Latin Beat music update

Latin Beat Magazine, April, 2004 by Nelson Rodríguez

One thing you can always be sure of in this publication is that we make it our business to keep you informed of new and rare recordings, small labels and independent artists.

Latin jazz has a special place in the world because it's a sound that varies from recording to recording, expressing different moods and colors. Today we have some of the richest Latin jazz being recorded throughout the world and an organization that helps to enrich the music: The Latin Jazz E-Group on Yahoo, the most comprehensive Internet site, for fans and professionals alike, that shares information on recordings, history, education and more. Share ideas with musicians Sonny Bravo, Bobby Sanabria, Ralph Irizarry, Pat Rodríguez, Giovanni Hidalgo, Horacio Hernández, Chico Alvarez, Mark Levine, Walfredo de los Reyes, Susie Hansen, Gary Eisenberg, José Madera, Ray Vega, Ben Lapidus, Pablo Menéndez, Larry Harlow, David Romero, Alfredo de la Fé, Willie Everich, Mark Weinstein, Andrea Brachfeld, Richie Gajate, Henry Brun, Max Garduno, Johnny Conga, Rubén Rodríguez, Hilary Noble, and hundreds of label heads, promoters, and publicists.

Percussionist Raphael Cruz (with special guests Orlando "Puntilla" Rios, Chico Alvarez, and David Oquendo) has released Bebop Timba (RC Music), combining jazz fusion with Latin music. One of today's young lions, Luis Perdomo, is on piano.

Percussionist Pablo "Chino" Nuñez has put out an interesting instructional DVD--The Rhythmic Construction of a Salsa Tune (featuring Pablo "Chino" Nuñez) that teaches you how to construct the rhythm section for son montuno, guaracha, chachachá, Latin rock, and more.

Puerto Rican cuatro and tres player Prodigio Claudio has record ed Tribute to El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, with just a rhythm section, chorus and Moisés Nogueras (EGC trombonist).

Colombian pianist Danny Rosales leads a fine import by Septimo Sentido titled Smooth Jazz Latino. The quartet includes Jairo Rosales (percussion), Jorge Guzmán (timbal) and Ricardo Rosales (vibraphone).

Alberto Barros y Sus Titanes de In Salsa have released Sin Ataduras, with great dance tracks such as Chévere, Salsa y Control, Sácala a Bailar and Dame Tu Boca.

Wayne Gorbea y Salsa Picante's La Salsa and La Salsa y Charanga include exceptional numbers like Los Rumberos, Elena, Charan-Güiri, Armonioso, Pa'Salseros, Para La Rumba and Contigo No.

Arturo Sandoval's Trumpet Evolution is a tribute to trumpet players King Olivet; Louis Armstrong, Bix Beiderbecke, Rafael Méndez, Bunny Berigan, Cootie Williams, Roy Eldridge, Harry James, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Fats Navarro, Miles Davis, Maynard Ferguson, Chet Baker; Clifford Brown, Maurice Andre, Freddie Hubbard and Wynton Marsalis. The list of his sidemen is too long to list here.

Sergio Santana's book, "El Inolvidable Tito Rodríguez," documents Rodríguez's biography, discography, and most importantly, a who's who of musicians in his orchestra.

Another good book to look for is Alejandro Calzadilla's "La Salsa En Venezuela." It covers all the hot and unknown salsa bands in Venezuela and around the world during the past six decades.

Members of the former Tito Puente Orchestra (José Madera, Johnny Rodríguez Jr., Bobby Porcelli, Lewis Kahn, George Delgado, Pete Miranda, John Walsh, Mirth Frohman and Mario Rivera, have formed the Latin Giants Big Band, with Oscar Hernández on piano. Their live concert in Colorado, at the beginning of the year, was recorded for a possible release.

The vinyl '60s LP Boogaloo in Apartment 41 by Ozzie Torrens (containing arrangements by vibist Louie Ramírez) on El Sonido label has boogaloo versions of such standards as the Beatles' Yesterday and Day Tripper, Nancy Sinatra's These Boots Are Made For Walkin', Frank Sinatra's Strangers in the Night, and the Capitol's Cool Jerk, as well as a few Louie Ramírez/Richard Marín originals.

Pianist Ramón Valle, who debuted in 1993 with his CD Levitation and last year released Danza Negra in tribute to Ernesto Lecuona, has released a new trio CD, No Escape.

Many people know of Carolina Laó as a vocalist who turned from salsa to ballads and had made her initial solo debut after leaving Alquimia La Sonora in the late '90s. But what many do not know is that her debut was not the CD Dulce Veneno but El Son de Ahora. This 1999 disc was more along the line with what she did with Alquimia. If you can find it, check out Yo Soy La Rumba and Locas Por El Mambo.

Percussionist Andy Durán and his Latin Jazz Band just released the hot new disc Formats & Concepts, with Durán's concepts of time television themes "I Dream of Jeannie," "The Untouchables," "Baretta," plus three tracks dedicated to New York by Tito Puente/La Lupe (Que Te Pedi), the Joe Cuba Sextet (Mujer Divina) and Bobby Rodríguez y La Compaña (What Happened). Andy Durán is well known for exceptional Latin jazz concept albums and this one continues the trend.