Latin Beat music update

Latin Beat Magazine, August, 2003 by Nelson Rodriguez

This summer's talk of the town was one of our true heroes, Ray Barretto, who overwhelmed the world with his sextet and the CD Homage to Art. Luis Perdomo's arrangements on Close Your Eyes, United and Noise In The Attic, as well as Michael P. Mossman's arrangements of Lester Left Town and Frere Jacques, make this one a hot pick for jazz lovers.

Sammy García y TMC is making some noise of its own with the CD, Baila Conmigo, and the standout tracks Qué Swing! and Taki-Ki-Taqui.

Roberto Roena's Regreso is actually a reissue of an LP he recorded for Up Records in the late '80s, early '90s. Good dance disc with the tunes Regreso, La #100, Reflexiones Mias and more.

Los Soneros Del Barrio's Siguiendo La Tradición, with hits Ahí Na'Má, Evelio y La Rumba and Noche Como Boca De Lobo will be hot throughout the test of the year in the clubs.

Merengue fans will love the debut of former Zafra Negra vocalist, Tony Rivas (not to be confused with Tony Rivas, the salsero brother of El Gran Combo's Jerry Rivas) on the CD Me Vine a Casar Contigo. Rivas' vocal training has paid off, as this CD proves on the opening number, La Quisiera Olvidar, and the single that follows, Hay Amores.

Some of the better young merengue bands today include Candela Pura, Sancocho (with hip-hop elements), Rafi y Arena Fina, Los Nuevos Sabrosos, Grupo Mio, Fulanito, Mambo Nuevo and Melao Criollo.

SAR Records has put out a series of CDs titled Retrato Musical, highlighting hits by Roberto Torres, Papaito and Henry Fiol.

AJ Records has a wonderful box set series with Voces Del Milenio-Un Recuento Musical, that includes such greats as Daniel Santos, Tito Rodríguez, Los Hispanos, Cheo Feliciano (with the Joe Cuba Sextet), Cortijo (with Ismael Rivera), Bobby Capó, Vicentico Valdés, Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz, and more.

Voces Del Milenio-Trios includes Los Panchos, Los Tres Diamantes, Felipe Rodríguez, Trio San Juan, Trio Los Condes, Julito Rodríguez, Cheito González, Los Tres Reyes, Johnny Rodríguez, and more. There are also the Salsa Volumes 1 & 2, plus the one called Bohemia.

La Vuelta, the new CD released by bassist John Lang and his group (La Onda Va Bien) contains a new version of Charlie Palmieri's Gringo City, but uses Charlie's solo line. Also look for The Flying Dutchman and Luis' Tumbao to do well in radioland.

Raphy Leavitt y La Selecta's 30 Aniversario is a two-CD set with a few surprises and all their best hits.

Larry Harlow's "Live" recording from Puerto Rico that everyone has been looking for will become available this fall.

Eddie Palmieri may not have received a Grammy nod with his CD La Perfecta II, but his new release, Ritmo Caliente, can't miss. Once again, he covers his own La Perfecta hits, such as Lo Que Traigo Es Sabroso, Sujétate La Lengua and Lázaro y Su Micrófono. The pick hit here, for dancers, is La Voz Del Caribe.

The new east coast band Grupo Salsón is led by bongocero Ryan "El Niño" Maldonado, who has surrounded himself with veterans while preparing his debut with tracks like Leña De Fuego and the covers Borinquen Tiene Montuno and Recordando a Hector Lavoe.

Willie Moreno, the bongocero half of Los Hermanos Moreno, has a winner with his debut, Moreno Soy. While radio has jumped on the single Arráncame La Vida, it is the classic Nací Moreno, arranged by Isidro Infante, that will help sell this release, along with No Me Llores Más.

Envidia's Peruchín Jr., known for his guitar work, impresses us with his pianistic eloquence on his new release, Al Piano. The label also released Ciso Guanche, and the debut of the group Color Latino.

William Cepeda & Afrorican Jazz have a new live CD, recorded at the Montreux Jazz Festival by Blue Jackel Records, now associated with Warner Brothers.

One of the hottest DJ albums has to be Willie Villegas y Entre Amigos' Dancer's Paradise that has jumped out of the gates with the track Castellano. This one swings from beginning to end. DJ picks include Mayarí and Ariñáraña.

Hilton Ruiz has a new CD after many years, Enchantment, on the Arabesque label.

Baseball star Bernie Williams has signed with GRP for his CD, The Journey Within, featuring Rubén Blades, David Benoit and Bela Fleck as guests.

The Michel Camilo Trio has a two-CD set, Live At The BlueNote, coming out this fall.

Miles Peña has a new release, Que Seas Muy Feliz, including Dale Gasolina, a smoking timba track.

Another rapper making the most noise during the summer offered his L.A. debut during the 5th Annual West Coast Salsa Congress. Tego Calderón, whose specialty is Latin hip-hop and reggaeton, scored big with his scorching version of the Tommy Olivencia hit Planté Bandera, with Tempo Alomar on vocals.

The Latin rock group, Seguida (from the '70s) is back on the scene, led by drummer Steve Adorno.