of consonants.
The pop album - and there are plenty that'd argue that Santa Rosa's  
soft salsa is pop - takes the singer into the heavy breathing of an  
older style of pop, one where the modern world doesn't intrude.  
There's lots of quivering notes, even wah-wah guitar. It's so overly  
emotional at times it seems like a parody. Still, it's perfectly  
done, and those for whom this was made will like it.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
SONG TITLES:
1. Conteo Regresivo (4:26) 2. Pensando En Tí (5:32) 3. Corazón (4:36)  
4. No Te Vayas (5:01) 5. Llegó El Amor (4:25) 6. No Estoy Para Ti  
(4:49) 7. Oveja Negra (4:18) 8. Reproche (4:32) 9. Cuerpo A Cuerpo  
(3:13) 10. Pensando En Ti (4:14) 11. Te Me Perdiste (4:26) 12. En Lo  
Bueno, En Lo Malo (3:32) 13. Empate (3:10) 14. Nos Hace Bien (4:11)  
15. No Te Vayas (3:20) 16. Tocan A La Puerta (4:13) 17. Conteo  
Regresivo (3:27)
Price: $17.98 (2-CD set)
• Order Now!

KIMBOMBO ORQUESTA
El Nuevo Sonido De La Salsa
JKH (original import)
Originally released: 2007
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA COLOMBIA; COLOMBIA
EditorsPick: It takes about three seconds to hear that Kimbombo has  
pulled off a wild, tough session. The band, from Ibague, Colombia  
jumps right up with hard, swinging salsa that is perfect for the  
dancefloor. On "Tributo a Barranquilla," the band takes a tune from  
Cuba's NG La Banda and gives it new words, adding percussion breaks  
and new rhythms. This sounds like a road band to me, no frills and  
ready to please, with a horn section anchored by a baritone  
saxophone, just the sort of thing Colombian bands are good at, and  
the reason that Colombian releases are always pushing into best  
recordings of the year.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous)
SONG TITLES:
1. La Salsa Está Aquí 2. Tributo A Barranquilla 3. La Mujer Que Amo  
4. Ibagué 5. Mientras Te Olvido 6. Tú... Mi Inspiración 7. Y ...Qué  
Hiciste
Price: $15.98
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BALLET FOLKLORICO CUTUMBA DE SANTIAGO
Orishas: Música Para Danzar
Academy Of Cuban Folklore And Dance
Originally released: 2007
Category: FOLKLORIC; RUMBA and/or SANTERIA/LUCUMI; CUBA
EditorsPick: Just in! New Lucumí release from the Ballet Folklórico  
Cutumba de Santiago.
Highly Recommended.
This recording was produced with the idea of helping students of the  
Orisha dance to deepen their understanding of the music and develop  
more confidence and independence. The tracks consist of commonly  
heard toques with clearly defined transitions. For example, Elegguá  
follows a very simple progression from La Topa to Ynongo to  
Chachalokuafun. After learning the distinct steps and figures of each  
toque, dancers can develop their own choreographies and thoroughly  
enjoy "danzando para los Orishas."
- from the liners. (DR)
SONG TITLES:
1. Elegguá (7:03) 2. Ogún (5:32) 3. Ochosi (1:59) 4. Yemayá (9:48) 5.  
Ochún (14:26) 6. Changó (6:53) 7. Oyá (7:33) 8. Obatalá (4:57) 9.  
Cierre Del Tambor (2:24)
Price: $18.98
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ORQUESTA LA FUGA
Pisando Duro
Fuga Productions (original import)
Originally released: 2007
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA COLOMBIA; COLOMBIA
EditorsPick: Just in! New salsa from Colombia. With conguero Douglas  
Guevara, timbalero Carlos Sabogal "Caliche," and, among others, Kim  
De Los Santos on coro.
Review to follow shortly. (BP)
MUSICIANS:
• Jorge Corrales "Pocholo": Piano
• Adrés Gómez: Piano en "Deseo"
• Ricardo Sabogal: Bajo
• Julio Valdez: Bajo
• Javier Aponzá: Trompeta
• Carlos Latoche: Trombón
• Luis Blanco: Sax baritono y tenor
• Carlos Sabogal "Caliche": Timbal y conga
• Douglas Guevara: Conga
• Jorge Andrés Restrepo: Voz
• José Wallington "Wally": Voz
• Aliver Paredes Valencia "Capibelly": Voz
• Oswaldo Roman: Coros
• Kim De Los Santos: Coros
• Mauricio Artunduaga "Lutor": Coros
Price: $15.98
• Order 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
• Browse our growing inventory of DVDs

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

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