Noticias de Latin Beat - TT: Latin Beat Music Update

Latin Beat Magazine, March, 2000 by Nelson Rodriguez

A very nice surprise was Los Gemelos' (John Jairo and Marco Antonio Ibañez) CD Ya Volvieron with their own compositions arranged by Bobby Valentín, Isidro Infante and Papo Lucca. Pianist Nelson Milanés arranged Homenaje a Pacheco. These guys were formerly with Alquimia. Johnny Pacheco is the producer for the CD and also plays flute. I truly enjoyed Son De Guajira, Ser Latino, El Vacilón, and Pa'l Rumbero. Loved both voices of these hot Colombian salseros.

The new Raulin Rosendo, Donde Me Coja La Noche (now distributed by BMG Latin) is a great CD making Raulin one of the best underrated salseros of the '90s.

Two new recordings I'm looking forward to are the new ones from Ralph Irizarry & Timbalaye, and flutist Andrea Brachfeld from Charanga 76 fame in 1976-77.

By the time you read this it will be known that Celia Cruz has signed a deal with either Sony Discos or one of Sony's subsidiaries.

This year's Dia Nacional de la Salsa, sponsored by Z-93 in Puerto Rico, will be dedicated to Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz with a special tribute to La Lupe by Tito Puente and guest star India. Strange that T.P. didn't get credit on India's Sola CD for giving India and Isidro Infante the basis for La Lupe's arrangements of Que Te Pedi and Si Vuelves Tu. Also scheduled for the event are Eddie Palmieri and Tony Vega.

Grammy nominee veteran Tito Puente continues his hectic schedule this year that will include trips to Barbados, Canada, James Moody's 75th birthday at Lincoln Center on April 3, Ohio, Pittsburgh, Dallas, Puerto Rico with the Puerto Rican Symphony, Tampa, Indianapolis, an extensive European tour in May/June, Detroit, Pasadena, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Seattle and work on Arturo Sandoval's next release. Look for Tito Puente and Eddie Palmieri to debut their collaboration in this year's JVC Jazz Festival in June.