Discos - Tt: Latin Beat Reviews - Reseña

Latin Beat Magazine, June, 2000 by Luis Tamargo, Jesse Varela, Elmer Gonzalez, Gilbert Rivera, Rudy Mangual

PATATO

The Legend of Cuban Percussion

(Six Degree Record)

Drawn from the two volumes of the classic Ritmo y Candela project recorded in Northern California in the mid-90s, this collection puts emphasis on the percussive trilateral commission initially comprised of Carlos "Patato" Valdés, Orestes Vilató and José Luis Quintana (alias Changuito), the latter of whom was replaced on the second session by Walfredo de los Reyes, Sr. The tracks taken from the last reunion, by the way, should be quite appealing to appreciative world music aficionados.

Any bonafide world villager is bound to admire the multicultural experiments masterminded by Patato, whose mid-90s supporting cast combined U.S.-based Latin jazz luminaries with various African guests and youthful visitors from the other side of the Sugarcane Curtain. Although the arrangements tend to wander occasionally into the San Francisco twilight zone, this reissue reaffirms the historic role of the most melodic tumbadora king. (LT)

SALSA AFRICA

Various Artists

(Candela)

This compilation CD of African artists and bands performing "Afro-Cuban Salsa Music" as indicated on the cover features 10 selections. The listener is in an immediate state of confusion. The term salsa music defines the tropical dance music of the Caribbean with heavy Cuban roots, and influenced by the urban musical tendencies of the 1970s in New York City. What's been called Cuban salsa for the past decade now refers to the music of contemporary Cuban bands which for the most part partake in the execution of newer musical forms such as timba. Salsa Africa doesn't quite live-up to either definition, but it does indeed meet the Afro qualifications. The Brazzaville, Congo-based group Bantous de la Capitale opens the production with the selection El Coco, a guaguanco/congolese rumba featuring the talents of guitarist Papa Noel and vocalist José Missamou. From Senegal, there's music from the groups Super Cayor de Dakar Xamsa Bopp, Etoile De Dakar Esta China, and Star Band No.1's Guajira Ven, all in the tradition of the so-called "Star Bands" which date back to 1960s, true to Cuban tradition and Senegalese mbalax roots sound. Other tracks include Africando's Trovador, an original Orquesta Broadway composition, Djeli Moussa Diawara's Salsa Kora, Papa Wemba's Jeancy, and Boncana Maiga's Africa Cha-Onda. (GR)

ALEX ACUÑA Y SU ACUARELA DE TAMBORES

Rhythms For A New Millennium

(Tonga Records)

Recorded in the summer of 1999 during a three-day studio date, world renowned percussionist Alex Acuña gathered the talents of some of the top percussionists in the business to make this production a reality. Featuring Puerto Rican percussionists Giovanni Hidalgo, Anthony Carrillo and Paoli Mejias, Cubans Luis Conte, Richie Garcia and Michito Sánchez, Brazilian Paulinho da Costa, and Mexican/LA percussionist Tiki Pasillas among others, Acuarela de Tambores is a production in which percussion is featured at the forefront of all the selections. Of the 15 tracks on the CD, 11 were entirely created and structured on the spot, in real time. On certain tracks, bass, guitar and piano were incorporated mostly to accentuate rhythm changes and emphasize the montunos. By no means is Acuarelas simply a Latin percussion album. The main force and focus of the production is the peripheral vision of the art of hand drumming. With the use of these instruments from Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, North America, and just about anything they can get their hands on, these musicians produce beautiful music. (RM)