Just in New Titles...
SONIDO CRIMINAL
Crime Payz
Sonido Criminal Productions /$13.98
Originally released: 2011
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: Pow! 2011 starts off right, packing a one-two power-punch. Here is sizzling hard core salsa dura featuring young singer Carlos Mojica, who attributes his influences to old school Fania era singers like Ismael Rivera, Hector Lavoe, Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez, Tito Allen, Ray De La Paz, Ismael Quintana, Chamaco Ramirez and Justo Betancourt. Mojica has seen some serious action, sharing the stage with Ismael Miranda, Brenda K Starr, Luisito Carrion, Hector Tricoche, Lalo Rodriguez, Tito Puente Jr. and Johnny Polanco Y Su Conjunto Amistad. Referencing the classic Lavoe-Colón "Crime Pays" album is sure to generate some skepticism. But a single listen of this bold debut will remove all doubts. Check out Rumba En El Cielo - just one example of the dancefloor burners here, and you will see just why Crime Payz. A big DJ Alert. Very Highly Recommended. ... continues (BP)
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LOS HERMANOS COLÓN
Lo Mejor De La Salsa De Los Hermanos Colón
LHC Records /$14.98
Originally released: 2011
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: Here's an outstanding compilation of the best salsa produced by Los Hermanos Colón. This East Coast band has been a local favorite for years and has appeared at many a salsa festival. And with arrangements by the likes of Sergio George, Isidro Infante, Willie Ruiz and Ricky Gonzalez, you can understand why. These heavy hitters also perform with the band. Also featured are percussionists Papo Pepin, Ray Colón, Chino Nuñez, Joseph Rodriguez, Luis Santiago; trumpeters Richie Viruet, Piro Rodriguez, Hector Tito Rodriguez; trombonists Luis Bonilla, Carlos Orduz, Jose Davila, Wayne Goodman, Pablo Santaella, Noah Bless and many others. Also with singers Marcos Colón and Sergio Quijano. Mention must be made of the solid steel coro section including Wichy Camacho, Nestor Sanchez, Tito Alen, Joe King, Eddie Rosado and more. Highly Recommended. ... continues (BP)
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VARIOUS ARTISTS
From Mambo To Hip Hop: A South Bronx Tale DVD
MVD Visual /$19.98
Originally released: 2009
Category: DVD; DOCUMENTARY
EditorsPick:
What a cool DVD documentary... a fascinating look at the evolution of a musical culture as it evolved from mambo to salsa to hip hop. Tons of special guests and amazing archive footage. A Latin music collector's must have. Very Highly Recommended. - BP
The South Bronx: The young generation knows it as the place where hip hop was born. An older generation remembers the time when this turf nurtured the hot New York Latin music sound that came to be known as salsa. From Mambo to Hip Hop: A Bronx Tale is an hour-long documentary that tells a story about the creative life of the South Bronx, beginning with the Puerto Rican migration and the adoption of Cuban rhythms to create the New York salsa sound; continuing with the fires that destroyed the neighborhood but not the creative spirit of its people; chronicling the rise of hip hop from the ashes; and ending with reflections on the power of the neighborhood's music to ensure the survival of several generations of its residents, and, in the process, take the world's pop culture by storm.
FEATURING: Angel Rodríguez, Benny Bonilla, Bobby Sanabria, Bom 5, Carlos "Charlie Chase" Mandes, Clemente "Kid Freeze" Moreno, Curtis "Caz" Brown, David Gonzalez, Mr. and Mrs. Salsa, Eddie Palmieri, Emma Rodríguez, Jean Manuel Massenya, Louis Mercado, Luis "Trace" Otero, Luis "Track II" Mateo, Luis Chalusian, Orlando Marín, "Popmaster Fabel" Pabón, Ray Barretto, Sandra María Esteves, Tony "Peanuts" Aubert, Willie Colón and also Featuring Rock Steady Crew and Dynamic Rockers
Bonus Features:
Extra interviews with: Mike Amadeo, Joe Conzo Sr., Marta Moreno Vega, DJ Hess, Paula Grillo, Jo-Jo Torres, Orlando Marin, Pebblee Poo, and outtakes of featured artists.
56 minutes. ... continues (DR)
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CABOCUBAJAZZ
Rikeza y Valor
Walboomers /$15.98 (original import)
Originally released: 2011
Category: LATIN JAZZ; LATIN JAZZ
EditorsPick: Swinging, smooth synthesis of Cuban and Cape Verdien rhythms with a healthy dose of Timba!
“CaboCubaJazz seems to blend two different cultures without any effort. Initiator and percussionist Nils Fischer of Nueva Manteca fame, brought two of his Cuban and two of his Cape Verdien friends together to create a swinging synthesis, as exemplified by the refined polyphonic call-and-response singing with Dina Medina singing the criollo lyrics near to perfection... Pianist Carlos Matos plays a sensational intro to a morna, the local blues of Cape Verde. Here singer Medina shines thoroughly. Nevertheless, in the two instrumentals CaboCubaJazz' musicians are really at their best: They enter the boundless landscapes of jazz.” **** (four stars, De Volkskrant) ... continues (DR)
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SON DE CALI
Celebración: 8 Años
L&L Producciones /$14.98 (original import)
Originally released: 2011
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA COLOMBIA; COLOMBIA
EditorsPick: Celebrating their 8th anniversary, Willy Garcia and Javier Vasquez, former Grupo Niche singers, know how to burn some spicy salsa. This compilation of 17 tracks includes sure-fire danceclub picks like "Vos Me Debés," "Llorando," "Pasaba Por Ahí" and more. Highly Recommended.
Here's how we described one of their previous releases, Creciendo...
All right, now we're getting serious, folks. Here is some take-no-prisoners Salsa direct from Colombia that should send the kiddy singers straight to bed feeling like they've got no future. Fronted by ex-Grupo Niche vocalists Javier Vazquez and Willy Garcia
every track here is a potentially lethal explosion.
... continues (BP)
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LOU PÉREZ & HIS ORCHESTRA
Bon Bon De Chocolate!
Pachanga / Para La Fiesta Voy
Montuno /$15.98
Originally released: 2010
Category: DANCE TRADITIONS; MAMBO, CHA CHA CHA, PACHANGA
EditorsPick: This has two original Lou Perez albums on one cd: Bon Bon de Chocolate and Para La Fiesta Voy. The music is amazing. See John Child's review of Bon Bon below...
**Classics Revisited**
Bandleader, flutist, composer and arranger Lou Perez died from injuries sustained in a car accident in New York City on May 27th, 2005. Seventy seven years old at the time of his death, Lou is best known for his composition "De Todo Un Poco", which was used in the movie Dirty Dancing and originally came from his 1977 album De Todo Un Poco / A Little Bit Of Everything on Tico. During the height of the 1960-1964 charanga/pachanga craze he led his own flute, strings, rhythm section and voices charanga band on two best-selling early '60s LPs on Ajay: Para La Fiesta Voy (1961) and the significant African hit Bon Bon de Chocolate!, both reissued on Montuno in 1992. I've selected the latter, on which Lou played piano, composed, arranged and conducted, Bobby Nelson played flute and Rudy Calzado provided co-lead vocals with Goody Osvaldo. In addition to the title track, standout cuts include "No Me Toques Ese Punto" and "Descarga Potpourri No. 2", the gem of the date with Ray Mantilla on güiro and conga. Lou continued to work mainly in the charanga format, clocking-up at least another nine albums.
Recommended. ... continues (BP)
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ANGEL ENRIQUE PARDO-NUÑEZ
Cuba En Clave De Sol
Angel Enrique /$15.98
Originally released: 2011
Category: DANCE TRADITIONS; CHARANGA; CUBA
EditorsPick: Nice. Here's a stunning debut by a young Cuban violinist whose great-grandfather, Enrique Pardo, was the clarinetist and director of the Banda Municipal de Bauta. Born in 1993, Pardo-Nuñez would be about 18 today, but I believe that this was recorded when he was just 14 - an amazing achievement. Listen to his interpretations of Cuban classics like "Tres Lindas Cubanas," "Aquella Tarde," "Sabor a Mi," and the gorgeous "Almendra." Compositions by Guillermo Castillo, Ernesto Lecuona, Julio Gutierrez, Abelardo Valdes and others. Highly Recommended. ... continues (BP)
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ZAPEROKO
Cosa De Locos
Montuno /$15.98
Originally released: 1983
Reissued: 1995
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: Before the creation of the critically acclaimed Truko y Zaperoko, band-leaders Edwin Feliciano (trombonist and percussionist) and
Frankie Rodriguez (singer and percussionist) were doing superb work with this band, melding folkloric Puerto Rican and Afro Cuban rhythms with salsa and plena. From 1983, but timeless. Highly Recommended. ... continues (BP)
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FANIA ALL STARS
Live In Cali, Colombia 2-DVD Set
FM /$27.98 (original import)
Originally released: 2005
Category: DVD; SALSA/SON
EditorsPick: Back in stock!
In 1995, in the pouring rain, tens of thousands of people gathered in an outdoor
colosseum in Calí, Colombia to witness one of the last great concerts of salsa royalty - the Fania All Stars. This nighttime concert was documented and previously released as a 2-CD set which, although ok, did have some sound issues and was limited in its ability to convey the essence of the Fania experience. In short, the CD cannot hold a candle to the spectacular, nearly overwhelming, performance captured on this DVD set. This multi-camera shoot will grab you by the collar you and offer the grandness of not only the individual performers, but of a body of work that, at its core, is considered by many to be the essential Latin dance music of a generation. There is a simultaneous looseness and well-crafted order to a Fania All Stars show. That these consummate pros are in total control yet know how to party like there’s no tomorrow, has never been documented better than on these two DVDs.
When Celia Cruz takes the mike for “Bemba Colora,” or Cheo for “Raton,” or Ismael Miranda for “Borinquen Tiene Montuno,” or the entire crew doing “Quitate Tu,” nothing else matters. And that moment, that flickering epiphany, is the Fania All Star trademark that is not likely to be duplicated.
With Celia Cruz, Willie Colón, Papo Lucca, Ismael Quintana, Adalberto Santiago, Bobby Valentin, Roberto Roena, Johnny Pacheco,
Larry Harlow, Lewis Kahn, Cheo Feliciano, Ismael Miranda, Yomo Toro,
Nicky Marrero, Alfredo De La Fé, Reynaldo Jorge, Eddie Montalvo, Andy Montañez and many others. Hosted by Izzy Sanabria.
This gem, folks, is a must-have.
Very Highly Recommended. ... continues (BP)
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IVAN CÁCERES Y SU BONGOLANDIA
Roots Of Acid Salsa - Con Los Voces De Luisito Carrion & Ruben Roman
Bongolandia Productions /$14.98
Originally released: 2003
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA; PUERTO RICO
EditorsPick: Back in stock!
We receive promos of debut releases all the time, and I listen to them all. Well, most. Some of them are good, many of them are fair, and some shouldn’t have been made. Every now and then, however, there is the BIG surprise -- a truly great release. Iván Cáceres y Su Bongolandia’s “Roots of Acid Salsa” is such a release -- a slammin’, well orchestrated, beautifully arranged, funky, hard-core salsa CD where each individual track is important to the overall whole. Mr. Cáceres, a fiery, talented bongocero, has acknowledged many influences in the liner notes including Frankie Dante and Orquesta Flamboyán, to which he pays tribute on “Medley La Flamboyán (Para Frankie Dante).” Lead vocalists Luisito Carrion, Rubén Román and Mr. Cáceres do remarkable work here, raising the level of sabor even higher. ‘El Merecumbe,’ a terrific number, is being touted as *the* hit on this CD. But there are a lot of fine tracks here: any number of them could be used to vastly raise the level of radio airplay quality. This is a DJ smorgasbord. Hands down, my vote for pick of the month -- and will, most probably, make my top ten list for 2003.
A must have. Very Highly Recommended. ... continues (BP)
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RAFAEL LABASTA
The Best Of Rafael Labasta Y Su Orquesta
Rareza Music /$15.98 (original import)
Originally released: 2011
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA; PANAMA
EditorsPick: The celebrated Dominican trumpeter came to New York in 1961 and played with some amazing bands like that of Kako, Cortijo y Su Combo, Charlie Palmieri's La Duboney, Mon Rivera, Willie Rosario , Tommy Olivencia, and even the big 3: Machito, Tito Rodriguez, and Tito Puente. This compilation is representative of his generous contribution. Highly Recommended. ... continues (BP)
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EL AFROCOMBO
The Best Of El Afrocombo
Rareza Music /$15.98 (original import)
Originally released: 2011
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA COLOMBIA; COLOMBIA
EditorsPick: Directed by bassist and cuatro player Pete Vicentini, Colombia's El Afrocombo generated some essential and swinging jazzy salsa in the 60's and '70s. This 22 track compilation features some killer tracks like "El Afrocombo Llego," "Rabo Y Oreja" (listen to those timbales), "Dale Yare," "Montuno A Babalu," "Lluvia O Sol" and a bunch more. Highly Recommended. ... continues (BP)
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GUARAYSON
Te Pasó Po' Encima
Fonova Music /$16.98
Originally released: 2007
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA; PUERTO RICO
EditorsPick: Back in stock!
What a surprise, a totally amiable son recording from Puerto Rico. The tres is the main instrument here, but the drums are up on the album, and the rhythms are not always what you’d hear from Cuba; it makes the music fresh to include bomba and plena rhythms. The tres even gets a bit of wah-wah pedal added, occasionally. Giovanni Lugo, the group’s leader and percussionist, takes the lead vocals, and he sings in a thick, lively voice and it’s easy to like the project. It’s honest.
Highly Recommended. ... continues (Peter Watrous)
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ANDY MONTAÑEZ
40 Años De Exitos:
2-CD Set
Velvet /$16.98
Originally released: 2010
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA
EditorsPick: Special 2-CD set that explores the early work of Andy Montañez. Includes several collaborative pieces featuring Pellín Rodriguez. Features the tracks "Cantante Errante," "Mayoral," "Agúzate," "El Son Del Bohío," "Que Traigan El Guanguanco" and a huge bunch more. Highly Recommended. ... continues (BP)
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ELVIS CRESPO
Indestructible
Sony Music /$14.98
Originally released: 2011
Category: MERENGUE/BACHATA; MERENGUE
EditorsPick: Mr. Crespo returns with a new pop urban merengue release that features guests Zone D'Tambora, Bachata Heightz, Omega Y Julio Voltio. Includes the tracks "Introctible," "Dulce, Salada," "La Novia Bella" and more. ... continues (BP)
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ORLANDO Y SU COMBO
Vuelve...! El Ritmo Inconfundible De Venezuela
Romerin Records /$14.98
Category: CUMBIA/VALLENATO; CUMBIA/VALLENATO; VENEZUELA
EditorsPick: Vintage Venezuelan party music spanning many styles like cumbia and merengue. With trumpeter Rómulo Omaña, Ramón Elias Molina on sax, bassist Samuel Dario Cordero, Otoniel Cárdenas on timbales, Marco Antonio Acero on congas and others. Recommended. ... continues (BP)
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GLORIA ESTEFAN
Mi Tierra
Sony /$13.98
Originally released: 1993
Category: SALSA/SON; SON, GUARACHA, GUAJIRA
EditorsPick: "This album is the 1993 Grammy Award winner. 'No Hay Mal Que Por Bien No Venga' is the track which sold this CD." (Max Salazar, 98/99 Catalog)
"This definitely had to be the surprise of the decade. Gloria has reached way down to her roots for this one, coming up with a real winner. " (Chico Alvarez, 96/97 Catalog)
"The best produced recording I have ever heard. What a production! What studio technical expertise. What material! What invited guests. What diversity in rhythms, tempos and instrumentation. Congrats to Gloria & Emilio." (Al Santiago, 94/95 Catalog) ... continues (DR)
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