Latin Beat music update

Latin Beat Magazine, Dec, 2003 by Nelson Rodríguez

The year 2003 produced outstanding recordings by Papo Pepín, Teresa García Caturla, Las Estrellas Cobo, René Herrera, Andrea Brachfeld, Los Bocucos, Suprema Ley, Conexión Salsera, Wendell Rivera, Sergio Rivera & Grupo Caribe, Mark Levine & The Latin Tinge, Conjunto Chapottín, Charlie D'Cali, Lázaro Valdés, Ray Vega, Chris Washburne & SYOTOS, Cintrón, Alfredo Rodríguez, La Palabra, Hilary Noble, Basilio Márquez, Rumbantela, Eddie Palmieri, Nueva Manteca, Benny Velarde & Super Combo, Los Titanes, Elio Villafranca, Kinito Mendez, Osvaldo Chacón, Los Van Van, Los Soneros del Barrio, Pete Escovedo, Andy Durán, Havana NRG, Oscar Stagnaro, Willie Villegas & Entre Amigos, Peruchin Jr., Sammy García & TMC, Ray Barrerto, Michel Camilo, Fruko y sus Tesos, Sonora Carruseles, Jesús Díaz, Orquesta Sensación, Africando, Joe Quijano, Rigo y su Obra Maestra, Odara, The L.A. Mambo Combo Latin Jazz Ensemble, Long John Oliva, Klimax, Pupy Pedroso, Adalberto Alvarez y su Son, Mamborama, Raphy Leavitt y La Selecta, Ralph Irizarry & Timbalaye, and Cubop City Big Band.

A pleasant surprise at the end of the year had to be the release of Orquesta Broadway's 40th Anniversary, on Eddy Zervigón's own Flauta Records. This is one of two releases that will include new versions of their best hits as well as new material. Felo Barrio (currently with Típica Tropical in Miami) and Eugenio "Gene" Hernández handle the classics, while Pete Rodríguez and Ronnie Baro sing the new material.

Envidia closed out the year with three hot releases, including the late pianist Jesús Rubalcaba's A Mis Amigos, with exceptional flute playing by J.J. Oliveros. The disc also features Maikel Blanco, Jorge Machado, Ciso Guanche and José Lusson Jr. Envidia also delivers the debut of charanga timbalero Jesusito (El Gigante del Timbal), who played with Típica Juventud, Neno González, and Siglo XX. His dise Llegó El Momento, the right vehicle for Jesusito, features Ronny Cabarrocas and René Herrera. The last release is Rumba en el Callejón de Hamel, a rumba recording by the new band Rumba Eriera, led by percussionist Francisco Pérez.

Joel Uriola, Oscar D'León's pianist during the '80s, makes his debut and swings from beginning to end on the CD Desde El Principio. He penned five of the tunes.

Merenguero Eddy Herrera has made a name for himself, after leaving Wilfredo Vargas' Beduinos with inany hits, including his latest, El Idiota, from the CD Para Siempre. He includes an Homenaje a Jochy Hernández, who died too young.

Puerto Rican vocalist Lunna has recorded a bolero album of classic boleros titled Lunna Bohemia, musically directed by Luis "Perico" Ortiz and additionally backed by some of the island's top musicians, such as Elias Lopes, Mariano Morales, Jorge Laboy, Paoli Mejias and Javier Oquendo.

Maria Diaz is a rootsy merenguera who sings and plays the accordion on the CD Consejo de Mujer, featuring Johnny Ventura on the duet tilted Zapatos Bailao. The sound is typical, yet refreshing and hip for parties.

Formed in 1995 in Venezuela, Bailatino is comprised of Eliel Rivero, Edgar Quijada, José Soto, Cheo Navarro, Felipe Blanco, Alberto Crespo, Johan Muñoz, Alexis Escobar and Marcial Isturiz. Their CD, Bailatino Llegó ... Con Todo, is certain to become a party favorite.

If you love party music, then you need to acquire the new Tabaco y Ron, accompanied by a DVD that contains the video of the title track, Te Lo Dije. DJs are going to love this one, with favorites such as Roberto Roena's classic Traición, Marvin Santiago's Vasos de Colores, Tabaco y Ron's Los Cueros de Tabaco y Ron, and Cortijo's Maquina Landera, Rumba-capella and Guaguancó Margarito.

Congratulations to Ray Barretto for winning the award for Best Percussionist at the 51st Downbeat Critics Poll, in which Poncho Sánchez carne in third. Other winners included Jane Bunnett as Best Rising Star (soprano sax) and Steve Turré as Best Trombonist.

Diego Gale and his father Jaime have released a CD of boleros, Padre e Hijo, so far available only in Colombia.

Papo Vázquez's hot CD Carnival in San Juan is dedicated to the sounds of Milton Cardona, Libre and the Fort Apache Band, with whom he played in New York.

Cuban pianist Ernán López-Nussa has recorded a CD in Santo Domingo, highlighting the compositions of Dominican composer José Antonio Rodríguez.

Saxophone veteran Jesús Caunedo has recorded a Latin jazz CD, Cuhan Rican Task Force, and is currently looking for label to release it.

Happiest of Holidays!