Latin beat music update

Latin Beat Magazine, June-July, 2003 by Nelson Rodriguez

Summertime is here, a sure sign of new releases and re-issues. Compilations have become big sellers, and perhaps the easier way to collect music. Some of the better ones are DJ mixes that offer the fan party music. West coast resident DJ William Camacho has just finished his third CD for Discos Fuentes titled ¡Rumba Que Te Tumba! with music by Fruko y Sus Tesos, Los Titanes, Joe Arroyo, Los Nemus, Grupo Raza, Grupo Changó, and more.

Texas band Havana NRG has stardom written all over its upcoming release. This octet grooves to Cuban rhythms from beginning to end, from Camino Al Cielo to Havana City to Con Güiro, Clave y Bongó.

We've heard the phrase "world music" being used frequently since it became popular, but the debut of Yardena y Son Ladino, is in essence, true world music. Yardena's unique vocal style bridges her Jewish roots with Mediterranean/Middle Eastern influences (from Moorish North Africa, Greece, the Balkans and Turkey) that were handed down to her from her mother and added to the habanera and some other great Cuban rhythms, as well as flamenco, to make this CD a special treat.

Another vocalist with a promising CD is Deborah Resto, who has paid her dues and properly prepared for her debut, Let Me Hear My Heart.

This year commemorates the 30th anniversary of Tito Rodríguez's passing, and many labels are releasing reissues and special editions, but one in particular stands out. The Legends 30th Anniversary, on West Side Records, compiles the Rodríguez boleros on the first CD, contrasting with his swinging dance music on the second. The tracks Cara De Payaso, Inolvidable, Tiembla, Mama Guela, Avisale a Mi Contrario, Bilongo, Descarga Cacbao, El Que Se Fue, En La Oscuridad and El Vive Bien make the CD worth owning.

Live In Japan is the title of the new Juan De Marcos & the Afro-Cuban All-Stars' CD/DVD that opens with their version of the Mario Bauzá classic Tanga. Kudos to Bob Katz who worked on the mastering of this CD as well as on Olga Tañon's Grammy winner from three years ago (Olga Viva, Viva Olga) and Paquito D'Rivera's Grammy winner from 1997 (Portrait's of Cuba).

Willie Colón and Ruben Blades are organizing a 2003 tour to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the release of Siembra, their most successful recording.

Ex-Sonora Matancera vocalist Max González, known as "La Araña," has a super hot CD, La Araña ... Contra El Mundo, with some tasteful and often comical tracks that will do well on the airwaves and at parties. This is a pleasant surprise from the people at Envidia Records for Cuban music fans.

Tito Puente fans will enjoy the DVD, "Live In Montreaux," recorded in 1983 with Michel Camilo.

Bassist Oscar Stagnaro's debut, Mariella's Dream, has an all-star lineup that includes Paquito D'Rivera, Alex Acuna, Ramón Stagnaro, Dave Samuels, Edward Simón, Richie Zellón and Oscar Feldman.

Stagnaro can also be heard on the new Paquito D'Rivera Big Band Time CD, where he stands out on the tracks Basstronaut (with upright bassist John Goldsby) and Y La Negra Bailaba.

Paquito D'Rivera is superb on this CD with his Latin Rhythms (Claudio Roditi, Stagnaro, Pernell Saturnino and Mark Warker), backed by the WDR Big Band, which is conducted by Bill Dobbins. Besides the two tracks mentioned you should check out Who's Smoking, Annette's For Sure, Como Un Bolero and A Lo Tristano.

Richard Boukas and Mark Weinstein join forces in a quintet format titled Tudo de Bom, dedicated to the music of Hermeto Pascoal's Calendario do Som. This wonderful CD of valses, bossa nova, choro, baiâo and more is still looking for a home.

Pete Escovedo's Live is a sensational CD that will definitely do well on radio with outstanding performances on the tracks La Cuna, Sonerito, The E Medley, and Viva Cepeda. This is his first live recording in over fifteen years and worth the wait.

Bill Summers and Irvin Mayfield, better known as Los Hombres Calientes, are back with their fourth release, Vol. 4: Vodou Dance, comprised of recordings done in Haiti, Cuba, Trinidad, Jamaica and New Orleans. My favorites are Latin Tinge, Timba Clave Con Bata, and Yo Soy El Malote.

Mis Canciones Primeras by Néstor Torres, is a compilation of his best songs--from the classic No Me Provoques LP and the entire Afro Charanga Vol. II LP which had been previously released). It makes for a sensational CD, if you have not already picked up the afro-charanga one.

Ismael Quintana's Dos Imagenes, produced by Bobby Marin, has boleros on one disc, with the awesome montunos Montuno Te Traigo and Hijo De Yemayá, along with Vacilo Con Tumbao and Boboquivari on the second disc. This dual CD is a rare gem by one of salsa's best voices of the '70s, who sang for many years with Eddie Palmieri.

Another rare classic, now on CD, is Louie Ramírez's Ali Baba, with vocals by Rudy Calzado and Bobby Marin. Check out Yambú, It's Not What You Say, El Titere and Cookin' With Ali.

Andy Duran's new recording, Latin Jazz & More, explores a wide range of sounds that includes Deodato's Havana Strut, Clare Fischer's Morning, and a Cheo Feliciano (with Joe Cuba) and Bebo Valdes medley, Wabble-Chá and Rareza Del Siglo.