Latin Beat Music Update - Columna

Latin Beat Magazine, April, 1999 by Nelson Rodriguez

A Tito Rojas CD is always a plus to anyone's collection, but his label continues its tradition of bad CD covers. Good thing Tire makes up for it with solid music and the hits Sere, Sere, Te Amo Tanto, Per Mujeres Come Tu and Mi Mamá. I really liked the use of violin and the solo performances.

Unlike the original Noche Caliente releases of the early '80s, Noche Caliente '99, produced by Larry Harlow, is a salsa CD featuring the classic voices of Tire Allen, Darvel Garcia and Lefty Pérez but not as the soneros that we remember, and somehow I expected more.

I also expected more of José Luis Cortés y NG La Banda's new CD La Cachimba. While I always look forward to their latest, NG hasn't blown me away with their last four projects.

Both Perico Ortiz's Emociones (Suave), and Humberto Ramírez's Con El Corazón (Casa De Los Tapes) are instrumental CDs highlighting their trumpet play and dedicated to romantic ballads. Enjoyable and great for a romantic evening, restaurants, and easy listening radio stations.

A new young sonera named Cathy Naveda comes out of New York with Soy Sonera; arrangements by Lucho Cueto, Humberto Ramirez, Isidro Infante, Willie Ruiz, Robert Navarro and Ricky González, who does a fine job on Donna Summer's On The Radio.

Manolito y Su Trabuco is a true representation of Cuba's new generation and on the gritty Marcando La Distancia the band eloquently shows what they're made of.

Could the new Marc Anthony English project be a collaboration with Emilio and Gloria Estefan? We'll keep you informed, especially about an adult contemporary ballad featuring Marc and Gloria.

Kudos to the hip Latino dance music remixer David Morales on his Grammy win.

Some oldies but goodies now available on CD are Ray De La Paz's Estoy Come Nunca with excellent arrangements by Ray Santos, Isidro Infante and Tommy Villariny; Herbie Mann's Flautista! Herbie Mann Plays Afro Cuban Jazz with Patato Valdés and José Mangual; Ricardo Ray & Bobby Cruz's Viva Ricardo from 1969; Los Mangual's Una Dinastia; Pete Terrace's Pete With A Latin Beat from 1960 and La Playa Sextet's Pachanga, Cha-Cha-Cha Anyone? with Tito Rodriguez on vocals from 1965.

Los Hermanos Moreno have each gone in different directions as two bands debut this month. Nelson Moreno's project has already released a single, Una Miradita, while Willie Moreno is pitching a project that includes the rumba Moreno Soy (Sonora Ponceña/Bobby Valentín) and A Quien Le Crea.

The King of Latin Music, Tito Puente, will be in Hawaii for Cinco De Mayo at the Neal Blaisdell Center Arena with Hawaii's premier Latin band, Rolando Sánchez & Salsa Hawaii.

Record Mart (in the subway on 42nd St. - Times Square is closing its gates after four decades, and the Blue Note celebrated a night in tribute with congueros Poncho Sánchez and Ray Barrette.

The world famous Birdland will be the site for the ceremonial inductions into The International Latin Music Hall of Fame on April 7th. Orchestra Broadway and Fajardo will perform that evening at the aftershow party at La Maganette. The nominees include Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, Machito, Eddie Palmieri, Fajardo, Pacheco, Marco Rizo, Joe Cuba, Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Ralph Mercado, Cachao, Johnny Ventura, La Sonora Matancera, Orquesta Aragón, Tito Rodriguez, Chano Pozo, Rafael Hernández, Jerry Masucci, Pérez Prado, Benny Moré, Marie Bauzá, Arsenio Rodriguez, and many more.