Once again acts the Afro Latin music world have produced some interesting new releases from Salsa Romantica to Hard Core and some superb Latin Jazz.
We start with the long awaited “En Cuarentena” by El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico introducing us to a new era, a new label, a new variation and the new front line of Jerry Rivas, Anthony Garcia and Joselito Hernandez. For my taste I approve of the changes the band has done! Over the past two years we were introduced to “Salchicha Con Jamonilla”, then “Ella Lo Que Quiere Es Combo”, “Hay Que Quererte” and recently “El Combo Del Mundo”. The CD, on the new Bad Bunny label RIMAS, also has some promising future hits in “Tilin Tilon”, “Primera Vista” and “No Me Vuelvo Enamorar”.
Ernie Acevedo & Conjunto Imagen is celebrating a huge anniversary “30th Anniversary” with a host of friends and has been providing excellent conjunto music for fans worldwide and continues to be one of New York’s premier bands.
By far one Imagen’s best to date that was first heard in 2020 with “Mañana Es Domingo”, also includes vocalist Toby Rivera on the current singles “Los Rumberos” that was followed by Miosotis (ex-NY Band) on “Huele A Peligro”. Some of the best performances are by Liz Soto on “Buena Gente”, Frankie Morales on “Ella Quiso Jugar”, Jenny Colon on “La Equivocada”, Franklyn Corrales on “Yo Soy Como El Vino”, Alex Rodriguez on “De Donde Salio El Tambor”, and Sol on “Without Me”.
The big surprise is going to be the classic bolero “Sabor A Mi” sung in Salsa by Domingo Quiñones who sounds superbly in vocal shape. The other powerful track that has already captured fans in Cali, Colombia is “A Los Rumberos Caleños”. Ernie will be my guest on my radio show “El Condado De La Salsa y Jazz Latino” on World salsa radio.com on April 16th at 6pm (PST).
Another anniversary release comes from The Boricua Legends “Aguapetear-10 Aniversario Con Diez Amigos”. Bandleader bongocero Pedro Pocholo Segundo was someone who I met while he was with the Andy Montañez Orchestra in the 1980’s.
While this is only the bands second recording it was well the wait. Just listen to the hit parade bound “Esa Negrita Esta” sung by Rafu Warner (Ex-Bobby Valentin), “Sexy Lady” & “Si Por MI Llueve” (original by Cheo Feliciano) sung by Marcial Isturiz that has been for the past year the big hit sonero.
Moncho Rivera shines on “Porque Suena Mi Bongo”, Jose Calderon does a nice version of “El Caminante” (Roberto Torres hit), the famous Cuban standard “A Mi Que” sung by Angel Rios, a strong performance by another big time sonero Kayvan Vega on “Aguapetear” and Norberto ‘El Indio’ Rodriguez on “Lo Demas No Importa”.
This is the trend we have been seeing in the last decade when an artist features a host of vocalists and/or musicians to make the recording a powerful appeal for music fans.
Case in point the recent Gilberto Santa Rosa, “Colegas”, that has 16 guest vocalists and a total of 19 tracks.
Eduardo Zayas y su EZ La Banda a year ago gave us a 2-CD set of 17 tracks and now returns with a new project, “Huerta De Soneros”, recorded in Venezuela, Tampa, Florida and Richmond, Virginia. But Eduardo on this excellent recording not only features a huge number of vocalists, on 14 tracks, but allows the musicians to improvise making this one of the years swinging new releases.
There is “Musica De Mañana” with the vocalists Lero Martinez (Bobby Valentin), Noel Alexander Machado, Fernando Mercado, Josean Rivera, Wiwi Buznega, Leo Pacheco Jr., Nahyra Perez and Gonzale Diaz.
The first hits were “A La Hora De Componer” with Johnny Vega (a great composer who was with Cortijo & La Muralla) & Efren Avellaneda and “La Naturaleza Habla” with Nino Segarra, Awilda Hernandez, Marilyn Hernandez, Fernando Mercano Vega, Joey Hernandez, Gonzalo Diaz, Memo Arroyave and Mauricio Marin. Names you should all remember from the past or stars of the future.
I also enjoyed veteran Orlando Watussi on “Salsa Venezolana”, Josean Rivera on “Huerta De Soneros” and again on “Borinquen De Pie” with Awilda Hernandez & Edwin ‘El Calvito’ Reyes.
Wiwi Buznego shows us why he is one of Venezuela’s finest on “Mujer Camaleon”, David Atanacio on “Somos Humanos”, Lero Martinez on “Violencia En La Barriada”, the hot new vocalist Yeruska Verdu on “Yo Soy La Rumba” and Maurice ‘Tito’ Sanabria on “Doña Petra Cepeda”.
I spoke to you last month about the historical 29 track CD “Salsa Music in The Pacific North West (A Collective Memoir) that will soon be part of a book documenting the history of Salsa in that area of the US and one of the artists that closed out the CD was by Alex Rivera y su Sabrosona. Now the full CD, “Pide Que Hay”, debuts for the former New Yorker now in the Pacific North West.
Vocalist/composer Johnny Vega (On Eduardo Zayas’ recording) was a mentor to Alex Rivera who ‘horned his skills’ with Ricky Morla Rios y su Orquesta La Clave & Conjunto Calor Tropical both from the 90’s. He also crafted his skills as co-leader & composer with Latin Expression Orchestra and was also part of Steve Guasch’s Orchestra Nueva Era on the CD “Guaschara”.
La Sabrosona is a return to the 70’s sounds that includes the guests Luisito Quintero, Jeremy Bosch, Sammy Garcia and Oscar Ivan Lozano ‘Olio”.
My favorite songs are “La Trilogia Perfecta”, “Mi Salsa Dura”, “Mi Jeva”, “Invencible”, “Quien Sera”, and “Tun Tun Kan Karan”. Any song you pick as a DJ will do well on any dance floor. Latin Jazz has been on a steady rise as of 2010 and even more in the past few years…and surprisingly during the 2020 pandemic. One of the artists who normally records Salsa but wowed us a few years ago with a Latin Jazz EP is back with a Grammy worthy production.
Alex Morris has been making a name for himself as a Salsa Romantica singer and continues his journey on the EP “Amiga Tu” that also includes “Yo Traigo Lo Mio”, “La Duda” and “Digale”. While there is not much history here Morris does show the making of a future favorite.
The Echo Park Project, led by ex-New Yorker conguero Carlo Lopez, and based in Los Angeles presents “It’s My Turn” with an explosive line-up of hits and improvisations on this The Echo Park Project’s 6th release. Joe Mannozzi plays a major role on this CD as composer and arranger on 7 of 8 tunes. The music very much like the upcoming Victor Rendon’s Bronx Conexion Latin Jazz Big Band, within weeks, was recording not only for the listener but for the dancer.
“En Camino”, “Monktuneando”, “It’s My Time”, “Can’t Complain”, “Charanga Q” and “Si,Si, C.L” all have hit written all over with outstanding performances by timbalero Joey De Leon, reedman Frank Fontaine, trumpeter Ron Francis Blake, pianist Jonathan Montes and percussionist brothers Tomas Martin Lopez on bongo and Carlo Lopez on congas.
From Zaragoza, Spain we get the second release by bongocero/composer/DJ Santy Montego y Mañambo and the scorching CD “Vida De Ciencia Ficcion” (Life of Science Fiction). I love albums that include songs with a story line about social issues or a theme in comparison to that of an all romantic ‘love’ CD. “Vida De Ciencia Ficcion” is refreshing and hit the streets with the singles “Te Extraño” and “Guaguanco Zaragoza” but you will also enjoy “Raza Latina” (dedicated to La Terrifica), “Felicidades”, “Pal Bailador” and “La Raspa El Pescao” with vocalist Laura Gonzalez.
Orchestra Fuego, from Florida, led by pianist Marcus Hernandez was originally from New York when they debuted with “Fuego 77” that featured a young Frankie Vazquez as vocalist.
Today they are one of Salsa’s hottest bands and one of Florida’s true gems with a new CD “Baila Mi Salsa”. Just listen to “Al Mal Tiempo Buena Salsa” with Lucy Grau (another Florida gem), “Baila Mi Salsa”, “Piensa Con El Corazon” with Lucy Grau & Miguel Guerrero, “Quien Las Entiende” con Veronica La Vero, “Le Cierro La Cocina”, “El Pueblo Pide Salsa”, and “Si No Se Enamora” with Osvaldo Roman (PR Power/Grupo Niche).
Spoke extensively recently with Tito Nieves who is recording on the new super all-star Don Perignon y La Puertorriqueña production as well as a new single with Daniela Darcourt, Choco Orta and a new Luis “Perico’ Ortiz anniversary of “Entre Amigos II”.