Latin beat music update

Latin Beat Magazine, Dec, 2002 by Nelson Rodriguez

The year 2002 will not be remembered for the great independent music that was recorded but for the way the major labels anemically scouted for new acts and ignored the seasoned veterans who keep the scene alive.

While this past year was a slow one for new product, I found many delightful releases once again led by independents. One very good release, El Gran Combo 40th Anniversary Live on BMG, was recalled and taken off the shelf, making it the hot collector's piece.

Honorable mentions this year include new releases by Ray Vega, Wayne Wallace, David Cedeño, Fruko y Sus Tesos, Hilario Durán, Francisco Aguabella, Susie Hansen, Caravana Cubana, Willy Santiago, Generoso Jiménez, Quinto Mayor, Dave Santiago, Tolú and El Gran Combo. As far as more commercial material is concerned, the North East made heavy strides to get to where they were before with releases by two hot new vocalists--Héctor Bonet and Ray Viera, plus the veteran Jerry Galante. Add Pedro Jesfis with a wonderful sophomore release, and the New York area is starting to make a statement once again.

Nelson González's Pa' Los Treseros was one of my favorite Grammy nominations this year. Towards the beginning of 2003 you can expect a slew of new releases from the New York area.

Some of the veterans include vocalist Papo Silvestre, who sang for seven years with Pedro Conga and then Orlando Pabellón. His solo CD, Mi Regreso ... con Salsa Genuina (Performance), is a reminder of the old sound that really gets the dancers going and includes many of his own compositions.

Anthony Cruz is back with Un Nuevo Amanecer (MP) that has generated one huge hit, Bla Bla Bla, with two potential winners, Tu Me Llenas and Me Tienes Loco.

Corporación Latina was a hot band from Puerto Rico in the '70s and now four of their albums are available on compact disc: Llegó Pa' Quedarse, Is Heret Try It And You'll Like It, and Nuestro Negocio: Salsa and Orquesta Corporación Latina (Concourse Music).

Mulenze was a favorite from the late '70s through the mid-'80s with Pedro Brull on vocals. The CD, Desde El Principio, was supposed to have Cano Estremera as vocalist but the outcome is now history as Brull stepped in to do the recording.

Orquesta La Criolla, veterans of the charanga sound in Puerto Rico, to this day remain the only charanga on the island. Their new CD, Siempre La Criolla (SI) is a pleasant surprise with a hot dance track, Sonaremo' El Tambor.

Jerry Galante's Renovado (Swing Records) was one of those CDs all DJs were looking for during the fall because of its infectious sound with the Diego Gale clan. Galante plans to be on tour with Gale throughout the year. Look for Galante Boogaloo, Pa' Bailador, Solo Tu Cariho and Al Paso to do well at clubs and on radio.

GrupoMania have changed it up a bit by adding fresher, younger sounds and bachatas to their latest, Latino (Universal). Reggae can be heard on Caminaré Por El Mundo, salsa on the track Lo Que Has Hecho De Mi, and bachata on the selection Cuenta 1,2,3 with guest Héctor "El Torito" Acosta from Los Toros Band.

Blue Note and Miles Perlich released a wonderful compilation titled ¡A Gozart!: Latin Grooves On Blue Note that includes rare music by timbalero Joe Torres and his soulful number Get Out Of My Way, plus the Jazz Crusaders' Latin Bit. Also check out rare tracks by Jack Costanzo, Les McCann, Wali and the Afro Caravan, Bobby Hutcherson, Bobby Montez and more.

Merengueros will love Richie Herrera y su Banda X's latest, Back To The Mambo (MP) that has done well with the hit El Hombre Mambo. This will be a club favorite for those who like to sweat and dance up a storm to hot merengue.

Chaney was another of my favorites during the '80s with a unique sensual sound that generated the hits Amigo, Eso Es Amor and La Primera Vez. Their eponymous CD El Conjunto Del Amor continues the legacy with new favorites Y Hoy Se Que Volveré, Me Estoy Muriendo Por Dentro and Me Enamoro De Ella.

La Calle Caliente from Spain, along with Orquesta Alto Maiz from Iowa, are two groups who had excellent releases and deserve better exposure.

Pedro Conga had one of the most impressive records out of Puerto Rico this past year and has been a club favorite for some time now.

Some new voices for the coming year belong to the Cuban singer Hanny, living in London, with his CD, Pa' Que Te Metas Adentro, that may not be as strong as his first CD, The Voice of Cuba, but shows lots of promise, and the 13-year old Luisito. While Luisito's voice is still young for many salsa fans, the untapped talent is there and shows signs of a future star in the making. Thanks to musicians such as Willie Ruiz and "Chino" Nuñez, this young man has the world ahead of him. Check out his debut CD, La Diferencia.

In my opinion, label of the year has to go to Envidia with releases that have introduced many Cuban musicians that deserve the exposure, and Pimienta for making some of last year's top imports available domestically (Julio Barreto Cuban Quartet, Juan Manuel Ceruto) as well as Buenavista: The New Generation. Disco Hits gets the reissue label of the year.